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Great Lakes cruises might all seem similar, but with an offer that ranges from Niagara Falls to historic, cultural and big-city ports, there’s plenty to choose from. Regardless of the route taken, chances are high that stops on these itineraries are places you've never thought of as being cruise ports -- and you'll be quite impressed with your findings. It's a retired Great Lakes freighter (named Valley Camp) that you can climb into and explore. In addition to touring the living quarters for its 29-person crew, you'll find a 20,000-square-foot maritime museum in its cargo hold with exhibits on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and more. Plus, there are the lakes themselves, which together are roughly the size of the U.K.
Pearl Seas Featured Cruises
Detroit alone will have 50 cruise ship visits this year, according to Kyle Burleson, director of port operations for the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. Cruises on the Great Lakes will cumulatively call at 28 different ports in 2022, offering a welcome boon in visitors to the destinations in the American Midwest and Canada that they visit. Our category G rooms are a spacious retreat with all the amenities a modern traveler expects. Each room offers 275 square feet of space encompassing a full-size bathroom, a large opening picture window, and a private balcony. This room is also conveniently located near the Atlantic Lounge and Dining Room. Mackinac Island is a living Victorian town where personal motorized vehicles are prohibited – all those visiting or living on the island travel by horse or horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or on foot.
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Immerse yourself in the rich history and vibrant cultural of the harbor towns which are strung like pearls along the shore as well as the wonder of wildlife that abounds. These ships offer intimate experiences combined with crewmembers who anticipate your every want and need. It’s everything you desire on a larger cruise ship, minus everything you wish you could cast away.
Sault Saint Marie, Michigan
Known as the “Queen of the Great Lakes,” the SS Milwaukee Clipper was a 361 foot passenger and package freight steamer that was commissioned in 1904 for service on the Great Lakes. Built seven years prior to the RMS Titanic, the ship was recognized as the epitome of first class travel on the Great Lakes. After many years of service, the ship’s original wooden superstructure was replaced with an all steel, streamlined superstructure. Explore this now legendary steamer that serves as a time capsule to 1940’s modern elegance. On our unique Great Lakes tour boats, you will traverse great depths, watch the sun rise and set over distant horizons and learn compelling details about the region — both on- and offshore.
Georgian Bay, often called the sixth Great Lake, is a large, picturesque, island-filled bay off the eastern side of Lake Huron. Some cruises on the Great Lakes might sail straight through the bay or call on Parry Sound. Visitors can take it in both from viewing areas on land and from a tour boat. The Jewel of the Great Lakes has been a summer getaway for Midwesterners since the Victorian era and it retains much of its Victorian-era charm. The iconic attraction on the island is the 135-year-old Grand Hotel, with its seemingly endless, rocker-lined front porch (the longest in the world).
Unlikely bond between luxury cruise line, Great Lakes climate scientists - Bridge Michigan
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Visit Detroit, commonly known as The Motor City, though equally famous as the birthplace of Motown Records. Explore the Killbear Provincial Park in Parry Sound, where a local naturalist will educate you on the unique ecology of the Georgian Bay. Take Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride in Mackinac Island, past the famous Grand Hotel, and tour the homes of wealthy lumber barons in Muskegon. End your journey in Milwaukee with a visit to the legendary spots that make this city famous, including the Harley-Davidson Museum. While our canceled sub ride was disappointing, there were plenty of other activities to keep us engaged and entertained off the ship during our one sea day and our days in tiny ports.
Great Lakes Cruise Port Highlights and Things to Do
You won't have time to visit these great cities if you don't book some hotel time. There are seven-day cruises; two-week ones; those that call more ports in the US than Canada and vice versa; those that enter Lake Superior and those that only offer a quick transfer through Soo Locks. Hapag-Lloyd’s Hanseatic Inspiration offers 10- to 18-day cruises departing from Milwaukee and traveling to Halifax, Toronto or Detroit. However, don’t expect your standard all-inclusive, big-ship vacation with tons of restaurants, activities and kid-friendly amenities. Rather, you’ll be cruising the Great Lakes in a smaller vessel with just a couple hundred other travelers.
Chicago
You'll start in, say, Toronto, and work your way west to Chicago — or vice versa. The cruise season in the Great Lakes is also limited in its length by the opening and closing of the St. Lawrence Seaway — the system of locks, canals and channels that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Cruise vessels that operate in the Great Lakes can't access the region until the locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway open for the summer, something that typically happens the last week of March. They need to be out of the Great Lakes before the St. Lawrence Seaway closes for the winter (typically in December).
Viking Great Lakes Explorer
Viking Great Lakes cruises for Viking Octantis visit upper Midwest destinations that even those living in the region rarely see. Using Milwaukee as a home port, Viking's Undiscovered Great Lakes itinerary stops in Wisconsin's Apostle Islands, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and Duluth in Minnesota before ending in Thunder Bay, Ontario. On AQV, the stops beyond homeports include Michigan's quaint Mackinac Island, the locks of Sault St. Marie and Niagara Falls, as well as Detroit and Cleveland. Some longer itineraries offer passengers the opportunity to visit all five Great Lakes. However, if you are not on a budget, it’s any easy way of experiencing the region.
Located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron, Parry Sound is a picturesque port town with charming cottages and spectacular views. As you cruise the Georgian Bay, enjoy its serene beauty from the ships’ sun deck where you can admire views of Flowerpot Rocks, windswept pines, rugged coast, and clear blue waters. Visit the Art Gallery of Algoma to admire the works of local artists at this hub for visual arts. View permanent collections of indigenous artists, as well as rotating exhibits which feature The Group of Seven, prominent Canadian landscape painters.
The French cruise operator – Ponant is coming back to the Great Lakes region, and also Viking Cruises is coming in 2022. Our scheduled submarine ride was canceled due to a technical issue, but those we spoke with who did get their turn in the sub enjoyed the novelty of the adventure, although most said they did not see much in the Great Lakes waters. Many much-appreciated stateroom amenities, such as heated bathroom floors and 24-hour room service, are carried over here too.
Each well-appointed room comes with sliding glass doors which lead out to a furnished balcony. Enjoy breakfast on your private balcony or simply relax and take in the amazing panoramic views. If there is anything you need, our stewards are on hand 24/7 to handle even the smallest of requests.
Cursing is a great option for people who would like to visit the region, but not deal with driving and accommodations, and all the logistics involved. It might be a good choice for foreigners to get a taste of the region before planning more involved vacations. Though not an off-the-ship excursion, a highlight of this Great Lakes itinerary is the ship’s passage through the gravity-powered Soo Locks, which were built in 1885 and connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron.
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