Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Great Lakes cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do

cruise ships on the great lakes

This new venture of the ever-expanding brand will bring small-ship trips to Antarctica and the Great Lakes region. Viking will begin these voyages in January 2022 with the Viking Octantis, which will be followed by a second ship, Viking Polaris, in August 2022.

Hotels

The best time to book a Great Lakes cruise is right when a cruise line first opens bookings on that sailing, often more than a year in advance. You'll have your pick of itineraries and cabins and often the best fares. Located at the northeastern edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Sault Saint Marie is the site of the Soo Locks, a marvel of engineering that connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The locks themselves are the big attractions in Sault Saint Marie — head to the observation deck at Soo Locks Park to watch freighters passing by and learn more at the Soo Locks Visitor Center. The two main players in Great Lakes cruising are Viking (a newcomer in 2022) and Pearl Seas Cruises.

Cruise company to leave Great Lakes, sell ships - Duluth News Tribune

Cruise company to leave Great Lakes, sell ships.

Posted: Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Viking River Cruises

Located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron, Parry Sound is a picturesque port town with charming cottages and spectacular views. Parry Sound is located inside the UNESCO designated Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve. One of only 16 Biosphere Reserves in Canada, it is home to a variety of rare species of plants and animals. While ashore, explore Killbear Provincial Park, enjoy a scenic boat ride around the 30,000 islands, or take an aerial sightseeing tour.

Fly over Georgian Bay by helicopter — Canada

View iron ore docks and the many beautiful Victorian homes that embellish the city, including those in the East Side Home District. Admire Lake Superior Beach, Tourist Park, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and downtown Marquette. Stop at Marquette Maritime Museum & Lighthouse, a one-story, stone, hipped-roof Richardsonian Romanesque style structure built in 1891.

Pearl Seas Featured Cruises

As you ride, enjoy narration, including the history of Duluth, its harbor, and the importance of the railroads to the development of Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Old Mission Peninsula extends into Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay offering the ideal climate for growing varietal wine grapes which have been well recognized by wine enthusiasts the world over. On a scenic drive, enjoy the beauty of the Old Mission Peninsula and experience its award-winning wines. Along the way, visit three wineries, learn about wine production on vineyard tour, explore a wine cave, and be treated to two wine tastings and a full glass of your favorite variety. 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. While Mackinac Island is known for its opulent Victorian homes and hotels, it has a long Native American history.

Ports of Call

NOAA scientists will join expeditions in the Great Lakes to conduct research. There is a chance that scientists may also offer lectures to Viking guests during cruises. The two Great Lakes ships are relatively new additions for American Queen Voyages.

Great Lakes Cruise Lines

cruise ships on the great lakes

Lengthwise, you'll find Great Lakes voyages ranging from seven to 15 nights. Others focus on just three or four of the interconnected bodies of water. Some of the ships also offer sailings that combine travel on one or more of the Great Lakes with a passage through the St. Lawrence Seaway. In some cases, these latter trips include travel all the way to Montreal. All this can be seen via an overland trip, of course, and many people explore the Great Lakes region by car or on motorcoach tours. But the region is so sprawling — the Great Lakes touch eight U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario — that logistically it's almost impossible to experience the area in a broad way on a single trip without going by ship.

Great Lakes Explorer Cruise

Then, experience the thrill of discovery with free time to search for your own treasures. Conclude your excursion with a taste of local culture by samplings of Finnish-style smoked fish, offering a savory end to your journey. Northwest Ontario's largest city, Thunder Bay is a vibrant community surrounded by natural wonders, including thousands of square miles of Canadian wilderness and over 150,000 lakes and rivers. Explore the historic buildings and public art displays of Thunder Waterfront and North Core. Delight in a scenic drive to Kakabeka Falls, which means ‘waterfall over a cliff’ in Ojibwe and is also nicknamed the ‘Niagara of the North’ due to its size and accessibility. Venture to Fort William Historic Historical Park for a guided exploration of this living museum, featuring reconstructed buildings and historians dressed in period clothing.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon cruise out of the harbor as you begin your amazing journey with us. On the morning of your cruise, enjoy breakfast at the hotel, followed by a Toronto City Excursion. Discover the picturesque landmarks that make Toronto one of the most sensational places to visit in Canada. Explore the Saint Lawrence Markets, Chinatown, the Distillery District, and the renowned Fashion District. The massive Great Lakes freighter, which was built in 1917 and retired in 1966, houses displays relating to maritime history in the cargo holds, including two lifeboats from the sinking of the legendary Edmond Fitzgerald in 1975. There are plenty of options for those who just want to cruise the Great Lakes.

cruise ships on the great lakes

A relatively small number of ships sail in the Great Lakes during any given year. Some of the ships that operate in the region will alternate between three or even four different routes during the short summer season, giving you lots of choices. There are also some European operators that have boats cruising the Great Lakes.

It's said that the equivalent of one million bathtubs of water tumbles over the falls each minute. 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. Lake Superior is not on the basic lake-to-lake route of most Great Lakes cruises.

Led by your guide, visit the Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum & Mine, stepping into the shoes of miners who once toiled beneath the earth's surface. We provide guests an extraordinary cruising experience while exploring the most magnificent regions of the world. Enjoy luxurious accommodations, exceptional cuisine, and personalized service every day on board our modern cruise ships. Our premium category L staterooms are over 300 square feet and are located on the 5th deck level of the ship, allowing for plenty of privacy.

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