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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. In each port there is at least one included excursion, although most days there were several additional included hikes and other activities led by members of the ship’s expedition team or local guides. The Great Lakes offer cruisers access to wildlife, natural landscapes, quaint lakeside towns, and industrial history on the U.S. And on the Canadian side, highlights include First Nations cultural experiences, more wildlife and scenic landscapes, and the Georgian Bay Biosphere in Ontario, which UNESCO recognized as the world’s largest freshwater archipelago. Cruise itineraries include three or more of the lakes; some touch all five. 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.
Chicago
In Killarney, still in Georgian Bay, we hiked to a lighthouse and stopped at the Killarney Lodge for selfies with what is said to be the world’s largest canoe paddle, which is 107 feet long and weighs in at 22,000 pounds. Expedition Central is also where we spent time studying the dozen full-size felt birds, including a bald eagle, a red headed woodpecker, and a common loon, that we were likely to see for real in the wild, during our trip. Viking commissioned felt artist Susan Beal from Vermont to make 96 super-realistic birds so that different sets can be displayed in each region Octantis (and Polaris) will visit. And we got up early (with more than 50 other passengers) to witness the weekly -- for now -- launching of a weather balloon off the top deck. Thanks to its partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Viking Octantis (and Viking Polaris) have joined the sanctioned list of 102 other weather balloon launch stations sanctioned by the U.S. The balloons have transmitters that collect data on wind, temperature, and pressure.
About Sunstone Tours & Cruises
Cruises at the beginning of the Great Lakes cruise season in May are generally a bit less expensive than those in June, July, August and September. Great Lakes cruise weather can be chilly at the start of the season, with low temperatures in the 40s in May in some areas and highs in the 60s. It warms up considerably by July and August, with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Here, The Points Guy offers up a guide to everything you need to know about planning a sailing in the Great Lakes. 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.
Great Lakes Cruise Lines
This is partly due to the size of the locks that connect the lakes, as only the smaller ships can pass through them. Discover the cultural treasures of Toronto, the capital city of Ontario, and venture to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland to view Elvis’ motorcycle and Michael Jackson’s white sequined glove. 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.
Viking River Cruises
(American Queen Voyages is the only Great Lakes cruise provider who currently sails from Navy Pier in Chicago). The 665-foot-long, Polar Class 6 ship carries 378 guests and 256 crewmembers and sailed its inaugural in Antarctica before heading north. It is summering in the Great Lakes region before heading back to the Antarctic and other destinations. The ships have a subtle contemporary decor and both casual and more formal dining options, 188-seat theaters, spa and fitness areas, and a fleet of nine Zodiacs (for use in Canadian waters). In addition to the main Coastal Dining Room, the ships have a casual buffet venue.
Pearl Mist
Viking's itineraries have the most outdoorsy options, while Pearl Seas Cruises offers trips with a lot of small-town stops. The Great Lakes cruise season is a short one, due mostly to the weather. With winters being cold and snowy in the region, cruise lines stick to the warmer months of May to September for Great Lakes sailings. Mackinac Island, with its car-less horse-drawn carriages, historic fort and the Grand Hotel is a destination like no other and should be experienced aboard a Great Lakes small ship cruise. Reap the benefits of traveling closer to home and rediscover exciting ports like Niagara Falls, Chicago and Mackinac Island. Mackinac Island, MI, a completely car-free throwback to simpler times, is easy to navigate on foot, in a horse-drawn carriage, or on a rented bicycle, which can be used to ride the 8.2 miles perimeter around the island in about 1.5 hours.
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. Indulge in the charm and elegance of our Lake Ontario cruises, where historic ports and vibrant cities offer many activities to enjoy. Traverse the tranquil waters on a Lake Huron cruise, immersing yourself in the peacefulness of this natural paradise. Pulling a cruise ship into the locks and waiting for 22 million gallons of water to raise the water level by 21 feet to match the level on the other side takes a lot of time. But the journey, and history of the locks and the surrounding area, were well-narrated by the expedition team from a perch up on the bridge. According to the marketing association Cruise the Great Lakes, nine ships are on the lakes this year, which marks a return after no cruises at all in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Cell phone service generally works well, but be aware of your location -- U.S. vs. Canada -- and roaming fees. You're given a plastic poncho to help keep you dry as the boat (not your Great Lakes cruise ship) motors up to Horseshoe Falls, the largest and most impressive of Niagara's cascades. It's said that the equivalent of one million bathtubs of water tumbles over the falls each minute. Delight in an aerial adventure over Parry Sound Harbor and a guided bike ride around Georgian Bay.
Cruise the Great Lakes on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to experience the unparalleled majesty of the Great Lakes with luxury small-ship cruises complete with personalized service, world-class dining, dynamic activities, and the adventure of a lifetime. Everyone cruising in Canada must also undergo precruise testing (something that the majority of cruise lines also still require) even though prearrival COVID testing has been dropped for international air arrivals into Canada. Make sure to check with your cruise line and the latest government restrictions as requirements can and do change. If you are cruising between the U.S. and Canada you will, first off, need your passport. As of press time, Canada requires cruise passengers age 12 and up to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (some cruise lines require passengers age 5 and up to be vaccinated) and to have completed ArriveCAN health forms prior to arrival.
The number of passengers in 2022 has increased by more than 25 percent compared to 2019, the association reports. Viking Great Lake cruise itineraries include two eight-day trips from Milwaukee to either Toronto or Thunder Bay, and a 15-day route from Toronto to Duluth. The longer route is always aboard Viking Octantis, while Thunder Bay is always visited aboard the Polaris. Both ships, however, are the same in terms of size, layout and design. We provide guests an extraordinary cruising experience while exploring the most magnificent regions of the world.
This was our first small ship cruise, you were our first knowledgeable travel agent, we will pass your name along to friends and family. Rides on all these ‘toys’ are included with the cruise and the crew takes them out whenever possible. We enjoyed our zodiac rides to and from excursions and loved exploring in the SOB, which launches from a slipway inside “The Hangar” and has individually suspended seats for an incredibly smooth ride at high speeds. Viking has brought expedition-style cruising to the region, complete with submarines. Ask your Viking Expert for more information.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.
Duluth port drew thousands of Great Lakes cruise passengers this year - Star Tribune
Duluth port drew thousands of Great Lakes cruise passengers this year.
Posted: Sun, 26 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
These six-deck expedition yachts boast the kind of international cuisine and complimentary wine pours you’d expect on French-operated vessels, plus an outdoor swimming pool and a panoramic lounge. And there is the super-cool feature of an underwater sensory lounge, Blue Eye, with submarine-like views of walleye fish and other Great Lakes marine life. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. Longer cruises on the Great Lakes trace a similar route from Chicago, adding stops at Cleveland, Ohio and Buffalo, NY, both on Lake Erie.
Of the two lines operating in the Great Lakes, Viking has the greatest focus on outdoorsy stops such as Point Pelee (a tiny sandspit that juts into the northwestern corner of Lake Erie and is famous as a stopover for migratory birds). Some of Viking's sailings include a call at Alpena, Michigan — the gateway to a National Maritime Sanctuary, where passengers can kayak past shipwrecks in shallow waters. Another destination that Viking visits, Silver Islet, Ontario, brings the opportunity for a trail walk through Ontario's 94-square-mile Sleeping Giant Provincial Park — a rocky, forested park named for a long line of mesas that resemble a giant lying on its back. While Great Lakes ships have traditionally been smaller, more modest coastal vessels, Viking is shaking things up by bringing a polar-class expedition ship to the region. French cruise line Ponant is also sailing the Great Lakes this fall and next with luxury expedition ships complete with underwater lounges.
The Great Lakes probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of cruising. But in recent years, the region has grown enormously as a cruise destination — and for good reason. Touring the Great Lakes by ship is by far the easiest way to see a wide range of the area's attractions — from vibrant cities to natural wonders — in a single trip. We attended Great Lakes-oriented lectures presented by a highly-credential expedition team on everything from discoveries made on an epic 1000-mile hike around Lake Michigan to the geologic history of the region. We toured the working science lab, while others participated in a microplastics workshop where the observations made help inform a global database. You may not think of Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, or Duluth, Minnesota, as hot ports on the cruise map, but this year they are.
A large percentage of all Great Lakes cruises begin or end in Chicago, Milwaukee or Toronto. But there also are Great Lakes sailings that begin or end in Thunder Bay, Ontario; Duluth, Minnesota; Montreal and Detroit. 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.
