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As you embark upon your journey, enjoy a Welcome Aboard Reception with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Experience unique ports of call in the surrounding states and provinces as you cruise through the magnificent Great Lakes. Discover hard-to-reach destinations, thriving cities, and breathtaking landscapes.
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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.
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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. On this comprehensive 15-night St. Lawrence Seaway & Great Lakes cruise, explore the breathtaking landscapes, historic harbors, and cosmopolitan cities that make this region incredible.
Great Lakes cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
The exhibit also features a video presentation about the events that occurred on November 10, 1975 which caused the tragic loss of one of the Great Lakes’ largest freighters. In addition to the museum exhibits, the Museum Ship Valley Camp displays four 1,200 gallon aquariums stocked with various species of fish from the Great Lakes region. Led by experienced and friendly guides, paddle along the calm and serene waters of Georgian Bay, taking in the picturesque scenery around you.
Great Lakes are once again a hot destination for cruise ships • Stateline - Stateline
Great Lakes are once again a hot destination for cruise ships • Stateline.
Posted: Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Boats travel to Lake Huron (possibly Lake Superior), Lake Erie and end either in Lake Ontario or include a day sailing up the St. Lawrence River to end in Montreal, Quebec. The Great Lakes cruise season is a relatively short one, running from late May through mid-September. Generally, the best time for cruising the Great Lakes is from July on, when the days are warmer and sunnier.
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The Pearl Mist also features open sun decks, a fitness area, and a glass-enclosed dining room offering panoramic views. A local guide will accompany you and share the fascinating history and stories of the ships that have plied Muskegon’s waters. Visit the USS Silversides Submarine, a Gato class WWII Submarine, and explore the accompanying Submarine Museum. The USS Silversides was commissioned shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and went on to complete 14 war patrols in the Pacific during WWII. Silversides was one of the most successful submarines in the Pacific Theater of World War II, with 23 confirmed sinkings. She received a Presidential Unit Citation for cumulative action over four patrols and twelve battle stars.
Great Lakes & Georgian Bay Cruise
Holland's downtown is a charmer with cobblestone sidewalks and more than 100 specialty shops, breweries and restaurants. As noted above, the Great Lakes offer a wide mix of attractions and experiences. During a Great Lakes cruise, you might find yourself climbing aboard the bus where Rosa Parks took a stand at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit on one day and kayaking through the wild marshlands of Point Pelee, Ontario, the next. With winters being cold and snowy in the region, cruise lines stick to the warmer months of May to September for Great Lakes sailings. If you interested in reading more about experiencing the Great Lake region from on the lakes, I also wrote a post about sailing ships cruising on the Great Lakes. In 2018, eight ships, operated on Great Lakes, from Victory, Blount Small Ship Adventures and Pearl Seas Cruises.
The best cruises on the Great Lakes
View the tombstone of John D. Rockefeller, who is buried at the beautiful Lake View Cemetery. Explore the Cleveland Museum of Art, containing one of the most renowned art collections in the world. World-famous Niagara Falls stands 165 feet tall and is comprised of three waterfalls – Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. These famous falls are shared by both Ontario and New York which are connected by the Rainbow Bridge. Our local guide will show you the best vantage points and will explain the importance the falls once had to Native Americans and fur traders.
Upon arrival, you will have the option to remain at the viewing platform or proceed on to Mountain Portage trail for a guided nature walk to get a better view of the falls, gorge, and river. Visit the onsite Fort William fur trade post and learn about the city’s economic past in the fur trade industry. Nestled on the northeastern tip of the Upper Peninsula, Sault Sainte Marie is a timeless gem along the Great Lakes brimming with historical charm and natural beauty.
Within its impressive skyline, there are several cultural hotspots including art galleries, museums, and performance centers. Shoppers will delight in Queen Street West, where chic boutiques replaced this old warehouse area and Kensington Street, where retro style abounds. Among the 30,000 islands making up Georgian Bay, Flowerpot Island is certainly one of the most extraordinary. The island gets its name and its reputation from two rock formations in the shape of a flower pot that stand over the crystal clear waters. However, people come here more for hiking trails leading to the lighthouse, allowing them to discover rare flora, and for swimming.
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. However, if you are not on a budget, it’s any easy way of experiencing the region. In 2022, Ponant will offer a handful of fall Great Lakes cruises between Toronto and Miwaukee on its expedition ship Le Bellot. While a few small cruise ships sailed the Great Lakes before the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn't necessarily a route that attracted much attention, particularly from American cruisers. End your amazing journey in Toronto, established as a Native American settlement and French fur trading post.
Some cruises on the Great Lakes might sail straight through the bay or call on Parry Sound. In the end, the most important decisions are which ports you want to visit and for how long you wish to cruise the Great Lakes on a ship. There's a lot to see and do in the Great Lakes region, and it's hard to argue that there's a better way to see and do it than on a cruise. Cruise vessels departing from such cities as Chicago and Toronto can take you to all of the highlights of the region — from the breweries of Milwaukee to thundering Niagara Falls — in a single trip. That's something that you'll be hard-pressed to accomplish any other way. Visitors can take it in both from viewing areas on land and from a tour boat.
The accompanying two-story museum shares the experiences of local heroes who served in World War II. Next visit the SS Milwaukee Clipper, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and designated a National Historic Landmark. 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.
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