Table Of Content
On this 7-night voyage, enjoy the beautiful and clear waters of the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world. From the perfect comfort of the Pearl Mist, sail among the 30,000 Islands and visit the many remarkable destinations along the way.Explore the delightful town of Holland, home to the only authentic Dutch windmill in North America. Wind down with the slow-paced lifestyle of Mackinac Island where visitors and residents travel by bicycle, horse-drawn carriage, or on foot. Enjoy a narrated motorcoach exploration and learn all about the wonderful city of Cleveland.
Cruise Guide
For those guests who wish to start their cruise in style, we are offering a brand new Signature Pre-Cruise Package at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. Enjoy a 1-night stay at this renowned 5-star hotel, located in the heart of Toronto’s exclusive Yorkville neighborhood. In general, waiting until the last minute is not the best idea, unless you live in a gateway city such as Chicago, Milwaukee or Toronto and don't need to book flights. Because the Great Lakes has such a short season with a limited number of ships, sailings in the region are often in high demand and people plan early.
Great Lakes cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
End your journey in Milwaukee with a visit to the legendary spots that make this city famous, including the Harley-Davidson Museum. Our generous category K staterooms are over 300 square feet and are conveniently located on the 4th deck level of the ship. These staterooms offer guests easy access to the Pacific Lounge and open passenger decks, with breathtaking views. Each room features a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door leading to a private balcony, offering fresh air and natural light. Travel under the International Highway Bridge that connects Soo, Michigan and Soo, Ontario, Canada. Get an up-close view of the over 100-year-old Hydroelectric Power Plant, still operating today to supply electricity to local residents.
Hotels
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. 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. Lined with miles of Lake Superior shoreline, Marquette is the perfect city to explore Michigan’s pristine wilderness and scenic landscapes. Take a walk along one of its many pedestrian trails and admire the various historical lighthouses that adorn and protect its pristine shoreline. Discover this amazing venue which tells a story that spans generations, from rock’s earliest artists to those budding artists of today.
From the rich history of Mackinac Island and French Canadian villages to the breathtaking shoreline of Lake Superior and the cultural epicenters of iconic cities such as Detroit and Chicago, you can create memories to last a lifetime. Our Category SGB staterooms are designed specifically with our single travelers in mind. At over 200 square feet, these staterooms have interior entrances, large opening windows, and private balconies offering panoramic views.
Newcomer Viking, notably, has told TPG it has seen brisker sales this year for its Great Lakes trips than sailings to Antarctica — one of the world's ultimate bucket list destinations. Note that Great Lakes cruise vessels don't travel directly on the 36-mile-long strait that connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which is known as the Niagara River (lest they go plunging over the falls). Instead, they use the Welland Canal — another marvel of engineering and an attraction in its own right. Known as "Canada's Gateway to the West" because it's the final navigational point on the Canadian side of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is one of Ontario's most vibrant cities and a center for art and culture. It's also a hub for outdoorsy pursuits including mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking and angling, as it's nestled within boreal forests.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario comprise the largest group of freshwater lakes — or “inland seas” — on earth, and our tours explore them all. Nature-lovers will be entranced by the sea-like character of these bodies of water. 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. 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.
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). Experience unique ports of call in the surrounding states and provinces as you cruise through the magnificent Great Lakes.
Highlights of Great Lakes Cruises
Brew-town Milwaukee offers the chance to explore the city's craft beer and brewing scene or to take a walking tour to the city's many outdoor sculptures. Chicago is famous for its world-leading architecture (which you can see on walking and boat tours), its Magnificent Mile lined with more stores than you've probably ever seen in one place and its world-class cultural institutions. Our exclusive category R staterooms are over 450 square feet and are located in the premier sections of the ship offering an enhanced cruising experience. Each well-appointed room comes with sliding glass doors which lead out to a furnished balcony.
Arrive at the Bricker's Amish home for lunch with a menu that features chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade noodles w/gravy, vegetable, salad, fresh baked bread with homemade preserves, and date-nut pudding. After lunch, depart for a scenic backroad ride with narration from your Amish Guide. Enjoy your 'lesson' about the Amish education system, and what a typical school day is like. One thing that all three of the main lines operating in the Great Lakes have in common is that they include tours during at least some stops and sometimes every stop in their base fares. Pearl Seas Cruises and Viking are particularly known for including lots of shore excursions in their base fares. Plus, there are the lakes themselves, which together are roughly the size of the U.K.
Stroll along the Midland Harbor, a picturesque destination featuring a large statue of the trumpeter swan, considered the symbol of Midland. For bird lovers, the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is a habitat for Trumpeter Swans, Black Terns, and Least Bitterns. Start your journey at the Table Rock Welcome Centre, a retail and observation complex located in a renovated historical building. After, begin your Journey Behind the Falls, an amazing experience which offers a unique view of the Falls from below and behind. Be treated to the awesome spectacle of one-fifth of the world's freshwater crashing down to the basin below.
New study explores Buffalo as port for Great Lakes cruises - Spectrum News
New study explores Buffalo as port for Great Lakes cruises.
Posted: Wed, 26 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
In the comfort of Pearl Mist, enjoy a comprehensive exploration of the Great Lakes region. 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. Great architecture and cultural institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago — along with lots of nightlife, shopping and world-class dining — make Chicago the premier city destination in the Great Lakes region. Many Great Lakes cruises begin or end in Chicago, with some including an overnight in the city, allowing time to explore. Don't miss a stroll down the Magnificent Mile and a sightseeing boat ride on the Chicago River (a great way to get an overview of the city and see some of its architectural gems).
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. Visit the famous 39-room Glensheen Mansion built with remarkable 20th-century craftsmanship, telling the story of the Duluth region.
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