great lakes cruise ship schedule

Great Lakes Cruises

8 best great lakes cruises for 2024-2025, a voyage along the great lakes – with smithsonian journeys, great lakes - masterpieces of nature, expedition in the heart of the american great lakes, lake superior – a life-sized expedition, great lakes - wilderness and history on vast lake backdrops, great lakes and st lawrence river - unlocking the american dream, great lakes of north america: milwaukee to toronto, st lawrence river and nova scotia - canada's lifeline amidst indian summer colors, top great lakes cruise ships for 2024-2025, great lakes cruise tips & travel guide, top cruise ports in the great lakes.

• Lake Superior
• Lake Michigan
• Lake Ontario

Best time to take a Great Lakes cruise

• Cleveland 
• Niagara Falls (Port Colborne)
• Toronto 
• Montreal 
• Quebec City  ( Quebec )
• Mackinac Island
• Sault Ste. Marie

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The best great lakes for cruising, top things to see and do on a great lakes cruise, faqs: great lakes cruises, top great lakes travel destinations.

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Great Lakes Trips by Activity

• Great Lakes hiking (5)
• Great Lakes urban exploration (4)
• Great Lakes village visits (3)
• Great Lakes small ship cruises (3)
• Great Lakes kayaking (3)

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

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.

When planning Great Lakes cruises, you have many things to consider: when to go for the best Great Lakes cruise experience, which cruise line is best suited to your travel style, the best Great Lakes cruise ports to visit and which shoreside activities you want to prioritize. It's not the kind of trip you want to throw together at the last minute, especially since the best fare deals typically go to organized travelers who book early.

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Here, The Points Guy offers up a guide to everything you need to know about planning a sailing in the Great Lakes.

Why cruise the Great Lakes?

The Great Lakes region may not be a bucket list destination on the scale of Alaska or Antarctica. But it has a lot to offer — more than many people may realize.

Along the banks of the five lakes that are at the core of the region — Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior — you'll find some of Middle America's greatest cities, charming small towns, historic sites and wonders both natural and human-made. Plus, there are the lakes themselves, which together are roughly the size of the U.K. and make up the largest freshwater ecosystem on the planet. Accounting for 21% of all the world's fresh water, they truly are a marvel.

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.

On a single Great Lakes cruise, you can see the world-class architecture and museums of Chicago, take a carriage ride through the carless streets of Mackinac Island, Michigan, and gaze upon the splendor that is Niagara Falls along the New York border — all without having to get behind the wheel of a car or unpacking and re-packing your suitcase more than once.

When do cruises go to the Great Lakes?

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.

The weather isn't the only limiting factor. 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).

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.

When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and the price. 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.

Best Great Lakes itineraries

A relatively small number of ships sail in the Great Lakes during any given year. But, even so, they offer a wide range of Great Lakes itineraries. 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.

Lengthwise, you'll find Great Lakes voyages ranging from seven to 15 nights. Some of the sailings travel across all five of the Great Lakes. 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.

The diversity in Great Lakes itineraries extends to their start and end points. 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.

In most cases, Great Lakes sailings are one-way trips. You'll start in, say, Toronto, and work your way west to Chicago — or vice versa.

Some Great Lakes itineraries only include stops at relatively small towns such as Midland, Parry Sound and Little Current in Ontario; and Muskegon, Marquette and Houghton in Michigan. Others mix in calls at some of the bigger cities of the Great Lakes region, notably Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland and Toronto. On longer sailings, vessels often will overnight in such places as Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Thunder Bay.

Car-free Mackinac Island at the top of Michigan is a common stop on Great Lakes voyages, as is Niagara Falls, which sits between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Pro tip: If your Great Lakes cruise begins or ends in Chicago, Milwaukee or Toronto, add a pre- or post-cruise stay of a night or two in the cities to see them in more depth.

Best Great Lakes cruise lines

Most of the world's biggest cruise lines — including Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line — can't operate in the Great Lakes because their ships are too big to enter the region through the St. Lawrence Seaway. This has turned the Great Lakes into an exclusive zone for a handful of smaller cruise operators that focus on very small vessels.

The two main players in Great Lakes cruising are Viking (a newcomer in 2022) and Pearl Seas Cruises. Each has one vessel devoted to the region (Viking Octantis and Pearl Mist, respectively).

Both cater to a generally older crowd, which is the main market for Great Lakes cruises. Viking's itineraries have the most outdoorsy options, while Pearl Seas Cruises offers trips with a lot of small-town stops.

Two more lines that occasionally operate sailings in the region are German line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and France-based Ponant. Tour organizer Smithsonian Journeys also occasionally offers Great Lakes sailings using chartered Ponant vessels.

All of the above lines operate ships in the Great Lakes that carry fewer than 400 passengers. Some carry as few as 202 passengers. In general, the vessels are intimate and relatively high-end, with pricing to match.

As a rule, Great Lakes sailings don't come cheap. For example, seven-night Viking sailings in the region start at $5,995 per person.

Things to do in the Great Lakes

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.

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.

The city-oriented stops that Viking and the other lines make, such as visits to Milwaukee or Chicago on Lake Michigan, give you time to explore the urban sensibility of the region. 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.

Then there are stops at quieter places such as Mackinac Island, where your sightseeing might include an excursion by horse-drawn carriage to historical sites. Of the three main lines operating in the Great Lakes, as noted above, Pearl Seas Cruises focuses the most on the region's small towns, with fewer stops at bigger cities.

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.

Included tours are part of what you're paying for when you pay the high prices noted above. So you can go off on your own in any of the places these ships visit. But you might just have a no-extra-charge outing including many of the highlights of each place already planned for your voyage.

Best Great Lakes cruise ports

The best Great Lakes cruise ports include the handful of relatively big cities in the region, such as Chicago, that are loaded with cultural sites, nightspots and restaurants, as well as charming small towns such as Holland, Michigan. Great Lakes cruises also bring days that are all about getting up close to wonders both natural and human-made — from towering Niagara Falls to the engineering marvel that is the Welland Canal.

Thunder Bay, Ontario

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.

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).

Wisconsin's biggest city is often surprisingly delightful to first-time visitors, home as it is to a Santiago Calatrava-designed art museum with a world-class collection, a Harley-Davidson Museum that our sister site Lonely Planet has dubbed "badass" plus stylish eating and shopping enclaves. Settled by Germans in the 1840s, "Brew City," as it's known, also is a mecca of sorts for beer lovers — and not just because it's home to the original Miller Brewing Company complex, which is open daily for tours. You'll also find lots of craft breweries that you can visit on your own or as part of a tour, and you can tour (and drink at) the original Pabst Brewery.

Holland, Michigan

As the name suggests, Holland is a little bit of The Netherlands transported to the Americas. Settled by Dutch immigrants in the 1800s, it's home to the annual Tulip Time Festival, which takes place every May, and offers up such Holland-themed attractions as Windmill Island Gardens, where you'll find a working Dutch windmill, canals and dikes. Holland's downtown is a charmer with cobblestone sidewalks and more than 100 specialty shops, breweries and restaurants.

Sault Saint Marie, Michigan

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.

But there are other allures, including the Museum Ship Valley Camp. 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.

Mackinac Island

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). Afternoon tea in the hotel's parlor, or a game of croquet at its Tea Garden, are among Mackinac Island's allures. Tours in a horse-drawn carriage are another popular pastime; cars are banned on the island, leaving horse-drawn carriages as one of the main ways of getting around, along with bicycles. When visiting, don't miss Fort Mackinac, which dates to the 1700s.

Niagara Falls

Located on the short waterway between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls is one of the world's most spectacular waterfall complexes (it's actually three waterfalls, not one) with a flow rate greater than any other waterfall in North America and a vertical drop of more than 160 feet. Visitors can take it in both from viewing areas on land and from a tour boat.

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.

Motor City should probably be called Museum City, as it's home to a wonderful array of museums worth a visit, from The Detroit Museum of Art and the Motown Museum to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. Passengers on Great Lakes cruises will find that stops in Detroit often revolve around an included visit to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, a sprawling history museum complex that is home to the limousine that President Kennedy was in when he was assassinated, George Washington's camp bed, Buckminster Fuller's prototype Dymaxion house, the bus on which Rosa Parks was arrested and countless other rare artifacts.

When to book a Great Lakes cruise

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.

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. 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.

If you wait to book, you're not entirely out of luck. Cruise lines often run sales in the fall or in the early months of the year (a period known in the cruise industry as "wave season" ). You can take advantage of discounted fares and other perks. Some of the most desirable cabins might be sold out; being flexible about your sail date or itinerary can help.

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. While some less preferred sail dates or cabin categories may have availability a few months out, spurring cruise lines to drop rates, you might have trouble finding affordable airfare and pre- or post-cruise hotel accommodations that do not eat up your cruise savings.

What to bring on a Great Lakes cruise

When it comes to packing for a Great Lakes cruise, your mantra should always be: dress in layers. It can be chilly in the morning in the more northerly parts of the Great Lakes, particularly at the start of the Great Lakes cruising season, but then warm up fast.

If you're planning to do some outdoorsy pursuits, such as kayaking or hiking, be sure to bring appropriate activewear. And don't forget to pack a rain jacket, if not a complete rain gear outfit, including a wide-brimmed waterproof hat, rain pants and waterproof shoes or boots.

Also, and this is critical: Don't forget your passport. Many of the places you'll visit in the Great Lakes will be in the United States and do not require a passport. But every Great Lakes cruise includes at least a few — and sometimes many — stops in Canada, where a valid U.S. passport, passport card or NEXUS card is required to enter if you're a U.S. citizen.

Bottom line

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.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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Great Lakes Cruises

Discover natural wonders: from outstanding beauty to historic cities and a deep connection to nature, the Great Lakes are an undiscovered treasure, boasting stunning national parks best explored via tranquil kayaking and hiking. This area is also rich in culture, with world-class museums, vibrant cities and areas steeped in First Nations traditions.

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Highlights of great lakes cruises.

America’s Great Lakes are a little-known, unspoiled wonderland, boasting diverse natural beauty, scenic wildlife and some of the most interesting cities in North America. Over 750 miles across with 10,000 miles of coastline, the Great Lakes cover an area twice as large as Pennsylvania. Glide silently by kayak past otters in Georgian Bay, hear the roar of Niagara Falls, hike through verdant old forests or visit Canada’s prominent museums to marvel at art inspired by these shores. Here are some highlights you may experience during your journey:

• Explore the largest freshwater ecosystem on earth—the Great Lakes
• Watch for wildlife, from bald eagles to moose, bears and beavers
• Hike through stunning forests in this pristine environment
• Learn about Canada’s colonial past and the St. Lawrence River
• Kayak in stunning Georgian Bay—a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
• View the world-class collection of the Milwaukee Art Museum
• Explore tranquil, scenic Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
• Transit engineering marvels like the Welland Canal and Soo Locks

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Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior: on the US-Canada border, the five Great Lakes represent a unique opportunity for a cruise. It is a great feeling to relax into the Indian summer, enveloped by the immensity of these spaces, full of blazing nature. 

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A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys

Lake Superior – a life-sized expedition

Expedition in the heart of the American Great Lakes

Natalie Dessay and her friends, on the Great Lakes

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Essential Great Lakes

They represent another American dream. A cruise on the Great American Lakes is all about getting to know the two iconic countries of North America, Canada and the US, intimately. Here are the sites not to be missed during your trip to four of these lakes: Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan.

Essential Trips — The Great Lakes

In our imagination, the Great Lakes open onto infinite space. In fact, there are vast coniferous forests burnished with golden tones during the Indian summer, immense lakes interrupted by lush green islands and bays of turquoise water, rivers becoming torrential waterfalls... Before leaving for these legendary lands, here is some useful information .

Explore Great American Lakes

Canada : exploring the spectacular Great Lakes

Look over Niagara Falls

They are certainly the iconic site of this Great American Lake region . With a flow rate of 2,800 m3, the Niagara Falls are imposing in all their splendour. From Table Rock, a guided walk allows you to follow the crest of the Horseshoe Falls , one of the waterfalls that make up Niagara.

Discover the exciting life of Toronto — Canada

Toronto proudly sits on the banks of Lake Ontario. Canada's largest city knows how to draw travellers into its beating heart. With its lively streets, its different quarters with varied cultural influences , such as the Chinese and Polish quarters, Little India and Portugal Village, bars, restaurants and shops of all kinds elicit charm. To end this beautiful visit, climb to the top of the CN Tower and enjoy a 360° view over the city.

Stroll in Quebec — Canada

There is a particular pleasure to strolling in Quebec . The old fortified town is full of historic buildings such as the Château Frontenac and the imposing Citadelle. Wander through the paved streets of the Petit-Champlain quarter edged with bistros and restaurants, walk along the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, or cross the suspension bridge above Montmorency Falls at 83 metres high.

Cross the Welland Canal and the Port Colborne Lock

Less well-known than Panama, Suez and Corinth Canals, the Welland Canal is no less than a jewel of engineering. 42-km long and punctuated by eight locks, it links Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Sailing down this canal takes an even more impressive turn at Port Colborne where there is one of the longest locks in the world at 420 metres.

top at Flowerpot Island — Canada

Among the 30,000 islands making up Georgian Bay, Flowerpot Island is certainly one of the most extraordinary. It is part of the Fathom Five National Marine Park. 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. The water is cold, the bed rocky and steep.

Fly over Georgian Bay by helicopter — Canada

You might think that you're in the Mediterranean, but the coniferous forest edging the cliffs that fall into turquoise waters remind you that you're in Canada. On the northeast branch of Lake Huron, Georgian Bay has the clearest waters of the Great Lakes . To admire these incredible landscapes, nothing is better than a helicopter tour . Isolated creeks with sheer drops, lush vegetation clothed with golden tones in autumn... the scenery is exceptional!

Horse riding in Honora Bay — Canada

At the north of Georgian Bay, in Honora Bay, Manitoulin Island is a real delight with its tree-filled landscapes, waterfalls, calm waters and houses edging the lake. Choosing to roam through this landscape on horseback is about getting off the beaten track, through forests, fields and over hills, meandering along the Niagara, with a stunning view over the La Cloche Mountains. It's also the opportunity to see white-tailed deer, foxes, hares and even bald eagles.

Helpful tips

Things to do. Civility and calmness are the values that are much appreciated in Canada and the USA. If you are not satisfied with a service, it is best not to shout, but to try to find a solution through discussion.

Don'ts. In Canada, smoking is forbidden in all public places such as parks, cafés, and restaurant terraces.

Unique features

The Georgian Bay includes no less than 30,000 islands , which makes it the largest freshwater archipelago in the world.

Essential phrases

Bonjour / bonsoir : Good morning / Good evening Au revoir : How are you? Bienvenue : Welcome Excusez-moi / s’il vous plaît : Excuse me / Please Merci : Thank you Oui / non : yes / no Comment allez-vous ? : How are you? Très bien, merci, et vous : Fine, thank you, and you? Je m’appelle… : My name is...

Impossible de visiter l’Ontario sans goûter au sirop d’érable , produit dans la région depuis des siècles. Grand territoire agricole, l’Ontario fournit des légumes et des fruits de qualité. Parmi eux, les pêches servent à la conception de beignets fort appréciés. Côté salé, la poutine québécoise, ces frites recouvertes de fromage et d’un jus de viande, a fait son chemin jusque sur les bords des Grands Lacs. Dans les grandes villes comme Toronto, la culture culinaire reflète les vagues d’immigration successives. Saveurs françaises et britanniques restent ancrées dans la tradition.

Myths & legends

Although dream-catchers have a more decorative function today, they have a real significance for the Ojibwes from the Lake Huron region. Legend has it that the first dream-catcher was woven by a spider, the reincarnation of a young boy's grandmother whose tribe suffered from famine following a curse struck by an evil spirit. Hung at the entrance of his house, it filtered out the nightmares, allowing only good omens to pass through it. From then on, abundance returned to the village, saving the inhabitants from famine.

In the spotlight

Since the 1980s, the USA and Canada have partnered in a common effort to decontaminate the banks of the Great Lakes , especially in the most populated areas, such as Toronto. Purification plans and pollution prevention have transformed these zones from “areas unfavourable to economic growth into residential areas, which are precious economic assets”, as noted the International Association for Great Lakes Research. In a report published in August 2019, the economic benefit was calculated as more than 4 billion dollars.

Books. Sturgeon Falls (Ontario), in the 1960s. In French: Albert and Paul-André, two friends, acquire a notebook with a green canvas cover, which will become their shared diary. The two teenagers write down their feelings in it, and also their perception of a changing world. An autobiographical fiction by Gaston Trembley, Le Grand Livre traces the memories that the author has of this period of research into his own life, which provide a glimpse into the trajectories of these two future adults. With his friend, André Paiement, the author is one of the most prominent figures in Franco-Ontarian literature. Native Americans, explorers, gold hunters, immigrants, warriors, entrepreneurs... They have all made their mark on the history of the Great Lakes, inspired by the history and carried by the myths and legends. In Great Lakes Folklore: Legends of the Five Sisters, Charles Cassady, Jr. relates the most important tales.

Music. In summer and in autumn, the Native Americans organise pow wows. During these gatherings, which are open to the public, each tribe wears traditional costume and shares dances, songs, culinary specialities and crafts with each other. This is a wonderful way to discover cultures that are often little-known.

Film. Ben, a thirty-something man, is disillusioned with his work as a teacher, but his peaceful life is suddenly turned upside down with a shocking cancer diagnosis. Shaken by the news, he decides to buy a motorbike and take to the road for seven days from Toronto to Vancouver. In One Week , Michael McGowan poetically portrays the great Canadian outdoors, leaving you longing to discover it.

Facts and figures

The five Great American Lakes contain The five Great American Lakes contain 18% of the world's reserves of freshwater. This is the largest surface freshwater reservoir on the planet. of the world's reserves of freshwater. This is the largest surface freshwater reservoir on the planet.

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Legendary passenger cruise ships began sailing the Great Lakes in the 1800s and that grand tradition continues today. Whether you want a Duluth-Superior harbor cruise on the Vista Fleet or a trans-Atlantic multi-day expedition through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, you can choose from a growing menu of options. For all the cruising details, visit the Cruise the Great Lakes website and to learn more about what awaits in the Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas, visit the Visit Duluth website .

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• Jobs & the Economy

Cruising boom predicted in the Great Lakes

According to the marketing group Cruise the Great Lakes, ships are expected to make close to 600 port visits to towns and cities this year.

A Viking Cruises ship anchors off the Northeast coast of Mackinac Island on Tuesday. The marketing group Cruise the Great Lakes expects ships to make close to 600 port visits to towns and cities this year.

Cruise lines are looking to the Great Lakes for voyages ahead of what may be a record-breaking season.

Cruising is expected to surpass $200 million in regional economic impact this year. It’s driven by growing domestic and international appeal, officials said at a press conference on Mackinac Island this week.

According to the marketing group Cruise the Great Lakes, ships are expected to make close to 600 port visits to towns and cities this year. They’ll bring more than 20,000 passengers with them.

Tourism Director Anna Tanski said those numbers are nearly double what they were a decade ago.

“To say that this initiative is growing and expanding is probably an understatement,” Tanski said.

Victory Cruise Lines, formerly American Queen Voyages, announced  this week  it will put two vessels in the water in 2025. The company has not yet released its itineraries.

Meanwhile, cruise lines currently running trips in the Great Lakes include Pearl Seas Cruises, Viking Cruises, St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, Ponant, Hapag-Lloyd and Plantours Cruises.

These lines dock in major metropolitan areas like Detroit, Chicago and Toronto while also making stops in smaller communities like Mackinac Island, Traverse City and Sault Ste. Marie.

Officials touched on how the growth of the industry will affect those smaller fresh coast communities at the Tuesday press conference.

Tanski said while the market increase is significant, it will still be manageable. Due to the size of the St. Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes cruises average about 150 to 200 people per ship whereas Caribbean Oasis Class ships can hold more than 5,400.

“Will it be an explosion? No. That’s the beauty of it — it will be manageable, and something that we can all celebrate in our beautiful ecosystem that connects all of our five Great Lakes as well as our two Canadian provinces.”

David Naftzger, executive director of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, said tourists are attracted to the more intimate experience of a Great Lakes cruise.

“You get to know people through the course of a week-long cruise and there are educational programs in many cases,” he said. “Most of the activities, the reason that people are coming to take these cruises are the things that are on the shore.”

Officials also noted much of the incoming tourism will come from the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries due to  marketing efforts  by the organization Great Lakes USA.

Daniel Thomas oversees Illinois’ Office of Tourism and serves as deputy director for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

“The entire region is a premier destination for international visitors,” Thomas said. “The unique attributes of our individual communities, including our outdoor recreational spaces and activities, our wilderness, Native American culture, music, breathtaking sceneries, and all the culinary offerings, provide highly sought after experiences for both UK and German travelers.”

More questions from the media centered around sustainability and environmental protection.

“There are very various federal and state laws that the cruise lines are required to adhere to,” said Naftzger. “Beyond that, the St. Lawrence Seaway has been a real leader in terms of implementing some practices that have helped to keep our region safe from invasive [species].”

Most aquatic invasive species found their way into the Great Lakes via  the ballast waters  of ships traveling through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Jazmine Jurkiewicz, a trade specialist at the seaway, said ships are required to flush the water before entering the Great Lakes system.

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Port Colborne ON (Ontario Canada, Niagara Falls)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Canada and USA Rivers

Local Time 2024-05-15 23:31

Port Port Colborne ON cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Port Colborne ON, Ontario Canada, Niagara Falls. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Port Colborne is a Lake Erie cruise port and city in Canada's Ontario Province (Niagara Region), with population around 18,000. From the lake the Port is accessed via the Welland Canal . Via bus tours from Port Colborne are accessed the Niagara Falls. The distance between Port Colborne and Niagara Falls is approx 35 km (20 mi / ~0,5-hour drive) via King's Highway 140. When traveling on large ships, Niagara Fallas are accessed via bus tours from Toronto .

The city's current-day economy is heavily based on shipping (maritime commerce, ship-repairs, ship recycling) and tourism, as well as on well-developed industries like food processing (Jungbunzlauer Canada Inc, Port Colborne Poultry Ltd, Ingredion Canada Inc), nickel mining and processing (Vale Canada Ltd/subsidiary of Vale SA/Brazil), manufacturing (Oskam Steel Fabricators Ltd, IMT Partnership, Thurston Machine Company Ltd, JTL Integrated Machine Ltd, ADM Milling). Local businesses (including Vale's nickel refinery) benefit from the cheap electricity generated at Niagara Falls.

Besides the nearby Niagara Falls and Lake Erie's beaches and marinas (pleasure boats- and yachts-serving facilities), local tourist attractions include Canal Days (Welland-themed annual marine festival), Historical and Marine Museum (near downtown), Showboat Festival Theatre. Along the Welland Canal are located numerous tourism-oriented facilities serving golfing, fishing, boating (Sugarloaf Harbour Marina), trailing, dining (restaurants and cafes), shopping (Port Promenade), recreational parks (Nickel Beach, Lock 8 Gateway Park, HH Knoll Lakeview Park).

The settlement was established in the early-19th-century (as Gravelly Bay) and later renamed to honor John Colborne/1st Baron Seaton (1778-1863, was a British Army officer/Field Marshal and colonial governor). When the Welland Canal was opened (1833) he was the acting Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada (appointed in 1828). Previously, the region was inhabited by the Iroquois tribe. Port Colborne received village status in 1870, town status in 1918, and city status in 1966. The city was expanded several times via mergers with neighboring communities.

The Welland Canal (length 43 km / 27 mi) via 8 locks connects Lake Ontario (north/Port Weller) and Lake Erie (south/Port Colborne). The waterway can be navigated by ships with max LOA length 226 m (740 ft), max width 24 m (78 ft), max draft 8 m (27 ft), max height 35,5 m (116 ft / Garden City Skyway Bridge's clearance). The average time for ships to pass through the waterway's entire length is ~11 hours.

Welland is part of the St Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes Waterway (both are systems of natural channels and artificial canals interconnecting the Great Lakes). Welland Canal was constructed between 1824-29. Its locks allow marine vessels to bypass Niagara Falls. Welland's southern terminus (Lake Erie) is higher (100 m / 326 ft) than the Lake Ontario terminus.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls are three waterfalls that span the USA-Canada border (New York-Ontario) - Horseshoe Falls (largest) is on the border while the smaller ones (American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls) are in the USA. Buffalo NY is approx 27 km (17 mi) to the south, Toronto is approx 121 km (75 mi) to the north.

Niagara Falls follow Niagara River (north/drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario) and have max height/vertical drop 51 m (160 ft). Every minute, 168000+ m3 of water goes over the waterfalls. The average annual flow per second is 6400+ m3.

The cities Niagara Falls (Ontario) and Niagara Falls (New York) are interconnected via two bridges - Rainbow Bridge (open to non-commercial vehicle traffic and pedestrians) and Whirlpool Rapids Bridge (Niagara River's oldest).

Niagara River's first hydropower plant was built in 1881, generating electricity mainly for the local mills. Built between 1957-61, the Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station (in Lewiston NY) uses 13 generators with max power output 2675 MW. With annual capacity 2,4 GW, this is New York state's largest electricity producer.

Through the hydropower station every second pass ~1420 m3 (~380,000 US gallons) of water. Currently, 50-75% of the river's flow is diverted (via 4x tunnels) upstream from the waterfalls, passing thru the turbine generators then returning to the river again (near Lake Ontario).

Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations (in Niagara Falls ON) are owned by the Crown corporation Ontario Power Generation Inc. These two Canadian stations (Adam Beck 1, and Adam Beck 2) divert water from Welland River (via Chippawa-Queenston Power Canal) into three tunnels (under Niagara Falls). Both stations have combined power output 1997 MW.

Currently, 50-75% of Niagara River's flow is diverted (via 4x tunnels) upstream from the waterfalls, passing thru the turbine generators then returning to the river again (near Lake Ontario).

Niagara Falls' tourist season runs between April 1st and October 31st.

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Port Colborne ON - user reviews and comments

• Grand Rapids/Muskegon
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• All Michigan

Victory I, Victory II cruise ships to return to the Great Lakes in 2025

• Published: May. 14, 2024, 12:29 p.m.

Victory I docks at Heritage Landing in Muskegon on Thursday, May 23, 2019. The ship is not running during the 2024 Great Lakes cruising season but will return in 2025 along with its twin, the Victory II. Kayla Renie | MLive.com

• Justine Lofton | [email protected]

The 2024 Great Lakes cruising season is underway, but two mainstay ships are missing. However, it won’t be long before they’re back on the freshwater seas, Seatrade Cruise News reports .

In 2023, the 190-passenger twin ships Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager made up about half of the nearly 100 calls to Mackinac Island and visited several other ports. American Queen Voyages announced in June that it would sell the ships.

The company then filed for bankruptcy and the vessels were sold at auction for $2 million to John Waggoner, the report said.

Waggoner had owned Victory Cruise Lines and operated the ships on the Great Lakes as Victory I and Victory II. The names were changed when he sold his companies and retired. He plans to relaunch Victory Cruise Lines, return the ships’ former monikers and launch them on the Great Lakes during spring 2025, the report said.

Plans include 36 voyages of 10 to 12 days each, the report said. The ships will touch all five Great Lakes. Victory I will operate a 197-day season while Victory II’s will be 153 days. This could bring up to 7,000 passengers to the Great Lakes.

That would be a big boost to the 20,000 passengers expected to visit the Great Lakes region by cruise this year.

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‘New and shiny’ Great Lakes cruise ship industry expects further growth

Travel leaders in Michigan expect another busy year as the 2024 cruise ship season kicks off. (May 15, 2024)

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‘new and shiny’ great lakes cruise ship industry expects further growth.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Travel leaders in Michigan expect another busy year as the 2024 cruise ship season kicks off.

Cruises the Great Lakes expects ships will make close to 600 port visits to Great Lakes cities this year, bringing with them more than 20,000 individual passengers. It is expected to have an economic impact of $200 million, a 50% increase over 2022.

In Michigan, seven port destinations, including Muskegon, are expected to welcome a total of 157 visits from a nine ships, Kelly Wolgamott with Travel Michigan said in a press conference on Mackinac Island Tuesday.

“We are just really excited to be launching the 2024 cruise season here on Mackinaw Island,” she said. “Taking a Great Lakes cruise throughout Pure Michigan allows travelers to discover a fresh perspective along our over 3,200 miles of a fresh water coastline, creating cherished moments that will last a lifetime.”

Cruises brought 2,500 people — and their money — to Muskegon in 2023

Wednesday’s press conference comes after the Great Lakes cruise ship industry broke records in 2023. In Muskegon alone , around 2,500 passengers stopped by last year, generating around $700,000 in economic impact.

Cruise the Great Lakes expects to continue to see steady, manageable growth over the next several years.

Victory Cruise Lines, previously under the flag of American Queen Voyages , is expected to return to the Great Lakes in 2025. Construction on a number of cruise ships is underway, and Bay City is working to become a port that can accept cruise ships, leaders said during the press conference.

“We have a number of ports and destinations that are currently in various stages of infrastructure enhancements, shore excursion development,” said Anna Tanski, the tourism director of Cruise the Great Lakes. “We are the new and shiny option for cruising. Even though we do have a rich history dating back … 150 years, we are viewed now as this new experience for people who want to immerse themselves into our communities, to learn more about the rich history that the Great Lakes brings, the unique scenic beauty.”

The demographics that are interested in a Great Lakes cruise continues to diversify, leaders said. In partnership with Great Lakes USA , the team is working to bring more international tourists into the area, especially from the United Kingdom and German-speaking markets.

“There definitely is an international component,” Tanski said. “The targeted demographic of these passengers, they’re well-seasoned, well-traveled, they’ve gone on the Alaskan cruises, the Caribbean cruises. … We are providing a fresh, new experience and an opportunity to explore a region that is mostly undiscovered to many visitors.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.

Cruise ships represent a 'game changer' for Mackinac Island tourism industry

by Daniel Zivian

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- For Michiganders, a Mackinac Island day trip means driving to Mackinaw City and taking a ferry.

But international tourists are coming by cruise ships as part of trips spanning the Great Lakes.

• Also read: Mackinac Island Police set to crackdown on electric bicycle use

At the Mission Point Resort, the Viking Octantis is docked just offshore.

And at a news conference at Mackinac Island, Great Lakes Tourism leaders gave their outlook for the 2024 cruising season.

Anna Tanski, of Cruise of the Great Lakes, said they expect about 20,000 visitors on a few different cruise lines, a 50% increase economically from previous years.

Many cruisers are European, often coming from Germany, the U.K. and Ireland.

Looking ahead further, Tanski said another cruise line will be docking in the Straits.

"Victory Cruise Lines will be returning," Tanski said. "They were previously under the flag of American Queen Voyages. They will be operating two vessels on the Great Lakes in 2025."

"Viking was a game changer," said Tim Hygh, the CEO of Mackinac Island Tourism. "There's a prestige factor. There's a real sexiness about having a cruise ship outside of your resort."

"We don't have any brand hotels on Mackinac Island. We're mom and pop places that are really trying to make things go," Hygh said. "So when people read about cruise ships arriving on the island, that gives us a certain amount of credibility that we might not have had before if its someone that doesn't know anything about Mackinac Island."

Tanski was asked about the potential for "over tourism" and said 20,000 visitors is sustainable with room to grow.

She said ports are developing and ships are being built.

Tanski also said that while the ships are rather large, many ships will be smaller with more intimate experiences.

WOOD Grand Rapids

‘New and shiny’ Great Lakes cruise ship industry expects further growth

Posted: May 15, 2024 | Last updated: May 15, 2024

Travel leaders in Michigan expect another busy year as the 2024 cruise ship season kicks off. (May 15, 2024)

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Experts predict growth in summer cruise tourism numbers across the Great Lakes

UPPER MICHIGAN. (WLUC) - An organization predicts this year’s summer cruise tourism numbers around the Great Lakes will be record-breaking.

The Cruise the Great Lakes organization predicts long-term growth for regional cruising. The organization had a tourism conference to highlight efforts around the Great Lakes to accommodate an increase in cruise ship visits on Tuesday.

Members said more than 140,000 cruise passenger visits are expected this year. One of the speakers said they estimate this year’s number of visitors will bring in more than $200 million.

“The 2024 season represents nearly a 50% increase and economic impact over 2022, so to see that this initiative is growing and expanding is probably an understatement, but the other important part of it is that this is a sustainable effort that is having a positive impact on our communities,” Great Lakes Commission Tourism Director Anna Tanski said.

Taski said cruises will make nearly 600 port visits in 2024. Those ports include Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinac Island. Upper Peninsula Travel Executive Director Tom Nemacheck said these cruises are big for the retail industry here in the U.P.

“They group the people of a town, and they are there for several hours and it is great because when they are in town. They often have coach trips, they go outside legal areas outside the Port, so they spread the money out pretty far in a given area,” Nemacheck said.

Nemacheck said this experience can expose people to a new product they’ve never seen, which is the U.P.

“We call them ‘familiarization tours,’ it’s like giving them a tour of the area and they go back and spread the word, and it’s got long-term implications for the Upper Peninsula,” Nemacheck said.

Speakers said this summer, they expect more than 20,000 individual passengers will experience the beauty of the Great Lakes.

Copyright 2024 WLUC. All rights reserved.

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Expect to see more cruise ships on the Great Lakes

It's an industry where business is booming and cruise ships on the Great Lakes are showing no signs of slowing down.

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