Great Lakes Cruise Reviews 2023 UPDATED: Ratings of Cruises to Great Lakes
Table Of Content
But you might just have a no-extra-charge outing including many of the highlights of each place already planned for your voyage. 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. 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.
When is the best time to cruise the Great Lakes?
American Queen Voyages, which stopped in Cleveland, shuts down - WKYC.com
American Queen Voyages, which stopped in Cleveland, shuts down.
Posted: Tue, 05 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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). 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.
Why Viking
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. Flip-flops or sandals come in handy for the Niagara Falls boat tour. 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.
Night Great Lakes & Georgian Bay Cruise
The line will have its two remodeled 202-passenger vessels in the area. Ocean Navigator is boarding passengers in Savannah today for a cruise up the U.S. East Coast en route; the first Great Lakes sailing is May 9, from Toronto. Ocean Navigator holds 202 passengers and is AQV's second best-selling ship this season.
Along the way, enjoy stops at local wineries, historic lighthouses, museums, aquariums, renowned restaurants and so much more! Niagara Great Lakes CruiseAs you’ll discover when you click on the individual Great Lakes cruises listed below, each and every one of our trips has something to write home about. 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. 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.
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. When AQV restarted their American river cruise in 2021, they predicted a bump in Great Lakes bookings. Passengers would come to them after a river cruise and ask what else they had in North America, Bierdz said. Viking Great Lakes cruises for Viking Octantis visit upper Midwest destinations that even those living in the region rarely see. Using Milwaukee as a home port, Viking's Undiscovered Great Lakes itinerary stops in Wisconsin's Apostle Islands, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and Duluth in Minnesota before ending in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Great Lakes & Georgian Bay Cruise
Viking's itineraries have the most outdoorsy options, while Pearl Seas Cruises offers trips with a lot of small-town stops. 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). You'll start in, say, Toronto, and work your way west to Chicago — or vice versa.
Great Lakes Cruises That Include the Erie Canal
For travelers weary of the last-minute changes and COVID-era stresses, a Great Lakes cruise promises an easier and more reliable cruise, Bierdz said. (What are your thoughts on flying internationally to cruise vs. leaving from the U.S.? Take the Cruise Critic survey). Pearl Seas Cruises is also returning to the Great Lakes with its single vessel, the 210-pasenger Pearl Mist, in late May.
End your journey in Milwaukee with a visit to the legendary spots that make this city famous, including the Harley-Davidson Museum. With Pearl Seas Cruises, every moment of your Great Lakes voyages are carefully curated to ensure an unforgettable experience. Discover the wonders of the Great Lakes region in ultimate comfort and style, and create memories to last a lifetime. Embark on an unmatched adventure through the breathtaking Great Lakes aboard Pearl Seas' luxury cruise ship. Our luxurious vessel is meticulously designed to provide the utmost comfort and sophistication as you explore the enchanting waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, and Lake Huron.
Cruise line to end Great Lakes voyages - MLive.com
Cruise line to end Great Lakes voyages.
Posted: Fri, 23 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Compared to budget river cruises in Europe, which can start at $250 per person per night, Great Lakes Cruises are relatively expensive. 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. Specializing in ocean, river, ultra-luxury, small ship and expedition cruises.
The new Viking Polaris joined her identical sister ship, Viking Octantis, doubling the line’s cruise capacity on the Great Lakes. If you’re intrigued, here are the cruise ships to watch that are sailing the aptly named Great Lakes. The Great Lakes offer cruisers access to wildlife, natural landscapes, quaint lakeside towns, and industrial history on the U.S.
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. These ships offer intimate experiences combined with crewmembers who anticipate your every want and need. It’s everything you desire on a larger cruise ship, minus everything you wish you could cast away.
It's also a hub for outdoorsy pursuits including mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking and angling, as it's nestled within boreal forests. For example, seven-night Viking sailings in the region start at $5,995 per person. 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.
Some of the most desirable cabins might be sold out; being flexible about your sail date or itinerary can help. 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. 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.
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