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Upon arrival at the depot, don’t miss the Iron Range No. 227, a “Yellowstone”-style locomotive that was one of the biggest steam engines ever built. After exploring the depot, board your vintage train car for a trip on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, a heritage railroad that runs through Duluth and will take you along the shore of Lake Superior. As you ride, enjoy narration, including the history of Duluth, its harbor, and the importance of the railroads to the development of Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Visit the famous 39-room Glensheen Mansion built with remarkable 20th-century craftsmanship, telling the story of the Duluth region. Begin your journey at Centennial Park, where a guided nature walk reveals the park's diverse flora and fauna.
Sault Saint Marie, Michigan
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. 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"). Some of the most desirable cabins might be sold out; being flexible about your sail date or itinerary can help. 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.
What to Know about the Submarines on Viking Octantis
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In lieu of balconies with tables and chairs (not that useful in polar regions) there are “Nordic Balconies.” These are floor-to-ceiling windows that can be lowered half-way with the push of a button. You will have your own private, protected viewing spot with a ledge for elbows, cameras, or binoculars, but just be sure to close the window when mosquitos are around. Viking has brought expedition-style cruising to the region, complete with submarines.
Great Lakes Cruises
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Explore this recreation of the 17th-century French Jesuit Mission headquarters, with a replica of the barracks, homes, and meeting places that housed the Jesuits. Detroit is commonly known as The Motor City, as Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler have been producing cars there for more than a century. Though, it’s equally famous as the birthplace of Motown Records, and for its many beloved sports teams.
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. Germany’s Haplag Lloyd Cruises is the company building two new cruise ships coming to Great Lakes in 2020. 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. From the fudge-forward downtown, it is a 20-minute hike to the grounds of the famed Grand Hotel or a $7 ride in a horse-drawn carriage. 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.
Great Lakes cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do
Experience the grandeur and grit of a bygone era, where every creak and groan of the ship tells a story of its storied past. Northwest Ontario's largest city, Thunder Bay is a vibrant community surrounded by natural wonders, including thousands of square miles of Canadian wilderness and over 150,000 lakes and rivers. Explore the historic buildings and public art displays of Thunder Waterfront and North Core. Delight in a scenic drive to Kakabeka Falls, which means ‘waterfall over a cliff’ in Ojibwe and is also nicknamed the ‘Niagara of the North’ due to its size and accessibility. Venture to Fort William Historic Historical Park for a guided exploration of this living museum, featuring reconstructed buildings and historians dressed in period clothing. Experience the rugged beauty of Thunder Bay's scenic shoreline, delve into the legacy of a Canadian hero at the Terry Fox Monument & Visitor Center, and uncover the purple gems of the Diamond Willow Amethyst Mine.
"The hardware is good, the itinerary is good, the staffing is good. If you book with us, you're going to cruise. We're not going to cancel on you." AQV's sister company, Hornblower, has exclusive rights in many locations that will also work in AQV's favor at Niagara Falls, where the day cruise company provides tours of the national park. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, international passengers were the most likely to cruise the Great Lakes; the French line Ponant and the German line Hapag-Lloyd offered different sailings that often sold out. Ocean Navigator holds 202 passengers and is AQV's second best-selling ship this season. Ocean Victory, which is the company's new expedition ship coming to Alaska, is the first. In 2018, eight ships, operated on Great Lakes, from Victory, Blount Small Ship Adventures and Pearl Seas Cruises.
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. Both cater to a generally older crowd, which is the main market for Great Lakes cruises.
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. From urban skylines to uninhabited islands, discover North America’s wilderness alongside renowned cultural attractions while cruising the striking waterways of the Great Lakes. Immerse yourself in the lakes’ compelling shipping history, experience the power of the thundering Niagara Falls and keep watch for scores of migratory birds at Point Pelee. Led by a team of experts, explore sheltered bays and woodlands to uncover complex ecosystems and hidden treasures. The Great Lakes offer cruisers access to wildlife, natural landscapes, quaint lakeside towns, and industrial history on the U.S.
What follows is a trip that comprises eight days and seven nights of splendor aboard the sleek, modern Viking Octantis. Your cross-two-countries trip will include visits to Point Pelee, Ontario, Detroit, Michigan, the Thunder Bay National Maritime Sanctuary, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where you’ll disembark. If you’re intrigued, here are the cruise ships to watch that are sailing the aptly named Great Lakes. You may not think of Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, or Duluth, Minnesota, as hot ports on the cruise map, but this year they are.
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). 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.
View iron ore docks and the many beautiful Victorian homes that embellish the city, including those in the East Side Home District. Admire Lake Superior Beach, Tourist Park, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and downtown Marquette. Stop at Marquette Maritime Museum & Lighthouse, a one-story, stone, hipped-roof Richardsonian Romanesque style structure built in 1891.
Thunder Bay on Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada, is among the natural wonders along the shores of the Great Lakes. After breakfast on board, begin your journey home, reflecting upon the incredible experiences you’ve had and the wonderful new friends made. Stop at the Motown Museum in Hitsville, U.S.A., where the world’s biggest independent record company was born. It was in this very house that Berry Gordy produced an assembly line of hit songs from legendary artists such as Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and many more. The heart and soul of Detroit’s finest singers, musicians, writers, producers and arrangers reverberates from artifacts and instruments that have remained since the studio’s relocation in the 1970’s.
Your adventure begins with a picturesque drive along Lake Superior, where the wild landscape of Northern Ontario unfolds before you. Pause at the Terry Fox Monument & Visitor Center to pay homage to the inspiring journey of a national icon and enjoy panoramic views of Thunder Bay. Venture to the Amethyst Mine on a guided exploration of the open pit mine. Learn about the history and geology of amethyst as you navigate the mine's rugged terrain. Then, experience the thrill of discovery with free time to search for your own treasures.
A stop is made at the Lake Ontario port of Rochester, NY, before entering the Erie Canal, passing through New York Harbor and ending in Warren, RI. 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. 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. Leaf-peepers may catch fall colors in late August or early September, especially in the most northern areas. Experience unique ports of call in the surrounding states and provinces as you cruise through the magnificent Great Lakes.
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