Great Lakes of North America Cruise
Set sail on these 8-day small ship Great Lakes cruises, operating in the colorful summer months. Cruise between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto, Canada aboard 184-guest Le Bellot or Le Champlain. Along the way, appreciate points of natural and cultural interest, learning about the Native American and European influences that live on today.
Follow in the footsteps of the first settlers, trappers and Native Americans. Enjoy sailings on Lake Michigan, a veritable inland sea; Lake Huron with its myriad northern islands, with white rocks capped with conifers plunging into the sapphire waters of the lake; Lake Erie, with an possible added-cost excursion to Niagara Falls; and Lake Ontario with its shimmering waters.
Along the way, discover charming sites such as Mackinac Island, with its preserved Victorian buildings.; the city of Parry Sound, in the heart of the wonderful UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Georgian Bay; Port Colborne, from which you can see the impressive sight of Niagara Falls; and the cosmopolitan city of Toronto. These small ship Great Lakes cruises offer picturesque landscapes and geological curiosities, insights into the history of the Native Americans inhabiting the region before European colonization, charming villages and metropolises bearing witness to North American economic vitality.
An alternative 11-day itinerary, Expedition in the Heart of the American Great Lakes, follows a Milwaukee>Toronto route with a few added visits. Call at historic Killarney, one of the oldest villages in Canada, for hiking, Zodiac cruising and kayaking. Visit Midland with its recreated French Jesuit mission buildings, offering a glimpse into life of early Westerners in Canada. And take in Point Pelee National Park, home to over 350 bird species, on foot or by paddle.
Another alternative 11-day itinerary focuses on exploring Lake Superior, the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes, and also the world’s largest freshwater lake. As a major route for trade that connects the St. Lawrence River, Lake Superior is full of history. Experience some of its little-known gems including the Apostle Islands with their sea caves and 800 botanical species, and a local cultural performance in the city of Bayfield. Cruise from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Thunder Bay, Canada, or reverse.
The themed A Voyage Along the Great Lakes itinerary follows the same Toronto>Milwaukee and Milwaukee>Toronto routes. These departures are tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. These Ponant voyages in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys uniquely include transfers to and from the ship on embarkation and disembarkation days, talks and discussions aboard ship by world-class experts from Smithsonian Journeys, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the local environment and culture. Look for the themed icon in the Rates and Dates table below.
Travel aboard one of two identical sister ships: 184-guest Le Bellot or Le Champlain. These ships offer 100% private balconies or terraces, innovative equipment, elegantly designed guest accommodations and welcoming lounge areas that open to the outside. A variety of onboard activities engage guests while the ship cruises, including the Blue Eye underwater lounge–a multi-sensory space in the ship’s hull featuring hydrophones, expansive underwater views and other amenities that create the feeling of being underwater beside the marine life that the ship is sailing past.
Read on for details about these small ship Great Lakes cruises, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s East Coast cruises and Canada small ship cruises.