great lakes golf cruise

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

How to choose a Great Lakes & St. Lawrence River Cruise

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.

• North America

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 Golf Cruise – Toronto to Chicago – 17 to 30 August 2025

• Day to day itinerary

Toronto to Chicago Great Lakes Golf Cruise

13 night tour with 6 golf games sail 4 of the great lakes & the welland canal 5 star luxury four seasons hotels in toronto and chicago 17 to 30 august 2025* from aud 21,150 per golfer (aud 42,300 per golfing couple) from aud 17,400 per non golfer (aud 38,550 golfer/non-golfer couple) from aud 29,600 per solo golfer.

Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours invites you to join us on a Toronto to Chicago golf cruise/tour onboard Ponant’s Le Champlain . Our tour will be operated in partnership with Tauck and is perfect for golfers and non golfers alike.

Our journey commences with a 3 night stay at the 5 star Four Seasons Toronto Hotel and includes 2 games of golf at leading courses including Glen Abbey Golf Club , 30 times the venue for the Canadian Open.  While in Toronto, we’ll take a trip to Niagara Falls and enjoy an up close experience of the awesome power of the Falls.  After our Toronto sojourn, we board Le Champlain to commence an 8 day/7 night cruise of the Great Lakes that will take us to  Cleveland, Detroit, Mackinac Island and Muskegon.  Sadly our fabulous cruise must end but wait there’s more!

Definitely a highlight, Chicago, a city with stunning architecture never fails to impress.  Our home will be the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel and while in Chicago, we’ll play our final 2 golf games, including at the elite private Merit Golf Club .

Your 7 night cruise includes all meals and beverages (standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic), gratuities, wifi, standard shore excursions, use of the fitness centre and arrival/departure airport transfers.  Additionally, the 6 nights pre and post-cruise hotel stays include daily breakfast, welcome and farewell dinners with beverages.  Golfing guests will enjoy 6 rounds of golf, return coach transfers, motorised carts, prize money, and drinks post golf.  11 of your 13 dinners (including drinks) are included with only 2 nights available for dinning independent of the 4 x group dinners (2 x Tauck and 2 x Trendsetter Travel) and the 7 x dinners on board Le Champlain .

Le Champlain is a small elegant ship which accommodates up to 180 guests. The cruise enables a comprehensive look at this revered waterway as we cross Lake Ontario, and travel 42 km through the Welland Canal to enter Lake Erie.  We then sail the length of Lake Erie visiting both Cleveland (Ohio) and Detroit (Michigan) before crossing into Lake Huron and finally Lake Michigan.

While our golf programme includes 6 games of golf, the two golf games in Cleveland and Detroit are optional and a credit of AUD 450/game is available if you prefer to miss golf on either or both days in favour of the included Tauck tours in those cities.  The tour is designed to deliver an exceptional golfing and cruising experience – we are confident you can participate in our golf programme and also attend a large part of the Tauck touring on offer.

Our tour is ideal for golfing couples, golfer/non golfer couples, and singles who benefit from a single supplement of approximately 140% of the per person twin share rates.

Significant additional information regarding the Tauck component of our tour can be found at:  https://www.tauck.com.au/tours/chicago-toronto-great-lakes-cruise?tcd=glw2025

Your tour hosts are Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper, Directors/Co-Owners of Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours, an Australian golf tour operator which has been running international hosted golf tours since 2016.  Both are enthusiastic golfers and longstanding members of one of Sydney’s most prestigious golf clubs.  They have golfed and cruised extensively around the world.  They invite you to join them on this fantastic tour, with long port days and the chance to play between 4 and 6 games (at your option), all at a wonderful selection of golf courses in and around the Great Lakes.

You can consider this tour in conjunction with Trendsetter’s Montreal to New York City Golf Cruise 2/14 September 2025 on Seabourn Sojourn.  This golf cruise commences 3 days after the conclusion of Trendsetter’s Great Lakes Golf Tour.  Guests taking both tours will receive an AUD 250 pp air credit for the connecting flight.  Trendsetter will arrange an optional 3 night, 5 star hotel stay with 2 optional games of golf from 30 August to 2 September 2025 (at additional cost) to provide a bridge between the two tours. Should you wish to do both tours, please contact us urgently since Montreal to New York is already heavily sold .

*Important Disclosures:

While the Tauck tour is advertised as 11 nights, an extra night is added in both Toronto and Chicago, taking Trendsetter’s tour to 13 nights.  Tauck does not presently intend to charter the entire Ponant ship thus the Trendsetter Travel Golfing Group is part of the Tauck tour which is part of the total guest group on Ponant.

Day 1 – Sunday 17 August 2025 – Toronto

Tauck provides a complimentary transfer from either Toronto’s Lester B Pearson International Airport or Union Railway Station to the Four Seasons Toronto hotel, home for the next 3 nights.  Toronto, which sits on the shore of Lake Ontario, is both the largest city in Canada and the commercial heart of the country.  The complimentary Tauck transfer is available if you arrive earlier than your tour’s commencement date.

Meet up at 6.30 pm for Trendsetter Travel welcome drinks and dinner.

Day 2 - Monday 18 August 2025 – Toronto – Golf Game 1 – Glen Abbey Golf Club

For the non-golfers, today is free for independent exploring of Toronto.

Golf (Round 1): Today we play Glen Abbey Golf Club , located 45 minutes drive south of down town Toronto.  This Jack Nicklaus designed course has held the Canadian Open 30 times (more than twice as many times as any other national golf club) since it was first held here in 1977.  Winners of the # 1 tournament in Canada, and a regular inclusion on the PGA Tour schedule, include Greg Norman (1992), Nick Price (1994), Tiger Woods (2000) and famously Jason Day (2015) just prior to his win in the USPGA at Whistling Straights.

After returning to Toronto, we meet the full Tauck tour party over welcome dinner and reception at Casa Loma, a restaurant located in mid-town Toronto. 

Day 3 – Tuesday 19 August 2025 – Toronto – Golf Game 2 – King Valley Golf Club

For the non-golfers, there is an included 4 hour shore excursion with Tauck.  Choose from a city highlights tour with a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum, or the Ontario Art Gallery. Your afternoon is free time.

Golf (Round 2):  We travel 45 minutes north of down town Toronto to play King Valley Golf Club .  A collaboration between two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange and renowned architect Doug Carrick, King Valley Golf Club is brilliantly routed through hardwood forests and tall pines, and the valleys and ravines of the beautiful King region just north of Toronto.  King Valley was runner-up in Golf Digest’s 1991 list of best new courses in Canada and Mike Weir won the 1993 Canadian Tour Players Championship there, prior to his entry to the PGA Tour.

Day 4 – Wednesday 20 August 2025 – Toronto – Niagara Falls – Embark Le Champlain

After breakfast, check out of the Four Seasons Hotel and travel south of Toronto to Niagara Falls, for what will be a highlight inclusion for many.  Niagara Falls sit on the border of the USA and Canada and our tour includes a boat trip to the bottom of the Falls (with rain pancho provided).  The Falls are breathtaking and offer plentiful photo opportunities from either side.

Following our visit to Niagara Falls, we visit a local winery for tasting and lunch before returning to Toronto and cruise embarkation.  Your luggage will already be in your room/suite, having been transferred direct from the Four

Seasons Hotel to Le Champlain.

Day 5 – Thursday 21 August 2025

Our ship sails overnight to the Welland Canal which links Lake Ontario to Lake Erie.  Entering the Welland Canal, we commence an 11 hour, 27 mile journey through 11 locks to bypass the Niagara River and Niagara Falls.  The ship then passes through the cities of Welland, Thoroid, and St Catherines, emerging at Port Colborne before heading toward Cleveland at the southern tip of Lake Erie.

A local canal expert will entertain us with stories about the canal and its history as we traverse the waterways.

Day 6 – Friday 22 August 2025 – Cleveland – Golf Game 3 – Fowlers Mill Golf Club - In port 8.30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For the non-golfers, there is a morning visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and in the afternoon a city sightseeing coach tour, to include the theatre district, Westside Market and a visit to a local craft brewery.

Golf (Round 3): Today we play the first of two golf games (both optional) offered on the cruise.  The Pete Dye designed Fowlers Mill Golf Club (1970) is ranked as the 8 th best Pete Dye layout in the USA. While it is a public access course, it is favourably reviewed and should not disappoint.

Day 7 – Saturday 23 August 2025 – Detroit – Golf Game 4 – Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club - In port 7 am to 8 pm

For non-golfers there are two included tours on offer. The first is to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, which complex covers 9 acres of exhibition space with numerous interactive exhibits. These include the bus in which Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat, the Wright Brothers’ bicycle shop, the courthouse where President Lincoln practised law, Thomas Edison’s laboratory and much more.  The alternative tour is a guided sight seeing tour of Detroits famous landmarks.

Golf (Round 4): Golfers today will play the second of two golf games (both optional) offered on the cruise at the highly rated 27 hole Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club, the # 1 public access course in Detroit.

Day 8 – Sunday 24 August 2025 – A day on Lake Huron

Today is spent cruising Lake Huron up the scenic east cost of the state of Michigan towards Mackinac Island.  The eastern shore is called the Sunrise Coast and is a long parade of beaches, sand dunes, inlets, small towns and 30 lighthouses.  This vast freshwater lake encompasses around 30,000 islands.

Day 9 – Monday 25 August 2025 – Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island has been a popular summer holiday retreat since the 19 th century when wealthy industrialists built summer holiday homes on the island.  The island restricts the use of motor vehicles, except in emergenices, so that the only way to get around the island is on foot, by bicycle or a horse-drawn carriage.  Elect either a carriage or bicycle tour of the island as you ride past impressive Victorian mansions and along the picture-postcard main street with its fascinating shops.  Further afield, travel out to forests, marshes, beaches and finally Fort Mackinac, a 19 th centure military outpost.  Lunch is at the palatial Grand Hotel (1887) that boasts the longest porch in the world (over 200 metres).  A frequent guest, Thomas Edison, reputedly gave the first demonstration of a phonograph (the earliest form of record player) on the porch.

Day 10 – Tuesday 26 August 2025 – Muskegon – Optional Golf Game - In port 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For the non-golfers, your day at Muskegon offers a numer of tour options from visiting giant sand dunes to a visit to the town of Holland, established by Dutch Calvinists in the 18 th century.

For the golfers, we expect to offer an optional golf game here in Muskegon.

Day 11 – Wednesday 27 August 2025 – Disembark - Chicago

All good things must come to an end and this morning, having sailed due west across Lake Michigan, we will berth in Milwaukee and disembark from Le Champlain .

Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, has a population approaching 600,000 and is a 90 minute drive north of Chicago.  Tauck will transfer us to Chicago and on arrival, we’ll board a sightseeing boat for an architectural tour along the Chicago River.  Lunch is at the legendary Giordano’s Pizzeria where the local delicacy is stuffed, deep-dish pizza.   After checking into the Chicago Four Seasons hotel, the remainder of your afternoon is free to independently explore Chicago.

Day 12 – Thursday 28 August 2025 – Chicago – Golf – Game 5 - Merit Golf Club

The non-golfers have a choice of  two sight seeing tours this morning.  Either visit the Chicago Art Institute, a palatial Beaux Arts-style building on Michigan Avenue which houses over 300,000 works of art or take guided walking tour of of Millennium Park.  The afternoon is at your leisure.

Golf (Round 5): Today we play the first of two Chicago golf games and are privileged to be welcomed at the outstanding Merit Golf Club , one of the most exclusive private golf clubs in Chicago, with just 150 members and over 30 green staff.  We are told the course will be in immaculate condition.

This evening we celebrate the end of the cruise with our fellow Tauck guests at a Tauck farewell reception and dinner at the Chicago Four Seasons hotel.

Day 13 – Friday 29 August 2025 – Chicago - Golf Game 6 - Harbourside International Golf Resort

For the non-golfers, today is a free day to independently further explore Chicago

Golf (Round 6): Today we play our final golf game on tour.  We are previliged to play Harbourside International Golf Resort, with its two excellent Starboard and Port golf courses.  This is a fitting finale game on our golf tour and will assuredly be a pleasure to play.

This evening we will celebrate the end of the Trendsetter tour with a farewell dinner and drinks.

Day 14 – Saturday 30 August 2025 – Chicago – Conclusion of the tour

Say goodbye to your many new found friends and enjoy a complimentary Tauck transfer to Chicago Airport. The complimentary Tauck transfer is available if you depart later than your tour’s conclusion date.

For those joining Trendsetter Travel’s Montreal to New York Seabourn Golf Cruise, you will fly today from Chicago to Montreal if you wish to participate in the 3 night pre cruise Montreal hotel (golf optional) package.  Or you might wish to extend your stay in Chicago and join later in Montreal.

Le Champlain Deck Plan & Specification The following is the Le Champlain deck plan:

For actual floor plans on the individual staterooms and suites, please refer to the following link:

https://trendsettertravel.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Le-Champlain-Floor-Plan-of-Each-Room-and-Suite.pdf

Trendsetter Travel has a group allocation of the following rooms:

• 3 x Deluxe Staterooms
• 11 x Prestige Staterooms
• 4 x Deluxe Suites

There are other higher categories of suites (Prestige Suites, Privilege Suites, Grand Deluxe Suites and Owners Suites) – these are available on request and subject to availability (refer deck plan and above link for additional details).

The Finer Details.

ALL Trendsetter Travel guests, as part of the Trendsetter Travel Golf Tour Cruise, will enjoy a 14 day, 13 night tour including:

• 11 night Tauck tour comprising a 7 night cruise onboard Le Champlain, 2 nights each at Toronto and Chicago Four Seasons hotels with arrival and departure transfers, touring, breakfast daily and other meals per https://www.tauck.com.au/tours/chicago-toronto-great-lakes-cruise?tcd=glw2025
• 1 extra night in each of Toronto and Chicago Four Seasons with breakfast, and dinner and drinks
• 6 games of golf (including shared motorised cart), coach transfers, green fees, prize money, and drinks post golf (NB the two golf games in Cleveland and Detroit are optional and a credit AUD 450 pp per game is applicable if you prefer to sightsee instead of golfing in those ports)
• Non golfers enjoy lower pricing per the chart above
• Extra pre- and post-tour nights can be purchased from Trendsetter. Price on application

NOT INCLUDED

• International and domestic USA flights
• Golf clubs hire
• Items of a personal nature
• A deposit of 5% of the total cruise is payable upon confirmation e.g. 2 persons in a prestige stateroom = AUD 5,550 ( AUD 44,400 x 12.5% )
• The full balance is payable no later than 17 April 2025
• Payments can be made by direct bank transfer or by credit card (1% VIS/MC and 2% AX fees apply)
• The deposit is non-refundable except that should you cancel prior to 17 April 2025, and Trendsetter is able to find a replacement, your deposit will be refunded less an administration fee of AUD 2,000 per room, single or double occupancy.
• Once full payment has been made, a cancellation fee of 50% is applicable up until 60 days prior to the date you will commence your tour, that commencement date to include any pre-tour accommodation
• Within 60 days of your tour commencement date, to include any pre-tour accommodation, no refund is applicable
• TRAVEL INSURANCE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED – Trendsetter can assist in organising if required

OTHER GENERAL

• Golf will be played on the courses as specified but Trendsetter cannot be held responsible for any cancellation/s necessitated by a change to Tauck’s itinerary due to weather or any other event, or late amendment by the golf course.
• Similarly, if Trendsetter considers it in the best interests of the tour as a whole to make a change to one or more of the specified golf courses (e.g. due to course maintenance issues or lack of motorised carts or a better, previously unavailable course now being available) the change will be made without referring that decision to guests already booked.
• In the event of a cancellation and where Trendsetter cannot organise an alternative golf course, it will pass through any refund/s available.

Contact Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours Ltd ( www.trendsettertravel.com.au ) for further information on this tour by phone +61 2 9428 5900 (Longueville/Northwood office) or email [email protected] or Mob + 61 (0) 413 010 638.

Policies of Great Lakes Golf Cruise – Toronto to Chicago – 17 to 30 August 2025

Check the itinerary, go all-inclusive to save, ship size does matter, make sure you get enough time at port, healthy competition and fair play, swing your partner ‘round, beware the fake golf cruise.

David Cooper

+61 413 010 638 [email protected]

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.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

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
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
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• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

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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. 

All about cruises America's Great Lakes

• Last staterooms

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

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.

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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.

• Algoma (United States)
• Bayfield & Apostle Islands (United States)
• Duluth (United States)
• Killarney (Canada)
• Little Current (Canada)
• Mackinac Island (United States)
• Midland (Canada)
• Milwaukee (United States)
• North Shore Inside Passage (Canada)
• Parry Sound (Canada)
• Point Pelee National Park (Canada)
• Port Colborne (Canada)
• Sailing Lake Erie (Canada)
• Sailing Lake Huron (Canada)
• Sailing Lake Michigan (United States)
• Sailing Lake Superior
• Sailing St. Clair River (Canada)
• Sailing along Flowerpot Island (Canada)
• Sailing through Detroit (United States)
• Sailing through Keweenaw Waterway
• Sault Ste. Marie (United States)
• Sault Ste. Marie (Canada)
• Silver Islet, Lake Superior (Canada)
• Slate Islands (Canada)
• Thunder Bay (Canada)
• Toronto (Canada)

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Worldwide Golf Cruises 2024/2025/2026

Buy One Get One Half Off (“BOGOHO”):  applies to new bookings created between created between February 23, 2019 – May 31, 2019 (“Offer Period”). Offer applies to select sailings departing on or after April 6, 2018. BOGOHO provides 50% off cruise fare of the second guest booked in the same stateroom as the first full fare paying guest. All other charges, including, but not limited to, cruise taxes, fees, and port expenses, are additional and apply to all guests. Offer applies to all stateroom categories; category availability varies by sailing. Offer may not be available on all categories on all sailings. Offer also includes a $500 Onboard Credit (OBC). Onboard Credit amount is per stateroom, in USD, has no cash value, is not redeemable for cash, is not transferable and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the last evening of the voyage. $500 OBC amount is based on double occupancy and applies to all stateroom categories. The Unlimited Internet package is valid for guests booked in an Oceanview or higher stateroom under BOGOHO offer. Unlimited Internet package provides unlimited internet minutes for use onboard; one device per package. Internet connectivity and speed is subject to location of ship, availability of satellite signal, and is not guaranteed 100% of the time.

Limit one offer per stateroom. Offer applies to new, individual bookings and non-contracted group bookings named and fully deposited during the Offer Period. Offer is not applicable to incentive or contracted groups. Offer is subject to availability and may change without notice and may be withdrawn at any time. Azamara reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. This offer is applicable to U.S. and Canada residents only.

Refer to  www.azamaraclubcruises.com/SHAREANDSAVE  for complete Terms & Conditions.

The reputation we've established since 1984 as one of the most innovative providers of international golf travel is proudly presented now as the leading operator of international golf cruises. PerryGolf along with Azamara® , our partner since 2011, stand alone to deliver the largest variety of voyages that combine marquee golf with the world's most memorable destinations. Our 2024/2025/2026 portfolio visits 23 countries, and features more than 70 different golf courses, 20 of which are ranked among the World's Top 100.

Azamara ‘s ® fleet of boutique hotels at sea for less than 700 guests has proven ideal for the purpose. Their ships are large enough to offer luxury accommodation (46 suites each with butler service) along with fine dining, spa and entertainment yet nimble enough to navigate smaller harbors for premium docking space.

This access allows Azamara to offer more overnights in port plus ... Read More

Our all-inclusive golf packages are fully managed by PerryGolf staff onboard and ashore for groups typically of 40-60 guests. Golf equipment is handled from start to finish and awaits our players arrival at each course. Golf carts are ready with clubs in place. Daily pairings, range balls, box lunches and post round drinks in the clubhouse are coordinated along with social events to create a relaxing and convivial environment. Dedicated transportation conveniently conveys guests between the golf course and the ship. Gratuities are included except for caddies.

Azamara’s suites routinely book first so we encourage you to lock in early for the best selection at the best price.

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2024 European Medley Golf Cruise 41 Days. 34 Ports. 4 - 15 Rounds. 16 Late Nights. 1 Smashing Experience. CLICK FOR DETAILS

NEW!!! 2025 European Medley Golf Cruise 68 Nights. 44 Unique Ports. 3 - 27 Rounds. June 30 - September 6. Copenhagen to Portsmouth. CLICK FOR DETAILS

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• Expeditions
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• Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Milwaukee, Wisconsin

NEW! Great Lakes Treasures

• From $7,995
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Verdant vistas of nature

Sail the vast waterways of the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater system in the world. Explore the picturesque islands of the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and admire their bucolic landscapes. Venture out to Flowerpot Island in the Fathom Five National Marine Park and marvel at the stunning pink granite isles of the Benjamins Islands. Participate in lab studies as you explore coastal wetlands and delve into the Native cultures of the Great Lakes.

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Viking Inclusive Value

We include more features & services than others

To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

One complimentary landing or shore excursion in every port of call

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner

24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water

Port taxes & fees

Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase

Visits to UNESCO Sites

Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances

Complimentary access to The Nordic Spa & Fitness Center.

Self-service launderettes

Alternative restaurant dining at no extra charge

24-hour room service

Kayaks, Zodiacs & Special Operations Boats — A Viking Expedition Kit with a variety of equipment to explore at no extra charge

Keepsake Viking expedition jacket (on polar itineraries)

All Viking excursion gear needed for any relevant excursions

Your Stateroom Includes:

King-size bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows

55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring CNN, CBC, MBC2, beIN Sports

Interactive TV with complimentary movies and documentaries, as well as Viking.TV proprietary content, lectures and expert interviews

Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections

Floor-to-ceiling heated drying closets for expeditions gear

Spacious glass-enclosed shower

Heated bathroom floor

Anti-fog mirrors

Premium Freyja® toiletries

110/220 volt outlets & USB ports

Meopta Optika MeoPro 8x42 binoculars

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

Explore more before or after your expedition. Ask your Viking Expert for more information. Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

Pre: Milwaukee

From $1,499 | 2 Nights

Pre: Best of Chicago

From $2,799 | 3 Nights

Post: Milwaukee

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Great Lakes Cruise Lines

These Great Lakes cruise lines offer unparalleled sophistication and intimacy of small-ship cruising on the Great Lakes. Whether your taste is French-inspired luxury, Nordic-inspired sophistication, or a classic maritime journey, choose from an array of world-class accommodations and thrilling shore excursions to create memories for a lifetime on these superb, state-of-the-art ships.

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