The Great Lakes region is one of the world’s most magnificent and historic inland waterways. Explore this fascinating area as we set sail from Toronto and cruise Lake Ontario to Lake Erie via the Welland Canal, an engineering marvel that took over 100 years to complete. Enjoy an excursion to Niagara Falls, where you'll see the breathtaking American Falls and Canada's Horseshoe Falls. Then sail to Cleveland and visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, housed in a state-of-the-art building designed by internationally renowned architect I.M. Pei. Spend a day cruising Lake Erie and Lake Huron to arrive at Mackinac Island, where you’ll tour Fort Mackinac and stroll through the charming Victorian town. Navigate along the shores of Lake Michigan, stopping at Charlevoix, with the whimsical “mushroom houses” built by local architect Earl Young. See the lake’s great sand dunes at Saugatauck, where you’ll enjoy a scenic ride on specially designed schooners before concluding in Chicago.
Watch a short preview:
Extraordinary Speakers
Throughout your cruise, attend presentations by a team of Extraordinary Speakers. Walter Lewis is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on the history of the Great Lakes. In 2011 the Marine Historical Society of Detroit named him Great Lakes Historian of the Year. Elisabeth S. Clemens is professor and chair of sociology at the University of Chicago and is a student of social movements and grassroots political organizations of the late 19th to early 20th century.
Special Highlights
Explore the rich cultural history of Cleveland according to your interests, with a choice of visits to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the superb Cleveland Museum of Art, or the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Stand in awe at the natural majesty of Niagara Falls and the engineering feat of the Welland Canal, which lowers your ship more than 325 feet over a distance of 27 miles through a series of locks.
Visit Makinac Island, a Victorian-era haven where cars are forbidden and bicycles share the road with horse-drawn carriages.
Enjoy an exciting ride along the sand dunes in Saugatuck in “dune schooners,” specially designed dune buggies.
Don't forget to check out our photo slide show to glimpse the excitement of this special program!
View photos by clicking "Next Photo" at top of page!
