Welcoming Destinations on the Great Lakes

Approximately one-third of cruise vessels being built today carry fewer than 400 passengers, providing a more intimate experience.  These smaller vessels appeal to veteran cruisers looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience.

Ships in the St. Lawrence Seaway are small enough to navigate the locks and channels, but large enough for superior handling and stability in rough seas.

Unique onshore experiences immerse passengers in local history, art and architecture, and native cultures.

Travelers disembark on Mackinac Island for horse and carriage rides and can visit Green Bay, Wisconsin to tour the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and National Railroad Museum. They experience the Victorian homes and art museums of Muskegon, Michigan, and the gourmet cuisines of Milwaukee’s beer city food markets.  Visitors tour the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the famous, historic Henry Ford Museum in Detroit. Â They visit the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, Minnesota and Navy Pier and the John Hancock Building in Chicago.

At every stop along the way, passengers are treated to award-winning cuisine and breathtaking views.

Passengers who cruise North America’s Great Lakes are experienced cruisers, many having sailed the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Australia, and South America. They want something new and different, to expand their personal horizons.

Local ports, conventional and visitor bureaus, and state marketing agencies are on hand to assist shipowners in establishing new ports and activities. Many cruises include direct international flights to major cities across the Great Lakes region.

The docks host musical performances, presentations of city keys and natives adorned in colorful regalia. For the duration of their stay, passengers become part of the community, discovering its character and heritage. Activities are planned and exploration encouraged.