The stereotypical picture of a cruise usually includes sunshine and beaches in the Caribbean, or maybe cruising along the coast of Alaska to take in the picturesque glaciers.
But a cruise beginning in Toronto and ending in Milwaukee is not top of mind.
That’s exactly what Smithsonian Journeys has put together, though. The 8-day Great Lakes cruise will take place in September 2022, with two more planned for the fall of 2023.
“Cruise four of the five Great Lakes, exploring the islands and coasts of Ontario and Michigan and discovering a wealth of natural wonders and historic sites from Mackinac Island to Georgian Bay,” Smithsonian Journeys says on its website.
Prices for the cruise start as low as $6,790 for a 204-square-foot deluxe stateroom and go up to $39,550 for an “owner’s suite,” with plenty of price points in between.
The 2022 cruise will take place September 18 to 25, with the 2023 cruises set for August 28 to September 4 and October 9 to 16.
Itinerary
The cruise begins in Toronto, taking off on the first evening on Lake Ontario, and heads to Niagara Falls, where passengers will leave the ship and board small vessels that will take them to the edge of the falls.
Cruising begins again that evening on Lake Erie and heads to Detroit and the St. Clair River on Day 3. Day 4 is on Lake Huron where Parry Sound and Georgian Bay are explored.
Subsequent days take cruisers on Lake Michigan to Little Current and Manitoulin Island, then up to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The cruise then drops down Lake Superior and back to Lake Michigan for a final arrival in Milwaukee.
Other Details
Meals are included, of course, but each cruise also has experts on board to educate cruisers on the areas they are visiting. Field geologist and geophysicist Carola Stearns and maritime history expert and author Frederick Stonehouse are among those whose brains can be picked.
The trip will take place on the Le Bellot, a boat launched in 2020 with 92 suites and staterooms. In addition to an indoor-outdoor restaurant, there are plenty of spacious public areas.
Company officials are also proud of the ship being designated a Clean Ship, meaning it is designed with energy-efficient and advanced eco-friendly features that help protect the ecosystems it’s cruising.
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