Embark on an unforgettable 11-day 5 Great Lakes cruise aboard Victory I, starting in Chicago and ending in Toronto. Stay at a hotel in Chicago before setting sail from Navy Pier. Explore vibrant cities like Detroit and Cleveland, marvel at the natural beauty of Mackinac Island, and witness the engineering marvel of the Soo Locks. Experience scenic sailings on Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie, with stops in charming towns like Escanaba and Sault Ste. Marie. Discover the cultural treasures of Niagara Falls and the scenic landscapes of the Niagara Peninsula. This cruise offers a perfect blend of urban exploration, historical insights, and natural wonders.
Highlights
Discover the natural beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Explore Detroit's Henry Ford Museum and its remarkable exhibits
Explore the largest freshwater island in the world, Manitoulin
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Stay in one of Chicago's finest hotels and feel the city's vibrant energy. Chicago, with its bold and dynamic character, embodies the spirit of America. Begin your adventure at Navy Pier, surrounded by skyscrapers, and indulging in local cuisine and unique dialects. Explore the iconic Magnificent Mile, and discover hidden mom-and-pop eateries offering the best deep-dish pizza, Italian beef, and classic Chicago dogs. This city captures the heart of the Midwest, promising an unforgettable adventure.
Begin your adventure in Chicago. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago, walk through Millennium Park, and take a river cruise to see the city's architecture. Enjoy excellent dining and nightlife before setting sail.
Less deep, and less cold than its Superior counterpart, Lake bluffs borders this freshwater Michigan, the second largest Great Lake by volume is the only one whose borders lie entirely within the United States. This lake is a conduit for water travelers seeking to visit iconic American largest freshwater island in the cities - Milwaukee, Muskegon, and Chicago.
Explore the natural beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Visit the historic Fayette Historic State Park, hike the trails of Hiawatha National Forest, and discover the region’s rich history at the Delta County Historical Museum.
You'll awaken in the Straits of Mackinac, which connect Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. With no cars allowed on the island, your horse-drawn carriage tour is a great way to experience the Victorian ambiance of this National Historic Landmark. Learn about the island’s history and see turn-of-the-century summer homes built by early captains of American industry. High atop a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, your tour of Fort Mackinac delves into its strategic importance during the War of 1812. Then take in the views from the Grand Hotel’s verandah, the longest in the world, and enjoy the hotel’s famous Grand Luncheon Buffet. Back in town, you’ll have time to browse through galleries and boutiques. Before sailing this evening, the Grand Hotel’s resident historian Bob Tagatz will come aboard for a colorful talk on the history of Mackinac Island and its world-famous hotel.
Day 6: Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Locks), Michigan | Lake Superior
Located at the mouth of the St. Mary’s River, the twin - “Soo’s” - of Sault Ste. Marie Ontario and Michigan were originally established as one settlement by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century and remained so until the War of 1812. Today the locks on the American Soo side bypass the St. Mary’s Rapids that fall over 20 feet connecting Lake Superior to Lake Huron and Michigan. The Soo locks are the busiest in the world in terms of tonnage, accommodating 1000-foot freighters. Traveling upstream and arriving at Mackinac Island, the ship will dock on the Canadian side of the river at Roberta Bondar Place, named for Canada’s first female astronaut.
In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, you will visit The Bush Plane Museum and Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site. The collections and exhibits of the Bush planes tell the story of how these brave Canadians battled Ontario’s many forest fires. At the Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site, you’ll find stone buildings and period gardens from the 1800’s. In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan you will visit The Valley Camp Museum Ship which houses over 100 exhibits in her 20,000 square feet of cargo holds which contains hundreds of interesting artifacts, paintings, shipwreck items, models, and exhibits of objects related to maritime history. In addition, The Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit holds the two lifeboats from the stricken vessel. Torn away during the sinking, these lifeboats are two of very few major artifacts recovered after the tragic demise.
Lake Superior lives up to its name not only in its place as the largest of the Great Lakes but also by its surface area - the largest of any freshwater lake in the world. A traveler on these waters touches nearly 3,000 cubic miles of water. With an average depth of 500 feet, it features a nautical playground for a variety of marine life.
The second largest of The Great Lakes, Lake Huron boasts a surface area of 23,000 square miles. Of the 35,000 islands peppering the Great Lakes, 30,000 spring from Lake Huron. The largest island on the lake also happens to be the largest freshwater island in the world – Manitoulin. It is home to six First Nation tribes and a year-round population of over 13,000.
Day 8: Detroit, Michigan | Scenic Sailing on Lake Erie
Sailing from Lake Huron to Lake Erie, you will stop in Detroit, Michigan. Just outside of Detroit, you’ll visit the Henry Ford Museum which was created to document the genius of ordinary people. Housed in a sweeping, nine-acre, single-floor space with soaring 40-foot ceilings the museum is dedicated to showcasing the finest collection of its kind. The sheer scope and design of the museum are as grand as the vision that inspired it. Local experts will escort guests to see the museum’s highlights including the limousine that carried President John F. Kennedy on that fateful day in Texas, the bus in which Rosa Parks stood her ground and sparked the Civil Rights movement, and the chair from the Ford Theatre in which Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was shot.
Lake Erie, the southernmost of the Great Lakes is also the shallowest and smallest in terms of volume. Its size allows it to both warm and freeze rapidly in conjunction with the weather. Its allure draws island hoppers, birdwatchers, fishermen, and one legendary creature - Bessie, a 40-ft. long, a foot-thick serpent.
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland represents the heartland of American life and history. Industrial landmarks from its days as a lakeside manufacturing town still stand in testament to Cleveland’s roots. But the Cleveland of today is also filled with beautiful urban spaces and is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Here in a striking structure designed by I. M. Pei, you’ll discover more than just a museum of rock and roll memorabilia. With the expert guide, you’ll explore the evolution of the musical genre that shaped a generation and track its cultural impact. Among the exhibits are Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche and Michael Jackson’s famous glove. You’ll also explore the wonderful West Side Market, set in a 1912 landmark and home to more than 100 vendors.
Day 10: Niagara Falls (Port Colborne), Ontario | Scenic Sailing on Lake Ontario
Opened in 1829, the Welland Canal continues to play a vital role, allowing goods to travel from Great Lakes ports like Cleveland and Detroit to the ocean ports of Montreal and Quebec City. As the ship begins its canal transit, you’ll step off in Port Colborne for a scenic drive into the vineyard-laced landscapes of the Niagara Peninsula. Then a thrilling Niagara Falls Catamaran Cruise takes you through the Great Niagara Gorge and past Bridal Veil Falls into the very heart
of Horseshoe Falls - where the mighty spray and roar of Niagara virtually envelop you! At the Chateau des Charmes, founded by a fifth-generation French winegrower, you’ll enjoy a tour, tasting, and lunch. You will also have free time to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Lake Ontario, this lake of shining waters - as its Iroquoian name implies - harbors pieces of each of the other Great Lakes within it. All the water in the Great Lakes flows through this body of water. And the dunes, wetlands, and rocky forests that surround it are recreational wonders for guests year-round.
Day 11: Toronto, Ontario | Disembark
1 Breakfast
End your cruise in Toronto, Canada’s dynamic metropolis. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum, take a ferry to the Toronto Islands, and enjoy the vibrant arts and food scene in the Distillery District. From the iconic CN Tower to the eclectic neighborhoods, Toronto offers something for everyone.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$6,7992-3 travelers
Cat. D - Outside Stateroom
Area: 158 sq. ft.
Located on the Main Deck. Room amenities include a Queen bed or two single beds, a full bathroom with shower, a writing desk with chair, and interior access.
Cat. C - Outside Stateroom
Area: 152 sq. ft.
Located on the Saloon Deck. Room amenities include a Queen bed or two single beds, a full bathroom with shower, a writing desk with chair, and interior access.
Cat. B - Outside Stateroom
Area: 146 sq. ft.
Located on Cabin Deck. Room amenities include a Queen bed or two single beds, a full bathroom with shower, a writing desk with chair, and interior access.
Cat. A - Outside Stateroom
Area: 185 sq. ft.
Located on the Cabin Deck. Room amenities include a Queen bed or two single beds, a full bathroom with shower, a writing desk with chair, and interior access.
Cat. AA - Deluxe Outside Stateroom
Area: 161 sq. ft.
Room amenities include direct access to the open-air Promenade Deck, a Queen bed or two single beds, a full bathroom with shower, a writing desk with chair, exterior access, and a mini refrigerator.
Cat. OS - Owner's Suite
Area: 335 sq. ft.
Room amenities include a semi-private terrace, a Queen bed, a full bathroom with shower, a sitting area with sofa and dining table, an interior entrance, and a mini refrigerator.
Initial deposit is $1000pp for double occ, $2000 for single occ, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 190 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 342 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 342 reviews on
1 day ago
We had such a great experience with Adventure Life when we booked the Galapagos trip a few years ago. Mary Curry helped us then, and again now. She is very knowledgeable, prompt in communication back and forth, and makes it so easy. Thank you, Mary! P.S. Your chat room person, Jo, was also wonderful.
MTPhil
2 days ago
The entire experience was great. Erin really knows her stuff and provided me with a lot of great insight and advice.
MARGARET CINCOTTA
3 days ago
Mary Curry is the BEST! I have worked with her for multiple family trips for over 10 years, and she is responsive, works within your preferences and budget, has great suggestions and has personal travel experience at many of the locations. We prefer active family vacations and Adventure Life and Mary Curry make sure that is what we get!
Heather Spanbauer
3 days ago
Bhutan with stopover in Bangkok. All of our trips with Adventure Life have featured guides and drivers of top professional calibre, a great way to travel. This itinerary was no exception.
Steve Metzler
5 days ago
Very prompt responses. Erin found us the trip we were looking for and gave us good advice.