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Stunning Niagara Falls

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway

Montreal - Chicago - Example 13 Day Cruise aboard Victory I
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Set sail on a 13-day cruise aboard the Victory II, starting in Montreal and ending in Chicago, as you travel through all five Great Lakes. Begin by exploring the cultural richness of Montreal and Toronto before witnessing the breathtaking power of Niagara Falls. Navigate through the historic Welland Canal, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and tour the Henry Ford Museum near Detroit. Experience the pristine beauty of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, with stops at Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinac Island. Each destination offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. This voyage promises a comprehensive exploration of the Great Lakes, offering both scenic sailing and onshore excursions that highlight the diverse landscapes and rich history of the region.
Downtown Cleveland with River BridgeExplore beautiful MontrealBuilding in downtown Toronto - Ontario, CanadaMackinac Island, MichiganLook for the lighthouses of the Great LakesExplore Chicago, IllinoisStunning Niagara Falls
Highlights
  • Discover the city of Toronto, with panoramic views from the CN Tower
  • Sail on Lake Erie and visit the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit
  • Explore the second largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron
  • Savor local delicacies at the famous Atwater Market in Montreal
Activity Level: Variable
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.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Montreal, Quebec | Hotel Stay

Begin your adventure in the vibrant city of Montreal, where you stay in a hotel. Unwind after discovering the city's historic neighborhoods, iconic sites like Old Montréal, and cultural landmarks such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Experience a seamless mix of urban energy and refined comfort.

Day 2: Montreal, Quebec | Embark

Kick off your adventure in Montreal, a city where French elegance blends with North American energy. Explore the historic streets of Old Montreal, tour the stunning Notre-Dame Basilica, and taste local specialties at Atwater Market.

Day 3: Scenic Sailing on Lake Ontario

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 4: Toronto, Ontario

Explore the dynamic city of Toronto. Visit the towering CN Tower for panoramic views, explore the bustling St. Lawrence Market, and discover the diverse neighborhoods that make up this cosmopolitan city.

Day 5: Niagara Falls (Port Colborne), 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.

Day 6: Cleveland, Ohio

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 is 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 7: Scenic Sailing on Lake Erie | Detroit, Michigan

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.

Sailing from Lake Huron to Lake Erie, you will call on 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.

Day 8: Scenic Sailing on Lake Huron

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 in excess of 13,000.

Day 9: 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 was 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.
 

Day 10: Mackinac Island, Michigan

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 11: Escanaba, Michigan

Discover the maritime heritage of Escanaba. Visit the Sand Point Lighthouse, stroll along the scenic Ludington Park, and explore the historic Escanaba Marina.

Day 12: Scenic Sailing on Lake Michigan

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 lawrencemontrealAmerican's largest freshwater island in the cities - of Milwaukee, Muskegon, and Chicago.

Day 13: Chicago (Navy Pier), Illinois | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Conclude your adventure in the bustling city of Chicago. Explore the iconic Millennium Park, visit the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, and indulge in the city’s world-class culinary scene.

Ship/Hotel

Victory I

Compass Lounge
Dining Room
The Grill

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$7,999 2-3 travelers
Outside Stateroom D
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.
Outside Stateroom C
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.
Outside Stateroom B
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.
Outside Stateroom A
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.
Deluxe Outside Stateroom with Veranda
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.
Owner's Suite with Semi-Private Veranda
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.
Included
  • 11 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 10 Dinners
  • 11 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Port Fees
  • Unlimited Wifi
  • 1-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay with complimentary ground transfers between the hotel and the vessel
  • Included Shore Excursions - meet destination experts and in every port
  • Acclaimed Cuisine breakfast, lunch and dinner served in multiple venues
  • Exclusive enrichment with our Lakelorian
  • Open Bars and Lounges - unlimited beverages throughout the vessel
  • Unlimited beverages including an extensive wine list, choice spirits, local beers, and specialty coffees
  • Oceanview Staterooms all oceanview suites and staterooms, appointed with the comforts of home
  • Live Daily Onboard Entertainment enrich your curiosity onboard and on-shore with Lakelorians
  • Gourmet selections - regionally inspired dishes with intricate and artful plating
  • Hiking Sticks
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)

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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin

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