Enjoy a complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening allows time to become acquainted with the city. For your convenience, our Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and our friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about the upcoming voyage to reservation of premium experiences. Representatives will be available to provide suggestions for dining, entertainment and sightseeing options to maximize your time here. 

Bold, brazen and distinctly American, Chicago has personality to spare. From our embarkation point at Navy Pier to towering skyscrapers to regional cuisine and a quirky dialect, this city represents the heart and soul of the Midwest. Chicagoans are easy to recognize and quick with a smile and a lighthearted quip. Shopping on the Magnificent Mile is an adventure to remember, and the locals know the hidden mom-and-pop gems serving the best deep-dish pizza, Italian beef and signature Chicago dogs. 

Explore the Lake Michigan coastline that are home to a vast variety of wildlife and watch for abundant marine life along the way.

Trapped in time and surrounded by staggeringly beautiful landscapes, Mackinac Island centers the spirit and soothes the soul. Settle into the tranquil pace of this treasured destination on a tour by horse-drawn carriage. Fill up on fresh, local flavor with a lunch to remember at the island’s legendary Grand Hotel. Afterward, let your gaze lazily wander across the stunning vistas from its colossal porch – the world’s largest. 

Explore the Lake Michigan coastline that are home to a vast variety of wildlife and watch for abundant marine life along the way.
 

Fresh air and forest highlands make Marquette magnificent. The Northern Lights shine upon this shipping port dotted with islands. Lighthouses jut from the fog, and loons call across the waters in this magical locale. The view from the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain reveals some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the Upper Peninsula. 

Snuggled among deep, rolling hills and dramatic emerald slopes, anchored by sparkling indigo water, this jewel of the Upper Peninsula endears it to all who visit. Its history embedded in copper, the charming city on the Keweenaw Peninsula entices wayfarers with its festivals, Finnish-tinged regional foods and a bounty of outdoor enjoyment. Many hockey-lovers make it a goal to visit Houghton – birthplace of the sport – beginning with the 1903 Portage Lakers. Come experience pure Michigan. 

Marked by its distinctive Aerial Lift Bridge, the rotating JJ Astor restaurant and America’s premier freshwater aquarium, Duluth captures the spirit of the Great Lakes. Marine traffic from the Atlantic on the Great Lakes Waterway and St. Lawrence Seaway pass by the harbor, making for fantastic ship-watching. Fuel your adventures with the area’s signature Juicy Lucy burgers and herring and trout so fresh they seem to have jumped straight from water to kitchen, washed down with a refreshing local brew. 

This bright, sunny inlet of Lake Superior lives alongside the unmistakable natural wonder of the Sleeping Giant – a massive mesa resembling a figure in repose. An amalgamation of the former cities of Port Arthur and Fort William, Thunder Bay is home to more than 100 parks, overflowing with opportunities to experience the region’s natural beauty. It’s also where one can find the famed century-old Hoito restaurant, to which locals and tourists alike flock for large, thin Finnish pancakes, cardamom bread known as pulla, fish soup and other treats. 
 

Explore the Lake Superior coastline that are home to a vast variety of wildlife and watch for abundant marine life along the way.

A city divided presents duality in experience; Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and ON, bridged together by name and commerce, are diverse waterfront communities that harbor a flood of opportunity. Culture beats through street veins that connect these harbors to the distinctly different North American countryside beyond each border. Join the included tour, and admire the view from the Soo Locks observation deck, or peer into the past in the preserved fur traders’ settlement homes on Water Street. Drink in the atmosphere, and encounter life in Sault Ste. Marie. 
 

Explore and watch for abundant marine life along the way.

Anthems of green and gold ring proud, but the song of the city harmonizes the whole spectrum. Experience the many colors of the city, from red-flowing wineries to shades of local cultivators in markets filled with man- and nature-made goods year-round. This pelican’s playground is home to craft breweries, boutiques and, of course, fresh sea fare. 

This outdoor lovers’ haven on Lake Michigan’s eastern shore offers multiple state parks and trails, two paddle sport rivers, 26 miles of beaches and a winter sports park. Maritime history lovers gravitate here to tour the USS LST (Landing Ship, Tank) 393 Veterans Museum. An optional premium experience finds guests traveling by motorcoach to Grand Rapids to visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum to learn about the life of America’s 38th president and pay respects at his burial site. Afterward, enjoy a narrated driving tour of the city. 
NO SHORE EXCURSIONS ARE OFFERED ON THIS DAY.

As the journey concludes, there are additional opportunities for you to take in the town. Consider a post-cruise premium experience with airport transfer, or enhance your vacation with a Chicago City Stay Package.