Great Lakes: Wild and Untouched Canada
Discover historic Fort Mackinac and enjoy the Victorian-era ambiance of Mackinac Island as you ride in horse-drawn carriages. Get a glimpse of the Ojibwe culture on Manitoulin Island as you sail into beautiful Georgian Bay. Discover fascinating chapters of music history at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, designed by I.M. Pei, and visit the world-class Cleveland Museum of Art. Feel the spray and mighty roar of Horseshoe Falls as you cruise through the Great Niagara Gorge.
Day One & Two | Toronto + Embark the Cruise
Discover the sights and charms of Toronto at their own pace. Later in the afternoon, you’ll be taken to the pier where the intimate and stylish cruise ship awaits. After settling into your outside stateroom, enjoy an elegant dinner with wines, cocktails, and beverages with your fellow travelers.
Add-On Activities
Art Gallery of Ontario | Among North America’s most distinguished art museums, the Art Gallery of Ontario has more than 90000 works of art.
Casa Loma | Casa Loma was first built in 1914 by financier Sir Henry Pellatt. The castle located in midtown Toronto, is now owned by the City of Toronto and is regarded as a treasured heritage landmark. Each year over 650,000 visitors tour Casa Loma and the estate gardens.
St. Lawrence Market | The Market contains over 120 specialty vendors, known for the variety and freshness of their fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, grains, baked goods and dairy products, as well as for the uniqueness of the non-food items for sale.
Day Three | Niagara Falls
As early as 12,000 years ago, Niagara Falls extended seven miles down river to Lewiston, New York, and Queenston, Ontario. During its eroding process, the brink has eroded up to six feet per year. Every second, 3,160 tons of water flow over Niagara Falls. The American and Bridal Veil Falls transport 75,750 gallons of water every second, and the Horseshoe Falls transport 681,750 gallons every second. Through the Great Niagara Gorge and past Bridal Veil Falls, you’ll be taken right into the heart of Horseshoe Falls, where Niagara’s mighty spray and roar really comes alive!
Day Four | Excursion to Cleveland
The Cleveland Museum of Art will be the first stop on our excursion today. The collection features 61,000 works spanning 6,000 years, including works by ancient Greek sculptors, Monet’s soothing Water Lilies, and Andy Warhol’s vibrant take on Marilyn Monroe. Located inside a striking lakefront building designed by the renowned architect I. M. Pei, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame offers much more than just memorabilia. There is no doubt that this museum’s well-curated and thoughtfully presented exhibits trace the evolution of this musical genre and examine its cultural impact on generations of Americans. Collection items include Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche, Michael Jackson’s legendary glove, and scribbled lyrics from the 20th century!
Add On Activities
Sake Tasting | Gekkeikan, one of Japan’s largest breweries, offers a sake tasting as well as lessons about the ancient traditions of this popular beverage.
Stroll Narra Park | Home to hundreds of freely roaming deer, the park also holds the 8th century Todaiji Temple; inside you can marvel at Daibutsu; this enormous bronze image of a seated Buddha towers nearly 50 feet.
Day Five | Detroit
A leader in industrial innovation and creativity during the 20th Century, Detroit has played a pivotal role in the development of the automobile as well as the creation of the “Motown” sound. All entry fees to the Detroit Institute of Art and its galleries, the Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the West Canfield Historic District are included in today’s excursion. In addition to the extensive Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, you can also choose the optional premium experience at Greenfield Village.
Add-On Activities
Visit the Motown Historical Museum | As an irresistible force for social and cultural change, the legendary Motown catalog had a profound impact on not just the music industry but also society as a whole. As one of the most significant musical achievements and stunning success stories of the 20th century, the Motown Sound has captured the hearts of millions.
The Motown Museum was founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards, a former Motown Records executive and sister to the late Berry Gordy, founder of Motown. The museum houses iconic Hitsville U.S.A., Studio A, as well as other memorabilia, records, photographs, and artifacts.
Day Six | Cruising Lake Huron
With the longest shoreline of all of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron is one of the most unique lakes on Earth. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes, and the fourth largest lake in the world by surface area. Huron is renowned for its beaches, sand dunes, wetlands, forests, and extensive river systems. Its coves, channels, and bays are steeped in history, including the hundreds of shipwrecks that lie beneath its surface. The bright turquoise waters will invite you to explore all that Lake Huron has to offer.
Enjoy this day of cruising – enriched by shipboard experts, fine dining, congenial camaraderie with your fellow passengers and the open bar.
Lake Huron in a Nutshell
4th largest lake in the world by surface areas
2nd largest of the Great Lakes
Holds and average depth of 59m (193 ft)
Home to approximately 3 million people
Water flows into Lake Huron from Lakes Superior and Michigan (via the Straits of Mackinac) and out to Lake Ontario.
Day Seven | Ashore on Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Experience the beauty of Georgian Bay and the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation on Manitoulin Island. A great place for learning about the region’s First Nations people, this heritage museum features art galleries and state-of-the-art exhibits. There is even the option of participating in a smudging ceremony, an age-old ritual that utilizes smoke from cedar, sage, sweetgrass, and other plants said to have healing properties. Drumming and dancing provide a deeper insight into Ojibwe culture. A visit to the Immaculate Conception Church will also be included. This church combines Ojibwe beliefs and customs with the Catholic faith and represents the spiritual heart of the community with its in-the-round architectural style that evokes the teepee and the circle of life.
Watch | See Where the Creator Rested - Manitoulin Island
The Executive Director of the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation offers an introduction to First Nations culture on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron.
Day Eight | The Soo Locks + Sault Ste. Marie
Start the day early this morning as the ships transits through the historic Soo Locks where freighters, barges and tugboats traverse the 21-foot drop of the St. Mary’s River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. This canal was opened in 1855 with its first lock and was navigated by 27 vessels its first year. More than 10,000 ships hauling 86 million tons of cargo pass through these historic parallel locks every year, even during the winter when ice prevents shipping on the upper Great Lakes!
Day Nine | Mackinac Island
As cars are prohibited on the island, a horse-drawn carriage ride is a great way to experience the Victorian atmosphere of this National Historic Landmark. See spectacular turn-of-the-century summer homes built by early captains of American industry and learn about the island’s history. As you tour Fort Mackinac from its vantage point above the Straits of Mackinac, you’ll learn about its strategic significance during the War of 1812.
This sightseeing tour concludes at the Grand Hotel, famous for its colonnaded verandah. It holds the record for the longest front porch in the world, having been opened in 1887. You may recognize the Grand’s elegant interior spaces from the 1980 film Somewhere in Time, which starred Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Enjoy the breathtaking views from the hotel’s hilltop setting and enjoy its elegant interior spaces.
Day Ten | Cruise on Lake Michigan
One of the greatest treasures in the world is Lake Michigan. It is hard to believe that you are looking at a lake rather than an ocean when you stand on the shores of Lake Michigan with its bright blue waves, fresh breeze, and diverse shorelines. Take advantage of another day of cruising as we head south toward Chicago. Observe the scenery from the expansive Observation Deck, enjoy congenial conversations in the Lounge, or join a discussion with our engaging Great Lakes experts.
