great lakes cruise ship

FIVE GREAT LAKES

One grand adventure.

Cruise the Great Lakes on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to experience the unparalleled majesty of the Great Lakes with luxury small-ship cruises complete with personalized service, world-class dining, dynamic activities, and the adventure of a lifetime.

Choose from dozens of itineraries as you explore iconic destinations along the Great Lakes. From the rich history of Mackinac Island and French Canadian villages to the breathtaking shoreline of Lake Superior and the cultural epicenters of iconic cities such as Detroit and Chicago, you can create memories to last a lifetime.

CRUISE LINES

These ships offer intimate experiences combined with crewmembers who anticipate your every want and need. It’s everything you desire on a larger cruise ship, minus everything you wish you could cast away. Adventure is on the itinerary. We invite you aboard one of our participating cruise lines.

Pearl Seas Cruises

St. Lawrence Cruise Lines

Great lakes cruise benefits, enjoy a more intimate cruising experience, visit multiple u.s. and canadian ports, experience excursions rich with culture and history, traverse along a safe and secure border, featured ports.

Experience unique ports of call in the surrounding states and provinces as you cruise through the magnificent Great Lakes. Discover hard-to-reach destinations, thriving cities, and breathtaking landscapes.

Bay City, Michigan

Buffalo-Niagara, New York

Cleveland, Ohio

Detroit, Michigan

Duluth, Minnesota

Holland, Michigan

Houghton, Michigan

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Muskegon, Michigan

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Great Lakes cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do

The Great Lakes probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of cruising. But in recent years, the region has grown enormously as a cruise destination — and for good reason. Touring the Great Lakes by ship is by far the easiest way to see a wide range of the area's attractions — from vibrant cities to natural wonders — in a single trip.

When planning Great Lakes cruises, you have many things to consider: when to go for the best Great Lakes cruise experience, which cruise line is best suited to your travel style, the best Great Lakes cruise ports to visit and which shoreside activities you want to prioritize. It's not the kind of trip you want to throw together at the last minute, especially since the best fare deals typically go to organized travelers who book early.

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Here, The Points Guy offers up a guide to everything you need to know about planning a sailing in the Great Lakes.

Why cruise the Great Lakes?

The Great Lakes region may not be a bucket list destination on the scale of Alaska or Antarctica. But it has a lot to offer — more than many people may realize.

Along the banks of the five lakes that are at the core of the region — Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior — you'll find some of Middle America's greatest cities, charming small towns, historic sites and wonders both natural and human-made. Plus, there are the lakes themselves, which together are roughly the size of the U.K. and make up the largest freshwater ecosystem on the planet. Accounting for 21% of all the world's fresh water, they truly are a marvel.

All this can be seen via an overland trip, of course, and many people explore the Great Lakes region by car or on motorcoach tours. But the region is so sprawling — the Great Lakes touch eight U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario — that logistically it's almost impossible to experience the area in a broad way on a single trip without going by ship.

On a single Great Lakes cruise, you can see the world-class architecture and museums of Chicago, take a carriage ride through the carless streets of Mackinac Island, Michigan, and gaze upon the splendor that is Niagara Falls along the New York border — all without having to get behind the wheel of a car or unpacking and re-packing your suitcase more than once.

When do cruises go to the Great Lakes?

The Great Lakes cruise season is a short one, due mostly to the weather. With winters being cold and snowy in the region, cruise lines stick to the warmer months of May to September for Great Lakes sailings.

The weather isn't the only limiting factor. The cruise season in the Great Lakes is also limited in its length by the opening and closing of the St. Lawrence Seaway — the system of locks, canals and channels that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Cruise vessels that operate in the Great Lakes can't access the region until the locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway open for the summer, something that typically happens the last week of March. They need to be out of the Great Lakes before the St. Lawrence Seaway closes for the winter (typically in December).

Great Lakes cruise weather can be chilly at the start of the season, with low temperatures in the 40s in May in some areas and highs in the 60s. It warms up considerably by July and August, with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and the price. Cruises at the beginning of the Great Lakes cruise season in May are generally a bit less expensive than those in June, July, August and September.

Best Great Lakes itineraries

A relatively small number of ships sail in the Great Lakes during any given year. But, even so, they offer a wide range of Great Lakes itineraries. Some of the ships that operate in the region will alternate between three or even four different routes during the short summer season, giving you lots of choices.

Lengthwise, you'll find Great Lakes voyages ranging from seven to 15 nights. Some of the sailings travel across all five of the Great Lakes. Others focus on just three or four of the interconnected bodies of water. Some of the ships also offer sailings that combine travel on one or more of the Great Lakes with a passage through the St. Lawrence Seaway. In some cases, these latter trips include travel all the way to Montreal.

The diversity in Great Lakes itineraries extends to their start and end points. A large percentage of all Great Lakes cruises begin or end in Chicago, Milwaukee or Toronto. But there also are Great Lakes sailings that begin or end in Thunder Bay, Ontario; Duluth, Minnesota; Montreal and Detroit.

In most cases, Great Lakes sailings are one-way trips. You'll start in, say, Toronto, and work your way west to Chicago — or vice versa.

Some Great Lakes itineraries only include stops at relatively small towns such as Midland, Parry Sound and Little Current in Ontario; and Muskegon, Marquette and Houghton in Michigan. Others mix in calls at some of the bigger cities of the Great Lakes region, notably Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland and Toronto. On longer sailings, vessels often will overnight in such places as Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Thunder Bay.

Car-free Mackinac Island at the top of Michigan is a common stop on Great Lakes voyages, as is Niagara Falls, which sits between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Pro tip: If your Great Lakes cruise begins or ends in Chicago, Milwaukee or Toronto, add a pre- or post-cruise stay of a night or two in the cities to see them in more depth.

Best Great Lakes cruise lines

Most of the world's biggest cruise lines — including Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line — can't operate in the Great Lakes because their ships are too big to enter the region through the St. Lawrence Seaway. This has turned the Great Lakes into an exclusive zone for a handful of smaller cruise operators that focus on very small vessels.

The two main players in Great Lakes cruising are Viking (a newcomer in 2022) and Pearl Seas Cruises. Each has one vessel devoted to the region (Viking Octantis and Pearl Mist, respectively).

Both cater to a generally older crowd, which is the main market for Great Lakes cruises. Viking's itineraries have the most outdoorsy options, while Pearl Seas Cruises offers trips with a lot of small-town stops.

Two more lines that occasionally operate sailings in the region are German line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and France-based Ponant. Tour organizer Smithsonian Journeys also occasionally offers Great Lakes sailings using chartered Ponant vessels.

All of the above lines operate ships in the Great Lakes that carry fewer than 400 passengers. Some carry as few as 202 passengers. In general, the vessels are intimate and relatively high-end, with pricing to match.

As a rule, Great Lakes sailings don't come cheap. For example, seven-night Viking sailings in the region start at $5,995 per person.

Things to do in the Great Lakes

As noted above, the Great Lakes offer a wide mix of attractions and experiences. During a Great Lakes cruise, you might find yourself climbing aboard the bus where Rosa Parks took a stand at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit on one day and kayaking through the wild marshlands of Point Pelee, Ontario, the next.

Of the two lines operating in the Great Lakes, Viking has the greatest focus on outdoorsy stops such as Point Pelee (a tiny sandspit that juts into the northwestern corner of Lake Erie and is famous as a stopover for migratory birds). Some of Viking's sailings include a call at Alpena, Michigan — the gateway to a National Maritime Sanctuary, where passengers can kayak past shipwrecks in shallow waters. Another destination that Viking visits, Silver Islet, Ontario, brings the opportunity for a trail walk through Ontario's 94-square-mile Sleeping Giant Provincial Park — a rocky, forested park named for a long line of mesas that resemble a giant lying on its back.

The city-oriented stops that Viking and the other lines make, such as visits to Milwaukee or Chicago on Lake Michigan, give you time to explore the urban sensibility of the region. Brew-town Milwaukee offers the chance to explore the city's craft beer and brewing scene or to take a walking tour to the city's many outdoor sculptures. Chicago is famous for its world-leading architecture (which you can see on walking and boat tours), its Magnificent Mile lined with more stores than you've probably ever seen in one place and its world-class cultural institutions.

Then there are stops at quieter places such as Mackinac Island, where your sightseeing might include an excursion by horse-drawn carriage to historical sites. Of the three main lines operating in the Great Lakes, as noted above, Pearl Seas Cruises focuses the most on the region's small towns, with fewer stops at bigger cities.

One thing that all three of the main lines operating in the Great Lakes have in common is that they include tours during at least some stops and sometimes every stop in their base fares. Pearl Seas Cruises and Viking are particularly known for including lots of shore excursions in their base fares.

Included tours are part of what you're paying for when you pay the high prices noted above. So you can go off on your own in any of the places these ships visit. But you might just have a no-extra-charge outing including many of the highlights of each place already planned for your voyage.

Best Great Lakes cruise ports

The best Great Lakes cruise ports include the handful of relatively big cities in the region, such as Chicago, that are loaded with cultural sites, nightspots and restaurants, as well as charming small towns such as Holland, Michigan. Great Lakes cruises also bring days that are all about getting up close to wonders both natural and human-made — from towering Niagara Falls to the engineering marvel that is the Welland Canal.

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Known as "Canada's Gateway to the West" because it's the final navigational point on the Canadian side of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is one of Ontario's most vibrant cities and a center for art and culture. It's also a hub for outdoorsy pursuits including mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking and angling, as it's nestled within boreal forests.

Great architecture and cultural institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago — along with lots of nightlife, shopping and world-class dining — make Chicago the premier city destination in the Great Lakes region. Many Great Lakes cruises begin or end in Chicago, with some including an overnight in the city, allowing time to explore. Don't miss a stroll down the Magnificent Mile and a sightseeing boat ride on the Chicago River (a great way to get an overview of the city and see some of its architectural gems).

Wisconsin's biggest city is often surprisingly delightful to first-time visitors, home as it is to a Santiago Calatrava-designed art museum with a world-class collection, a Harley-Davidson Museum that our sister site Lonely Planet has dubbed "badass" plus stylish eating and shopping enclaves. Settled by Germans in the 1840s, "Brew City," as it's known, also is a mecca of sorts for beer lovers — and not just because it's home to the original Miller Brewing Company complex, which is open daily for tours. You'll also find lots of craft breweries that you can visit on your own or as part of a tour, and you can tour (and drink at) the original Pabst Brewery.

Holland, Michigan

As the name suggests, Holland is a little bit of The Netherlands transported to the Americas. Settled by Dutch immigrants in the 1800s, it's home to the annual Tulip Time Festival, which takes place every May, and offers up such Holland-themed attractions as Windmill Island Gardens, where you'll find a working Dutch windmill, canals and dikes. Holland's downtown is a charmer with cobblestone sidewalks and more than 100 specialty shops, breweries and restaurants.

Sault Saint Marie, Michigan

Located at the northeastern edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Sault Saint Marie is the site of the Soo Locks, a marvel of engineering that connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The locks themselves are the big attractions in Sault Saint Marie — head to the observation deck at Soo Locks Park to watch freighters passing by and learn more at the Soo Locks Visitor Center.

But there are other allures, including the Museum Ship Valley Camp. It's a retired Great Lakes freighter (named Valley Camp) that you can climb into and explore. In addition to touring the living quarters for its 29-person crew, you'll find a 20,000-square-foot maritime museum in its cargo hold with exhibits on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and more.

Mackinac Island

The Jewel of the Great Lakes has been a summer getaway for Midwesterners since the Victorian era and it retains much of its Victorian-era charm. The iconic attraction on the island is the 135-year-old Grand Hotel , with its seemingly endless, rocker-lined front porch (the longest in the world). Afternoon tea in the hotel's parlor, or a game of croquet at its Tea Garden, are among Mackinac Island's allures. Tours in a horse-drawn carriage are another popular pastime; cars are banned on the island, leaving horse-drawn carriages as one of the main ways of getting around, along with bicycles. When visiting, don't miss Fort Mackinac, which dates to the 1700s.

Niagara Falls

Located on the short waterway between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls is one of the world's most spectacular waterfall complexes (it's actually three waterfalls, not one) with a flow rate greater than any other waterfall in North America and a vertical drop of more than 160 feet. Visitors can take it in both from viewing areas on land and from a tour boat.

Note that Great Lakes cruise vessels don't travel directly on the 36-mile-long strait that connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which is known as the Niagara River (lest they go plunging over the falls). Instead, they use the Welland Canal — another marvel of engineering and an attraction in its own right.

Motor City should probably be called Museum City, as it's home to a wonderful array of museums worth a visit, from The Detroit Museum of Art and the Motown Museum to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. Passengers on Great Lakes cruises will find that stops in Detroit often revolve around an included visit to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, a sprawling history museum complex that is home to the limousine that President Kennedy was in when he was assassinated, George Washington's camp bed, Buckminster Fuller's prototype Dymaxion house, the bus on which Rosa Parks was arrested and countless other rare artifacts.

When to book a Great Lakes cruise

The best time to book a Great Lakes cruise is right when a cruise line first opens bookings on that sailing, often more than a year in advance. You'll have your pick of itineraries and cabins and often the best fares.

Because the Great Lakes has such a short season with a limited number of ships, sailings in the region are often in high demand and people plan early. Newcomer Viking, notably, has told TPG it has seen brisker sales this year for its Great Lakes trips than sailings to Antarctica — one of the world's ultimate bucket list destinations.

If you wait to book, you're not entirely out of luck. Cruise lines often run sales in the fall or in the early months of the year (a period known in the cruise industry as "wave season" ). You can take advantage of discounted fares and other perks. Some of the most desirable cabins might be sold out; being flexible about your sail date or itinerary can help.

In general, waiting until the last minute is not the best idea, unless you live in a gateway city such as Chicago, Milwaukee or Toronto and don't need to book flights. While some less preferred sail dates or cabin categories may have availability a few months out, spurring cruise lines to drop rates, you might have trouble finding affordable airfare and pre- or post-cruise hotel accommodations that do not eat up your cruise savings.

What to bring on a Great Lakes cruise

When it comes to packing for a Great Lakes cruise, your mantra should always be: dress in layers. It can be chilly in the morning in the more northerly parts of the Great Lakes, particularly at the start of the Great Lakes cruising season, but then warm up fast.

If you're planning to do some outdoorsy pursuits, such as kayaking or hiking, be sure to bring appropriate activewear. And don't forget to pack a rain jacket, if not a complete rain gear outfit, including a wide-brimmed waterproof hat, rain pants and waterproof shoes or boots.

Also, and this is critical: Don't forget your passport. Many of the places you'll visit in the Great Lakes will be in the United States and do not require a passport. But every Great Lakes cruise includes at least a few — and sometimes many — stops in Canada, where a valid U.S. passport, passport card or NEXUS card is required to enter if you're a U.S. citizen.

Bottom line

There's a lot to see and do in the Great Lakes region, and it's hard to argue that there's a better way to see and do it than on a cruise. Cruise vessels departing from such cities as Chicago and Toronto can take you to all of the highlights of the region — from the breweries of Milwaukee to thundering Niagara Falls — in a single trip. That's something that you'll be hard-pressed to accomplish any other way.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

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Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, Superior: on the US-Canada border, the five Great Lakes represent a unique opportunity for a cruise. It is a great feeling to relax into the Indian summer, enveloped by the immensity of these spaces, full of blazing nature. 

All about cruises America's Great Lakes

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A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys

Lake Superior – a life-sized expedition

Expedition in the heart of the American Great Lakes

Natalie Dessay and her friends, on the Great Lakes

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Essential Great Lakes

They represent another American dream. A cruise on the Great American Lakes is all about getting to know the two iconic countries of North America, Canada and the US, intimately. Here are the sites not to be missed during your trip to four of these lakes: Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan.

Essential Trips — The Great Lakes

In our imagination, the Great Lakes open onto infinite space. In fact, there are vast coniferous forests burnished with golden tones during the Indian summer, immense lakes interrupted by lush green islands and bays of turquoise water, rivers becoming torrential waterfalls... Before leaving for these legendary lands, here is some useful information .

Explore Great American Lakes

Canada : exploring the spectacular Great Lakes

Look over Niagara Falls

They are certainly the iconic site of this Great American Lake region . With a flow rate of 2,800 m3, the Niagara Falls are imposing in all their splendour. From Table Rock, a guided walk allows you to follow the crest of the Horseshoe Falls , one of the waterfalls that make up Niagara.

Discover the exciting life of Toronto — Canada

Toronto proudly sits on the banks of Lake Ontario. Canada's largest city knows how to draw travellers into its beating heart. With its lively streets, its different quarters with varied cultural influences , such as the Chinese and Polish quarters, Little India and Portugal Village, bars, restaurants and shops of all kinds elicit charm. To end this beautiful visit, climb to the top of the CN Tower and enjoy a 360° view over the city.

Stroll in Quebec — Canada

There is a particular pleasure to strolling in Quebec . The old fortified town is full of historic buildings such as the Château Frontenac and the imposing Citadelle. Wander through the paved streets of the Petit-Champlain quarter edged with bistros and restaurants, walk along the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, or cross the suspension bridge above Montmorency Falls at 83 metres high.

Cross the Welland Canal and the Port Colborne Lock

Less well-known than Panama, Suez and Corinth Canals, the Welland Canal is no less than a jewel of engineering. 42-km long and punctuated by eight locks, it links Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Sailing down this canal takes an even more impressive turn at Port Colborne where there is one of the longest locks in the world at 420 metres.

top at Flowerpot Island — Canada

Among the 30,000 islands making up Georgian Bay, Flowerpot Island is certainly one of the most extraordinary. It is part of the Fathom Five National Marine Park. The island gets its name and its reputation from two rock formations in the shape of a flower pot that stand over the crystal clear waters. However, people come here more for hiking trails leading to the lighthouse, allowing them to discover rare flora , and for swimming. The water is cold, the bed rocky and steep.

Fly over Georgian Bay by helicopter — Canada

You might think that you're in the Mediterranean, but the coniferous forest edging the cliffs that fall into turquoise waters remind you that you're in Canada. On the northeast branch of Lake Huron, Georgian Bay has the clearest waters of the Great Lakes . To admire these incredible landscapes, nothing is better than a helicopter tour . Isolated creeks with sheer drops, lush vegetation clothed with golden tones in autumn... the scenery is exceptional!

Horse riding in Honora Bay — Canada

At the north of Georgian Bay, in Honora Bay, Manitoulin Island is a real delight with its tree-filled landscapes, waterfalls, calm waters and houses edging the lake. Choosing to roam through this landscape on horseback is about getting off the beaten track, through forests, fields and over hills, meandering along the Niagara, with a stunning view over the La Cloche Mountains. It's also the opportunity to see white-tailed deer, foxes, hares and even bald eagles.

Helpful tips

Things to do. Civility and calmness are the values that are much appreciated in Canada and the USA. If you are not satisfied with a service, it is best not to shout, but to try to find a solution through discussion.

Don'ts. In Canada, smoking is forbidden in all public places such as parks, cafés, and restaurant terraces.

Unique features

The Georgian Bay includes no less than 30,000 islands , which makes it the largest freshwater archipelago in the world.

Essential phrases

Bonjour / bonsoir : Good morning / Good evening Au revoir : How are you? Bienvenue : Welcome Excusez-moi / s’il vous plaît : Excuse me / Please Merci : Thank you Oui / non : yes / no Comment allez-vous ? : How are you? Très bien, merci, et vous : Fine, thank you, and you? Je m’appelle… : My name is...

Impossible de visiter l’Ontario sans goûter au sirop d’érable , produit dans la région depuis des siècles. Grand territoire agricole, l’Ontario fournit des légumes et des fruits de qualité. Parmi eux, les pêches servent à la conception de beignets fort appréciés. Côté salé, la poutine québécoise, ces frites recouvertes de fromage et d’un jus de viande, a fait son chemin jusque sur les bords des Grands Lacs. Dans les grandes villes comme Toronto, la culture culinaire reflète les vagues d’immigration successives. Saveurs françaises et britanniques restent ancrées dans la tradition.

Myths & legends

Although dream-catchers have a more decorative function today, they have a real significance for the Ojibwes from the Lake Huron region. Legend has it that the first dream-catcher was woven by a spider, the reincarnation of a young boy's grandmother whose tribe suffered from famine following a curse struck by an evil spirit. Hung at the entrance of his house, it filtered out the nightmares, allowing only good omens to pass through it. From then on, abundance returned to the village, saving the inhabitants from famine.

In the spotlight

Since the 1980s, the USA and Canada have partnered in a common effort to decontaminate the banks of the Great Lakes , especially in the most populated areas, such as Toronto. Purification plans and pollution prevention have transformed these zones from “areas unfavourable to economic growth into residential areas, which are precious economic assets”, as noted the International Association for Great Lakes Research. In a report published in August 2019, the economic benefit was calculated as more than 4 billion dollars.

Books. Sturgeon Falls (Ontario), in the 1960s. In French: Albert and Paul-André, two friends, acquire a notebook with a green canvas cover, which will become their shared diary. The two teenagers write down their feelings in it, and also their perception of a changing world. An autobiographical fiction by Gaston Trembley, Le Grand Livre traces the memories that the author has of this period of research into his own life, which provide a glimpse into the trajectories of these two future adults. With his friend, André Paiement, the author is one of the most prominent figures in Franco-Ontarian literature. Native Americans, explorers, gold hunters, immigrants, warriors, entrepreneurs... They have all made their mark on the history of the Great Lakes, inspired by the history and carried by the myths and legends. In Great Lakes Folklore: Legends of the Five Sisters, Charles Cassady, Jr. relates the most important tales.

Music. In summer and in autumn, the Native Americans organise pow wows. During these gatherings, which are open to the public, each tribe wears traditional costume and shares dances, songs, culinary specialities and crafts with each other. This is a wonderful way to discover cultures that are often little-known.

Film. Ben, a thirty-something man, is disillusioned with his work as a teacher, but his peaceful life is suddenly turned upside down with a shocking cancer diagnosis. Shaken by the news, he decides to buy a motorbike and take to the road for seven days from Toronto to Vancouver. In One Week , Michael McGowan poetically portrays the great Canadian outdoors, leaving you longing to discover it.

Facts and figures

The five Great American Lakes contain The five Great American Lakes contain 18% of the world's reserves of freshwater. This is the largest surface freshwater reservoir on the planet. of the world's reserves of freshwater. This is the largest surface freshwater reservoir on the planet.

• Algoma (United States)
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Pearl Seas Cruises opens 2024 Great Lakes Season

Pearl Seas Cruises is pleased to announce its biggest season ever on The Great Lakes, operating four different itineraries that visit 16 ports of call, and introducing a brand new 14-Night Great Lakes Explorer cruise between Duluth, Minnesota, and Toronto, Canada–delivering the opportunity to sail all five Great Lakes in a single journey.

Opening May 24 th , Pearl’s 2024 Great Lakes season operates through late September offering, an 11-Night Great Lakes & Georgian Bay itinerary and a 7-Night Great Lakes itinerary, both sailing between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Toronto, Canada; the new 14-Night Great Lakes Explorer cruise between Duluth, WI, and Toronto, Canada; and a 15-Night St. Lawrence Seaway & Great Lakes cruise between Milwaukee, WI, and Québec, Canada. Each of Pearl’s unique itineraries explores bucket-list American and Canadian destinations from Mackinac Island and Niagara Falls to Thunder Bay and Parry Sound.

Cruising the region since 2014, Pearl Seas has perfected small ship exploration on The Great Lakes aboard their 210-passenger ship, Pearl Mist, featuring 100% private balcony accommodations and elegant new interior design.

Great Lakes itineraries in 2024, visit 16 ports of call, from Milwaukee to Montréal, while exploring the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem and cruising all five lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, as well as Georgian Bay, a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. Each day, guests will enjoy shoreside excursions and onboard enrichment, illuminating the region’s unique cultural tapestry woven together by the early explorers, traders, European settlers, and Native American tribes who have lived there for centuries.

Pearl’s 2024 cruises offer diverse experiences including memorable visits to Niagara Falls with boat tours of Horseshoe Falls; scenic explorations of Muskegon, MI, known as the “Riviera of the Midwest;” and leisurely strolls through quaint Holland, MI, home to the only authentic working Dutch Windmill in America. In Detroit, MI, guests can learn about the history of the automobile at The Henry Ford Museum and enjoy a tuneful visit to The Motown Museum. Musical fun continues in Cleveland, OH, where guests can visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On Mackinac Island, MI, guests can step back in time, exploring the island by horse drawn carriage and enjoying lunch on the veranda of The Grand Hotel. In Parry Sound, ON, guests can experience a Birdseye view of the South Channel and Killbear Provincial Park on an exhilarating Seaplane ride, and discover the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, cruising the 30,000 Islands. In Georgian Bay, ON, guests can kayak on serene waters while spotting local wildlife; and in Montréal, the second largest French-speaking city in the world, guests can sightsee in a UNESCO “City of Design,” taking in its renowned milieu of exciting modern and beautiful old-world architecture.

Summer Great Lakes cruises aboard the Pearl Mist feature all-inclusive fine dining, complimentary cocktails, beer & wine, award-winning enrichment programs, onboard entertainment, and guided shore excursions at every port. Cruises also include new Starlink Wi-Fi and private transportation to all excursions. Pearl Seas offers Pre-Cruise Hotel Packages for cruises departing from Milwaukee, WI; Duluth, MN; and Toronto, ON.

Pearl Seas Cruises has been awarded Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice Award for Best Small Ship Line in the U.S. & Canada, and Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards for Best Small Ship Line in the U.S. & Canada, Best Great Lakes Itinerary, and Best Contemporary Small Ship. The company has been consistently recognized for delivering highly personalized service and culturally focused small ship cruises on the Great Lakes, the Canadian Maritimes & St. Lawrence Seaway, and New England.

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Pearl Seas Cruises Opens 2024 Great Lakes Season

• May 21, 2024

Pearl Seas Cruises announced its biggest Great Lakes season yet, featuring four itineraries that visit 16 ports.

The line also introduced a new 14-night Great Lakes Explorer itinerary between Duluth, Minnesota, and Toronto, Canada, offering the chance to sail all five Great Lakes in a single journey.

Kicking off May 24, the 2024 Great Lakes season runs through late September, offering an 11-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay itinerary and a seven-night Great Lakes itinerary, both sailing between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto, Canada; the new 14-night Great Lakes Explorer voyage between Duluth, WI, and Toronto, Canada; and a 15-night St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes sailing between Milwaukee, WI, and Québec, Canada.

Great Lakes itineraries explore the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem and cruise all five lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, as well as Georgian Bay, a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. Travelers will enjoy shoreside excursions, from visiting Niagara Falls and exploring Mackinac Island by horse-drawn carriage to learning about the history of the automobile at The Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, MI.

Pearl Seas offers pre-cruise hotel packages for cruises departing from Milwaukee, WI; Duluth, MN; and Toronto, ON.

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These Lakes Are So Big and Beautiful That You Can Take Multiday Cruises Along Them

Some lakes are as big as a small sea, so perhaps it’s little surprise that on these stunning bodies of water, you can take an overnight cruise to better explore their impressive shores..

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At the cross-section of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, cruise passengers will see photogenic shorelines like the Grotto in Bruce Peninsula National Park.

Facto Photo/Shutterstock

When dreaming of a cruise getaway, the first options that come to mind for most people are ocean, river, or even expedition sailings. We tend to imagine that lakes are reserved for a tranquil day of picnicking with family or dropping a fishing line. But, in fact, there are some overnight lake cruises around the world. On these cruises, you can linger longer and travel far deeper than you could during an afternoon on the shore of these vast and impressive bodies of water.

Overnight lake cruises run anywhere from a three-night jaunt to a two-week journey, depending on the size of the body or bodies of water on which you are sailing. Along the way, you’ll see sights ranging from the Great Lakes’ charming shoreside villages, towns, and natural landscapes to the Nubian Desert in Egypt. All of these cruises allow you to visit sights difficult to get to by land. You’ll stop most days, though the pace may be slow at times. And don’t assume the water will be smooth as silk; as someone who spends time in a cottage on Lake Erie, I can attest to the fact that lakes get waves, sometimes big ones, formed by the friction between wind and surface water. No matter the conditions, passengers are bound to be pleasantly surprised by these lesser-known lake cruise itineraries.

Here are our choices for the best overnight lake cruises around the world.

Book a Great Lakes cruise on the Viking Octantis expedition ship and these could be your digs during the sailing.

Eric Laignel/Viking

The Great Lakes, North America

Cruises on the five Great Lakes of North America—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario—are offered from May to October and include such great Midwestern cities as Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee as well as areas of Ontario, Canada. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Motown Museum, and Niagara Falls are among big-hitter attractions, along with sightings of birds and other wildlife, boreal forests, boulder-filled natural landscapes, and quaint lakeside towns such as Mackinac Island in Michigan. Some sailings include the UNESCO-recognized Georgian Bay Biosphere, the world’s largest freshwater archipelago.

To book: Ruling the region with their breadth of itineraries are Viking’s sleek 348-passenger expedition vessels Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris , done up in attractive Scandinavian decor and featuring science labs where you may run into a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist testing water quality, examining plankton composition, and doing other experiments. Viking’s Great Lakes sailings start at seven nights; to see all five lakes, book a 14-night cruise between Minnesota’s Duluth and Ontario’s Toronto, from $13,995 per person.

Other lines to consider include Pearl Seas Cruises , with exploration via a 210-passenger classic coastal cruiser, Pearl Mist, on 7- to 14-night sailings (from $8,980 per person for an 11-night, four-lake itinerary that skips Lake Superior). On its upscale, 184-passenger Le Champlain , French line Ponant offers two seven-night, four-lake (again missing Lake Superior) cruises in partnership with Smithsonian Journeys. Guest speakers onboard include Frederick Stonehouse, author of the best-selling book The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Avery Color Studios, 2006), about the famous and tragic 1975 shipwreck on Lake Superior. (Fares for the Ponant/Smithsonian Journeys cruise start at $8,250 per person.)

Isle Royale National Park is among the natural wonders along Lake Superior in Michigan.

Arlene Waller/Shutterstock

Lake Superior, North America

Lake Superior, which borders Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan in the United States and Ontario in Canada and encompasses some 31,700 square miles, is worthy of an entire trip. Nature-focused sailings include a complete crossing of the width of the lake and a tour through the Soo Locks into Lake Michigan. Lake Superior is home to five national parks, including the Isle Royale National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Passengers will also have a chance to behold Kakabeka Falls and the towering cliffs of Sleeping Giant in Thunder Bay.

To book: Viking’s seven-night “Undiscovered Great Lakes” itinerary between Milwaukee and Thunder Bay is priced from $6,495 per person. Ponant also focuses on Lake Superior with two new 10-night sailings on Le Champlain (from $8,930 per person).

On Lake Nasser, view sweeping desert landscapes en route to one of the most impressive ancient Egyptian sites: Abu Simbel.

Photo by Mael Balland/Unsplash

Lake Nasser, Egypt

Many tour operators in Egypt will offer visitors the option of flying on a small plane from Aswan to spend a day visiting the astounding temples of Abu Simbel, near Egypt’s southern border. Or you can get there at a more leisurely pace via a three- or four-night cruise on Lake Nasser, with the advantage of visiting lower-trafficked antiquities such as the rock-cut Tomb of Pennut, which honors a viceroy of Nubia under the king Ramses VI, and seeing more of the dry, hilly Nubian desert landscape. The lake, a vast reservoir created as part of the Aswan High Dam project, is one of the world’s largest man-made lakes.

The key attraction is the towering, rock-carved temple at Abu Simbel, built by King Ramesses II (the Great) around 1264 B.C.E., with breathtaking 65-foot-high seated statues of the king on the façade and standing statues indoors, plus a smaller temple that pays tribute to Queen Nefertari. The temples were moved in 1968 when the dam was under construction so that they wouldn’t be drowned in water, an engineering feat that only makes the site more impressive.

To book: You can cruise on Lake Nasser on hotel ships (such as the MS Steigenberger Omar El Khayam operated by Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts) complete with swimming pools for cooling off in the desert sun, or more intimately on the SAÏ , a traditional, handcrafted wooden boat (about $270 per person, per night).

Combine a relaxing lake cruise with incredible wildlife viewing on Lake Kariba on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Photo by Arpit Rastogi/Unsplash

Lake Kariba, Zambia and Zimbabwe

While cruising on Lake Kariba, which borders Zambia and Zimbabwe, keep an eye out for hippos and crocodiles in the water and elephants and lions on the shore. French river cruise company CroisiEurope explores the 2,154-square-mile waterway, the world’s largest man-made lake in terms of water volume, for three nights as part of an eight-night cruise and safari experience. The trip also includes three nights in a safari lodge from which you can explore Chobe National Park. The cruise, flights, and hotel stays start at $6,986 per person, as you travel from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls.

To book: The CroisiEurope Lake Kariba sailing is on board either the 16-passenger RV Zimbabwean Dream or RV African Dream , each decked out attractively in wood and local fabrics, with a big hot tub on an upper deck, plus a pampering crew of 15.

Cleveland's cruise season begins this weekend with arrival of Viking, Pearl Seas ships

Cruise season will officially get underway in  Cleveland during Memorial Day weekend.

On Sunday, ships from Viking and Pearl Seas will dock at the Port of Cleveland, giving passengers a full day's worth of opportunities to explore our area. 

According to the Port of Cleveland, The Pearl Seas, a 210-passenger ship, "is the only cruise ship coming through Cleveland which has full private balconies for every room and is a fully stabilized ship."

Meanwhile, Viking is back in Cleveland for a second straight season. Viking’s Octantis can carry up to 378 guests.

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“Our cruise partners have said the Great Lakes region is booming for tourists because they want to experience the diverse cultures that make this region so unique,” said Port of Cleveland Chief Commercial Officer David S. Gutheil in a statement. “It’s part of the U.S. that these passengers have not seen before. Cleveland alone has very diverse neighborhoods with deep cultural backgrounds, which help explain it’s growing popularity as a cruise ship destination and helping make tourism a vital part of our local economy.”

Since 2017, Cleveland has become a port of call for Great Lakes cruise ships. Port of Cleveland officials estimate that each cruise passenger in Cleveland spends about $150 -- or $1.5 million for 10,000 travelers. Other economic benefits include salaries of dock workers, tour operators and others.

This year, a total of 24 cruise stops are planned for Cleveland, with Tauck also returning in 2024. The number of stops is down from last year due to American Queen Voyages ceasing operations earlier this year. AQV made a total of 28 visits to Cleveland last year. 

However, the Port of Cleveland says more than 50 cruise stops are on the schedule for 2025.

So what can cruise passengers who dock in Cleveland expect during their visit?

The Port of Cleveland says passenger shore excursions in Greater Cleveland include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the West Side Market, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, a walking tour of downtown Cleveland or Little Italy, a hike or biking tour in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a beer tasting at Great Lakes Brewing Company, a culinary tour and an excursion to Amish country in Geauga County.

In 2023, popular travel adviser “The Points Guy” called Cleveland "the hottest new cruise destination in North America."

Related Stories:

• American Queen Voyages, which made stops in Cleveland during Great Lakes cruises, ends operations
• Tauck cruise ship to arrive in Cleveland on Saturday as part of 'Cruising the Great Lakes' voyage
• New Viking Great Lakes cruise ship arrives in Cleveland
• Pearl Mist cruise ship makes stop in Cleveland as part of Great Lakes excursion
• Cruise season begins in Cleveland, expected to bring 10,000 passengers downtown in 2023

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Great Lakes Cruise Ships to Generate $200M Economic Impact in 2024

Cruise the Great Lakes, a collaboration of the region’s states, provinces, and partner cruise businesses, will get a boost this season with the return of John Waggoner’s Victory Cruise Lines and the Victory I and Victory II vessels to the Great Lakes region.

Cruise the Great Lakes projects vessels will make nearly 600 port visits in 2024, including in downtown Detroit, bringing more than 20,000 individual passengers to experience the beauty and charm of Great Lakes cities — roughly double that of a decade ago.

Regional ports are anticipated to see total estimated cruise passenger visits of more than 140,000 in 2024. The cruise season is already underway.

Cruise the Great Lakes anticipates the regional economic impact generated by cruising will surpass $200 million in 2024, driven by the upward trend in passenger numbers, port visits, shoreside spending, and the growing domestic and international appeal of Great Lakes cruises.

The 2024 season represents an increase in the economic impact by nearly 50 percent compared to 2022.

“We are excited to hear of John’s plans and cannot wait to see those beautiful Victory ships traversing the Great Lakes,” says Anna Tanski, tourism director for Cruise the Great Lakes. “John and his team always believed that the Great Lakes region was ideal for the intimate cruise ships, and he knows how much we have to offer.”

Anne Sayers, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and chair of Cruise the Great Lakes, adds: “The Victory brand has always been associated with excellence, from the passenger experience to the elegant details, so future passengers are in for a treat with John and his team back in action.”

Cruise lines operating on the Great Lakes in 2024 will include Pearl Seas Cruises, Viking Cruises, St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, Ponant’s Le Champlain, Hapag-Lloyd, and Plantours Cruises.  

Cruise the Great Lakes is the region’s cruise marketing program focused on attracting more passengers. It is a forum to unite the states, provinces, cruise lines, ports, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, associations, and others to work toward shared goals.

For more information about Cruise the Great Lakes, visit cruisethegreatlakes.com .

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America’s Great Lakes are a little-known, unspoiled wonderland, boasting diverse natural beauty, scenic wildlife and some of the most interesting cities in North America. Over 750 miles across with 10,000 miles of coastline, the Great Lakes cover an area twice as large as Pennsylvania. Glide silently by kayak past otters in Georgian Bay, hear the roar of Niagara Falls, hike through verdant old forests or visit Canada’s prominent museums to marvel at art inspired by these shores. Here are some highlights you may experience during your journey:

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• Transit engineering marvels like the Welland Canal and Soo Locks

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Viking Cruises set to return to Algoma, making eight stops as part of Great Lakes tour

by Mallory Allen, FOX 11 News

ALGOMA (WLUK) -- Hundreds of cruise ship passengers will once again have the chance to explore a Northeast Wisconsin city.

On Wednesday, the Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Algoma announced the cruise ship Viking Octantis is making its first of eight stops in Algoma next week. The ship is scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. May 29.

It comes after the Switzerland-based Viking Cruises made eight visits to Algoma in 2023.

"We're so pleased that passengers and crew of the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris enjoyed their stop in Algoma last year," Rosemary Paladini, executive director of Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release.

We heard great feedback about the community, the excursions and the friendly welcome they received. We have had many inquiries from former passengers, who so enjoyed their visit in 2023 and are looking to make Algoma and the Door Peninsula a new destination on their next vacation. We are thrilled to once again host Viking Cruise ships Octantis and Polaris eight times in 2024!

Officials say the 665-foot expedition ships will dock in Algoma as part of a 15-day cruise touring the five Great Lakes. The Viking Octantis and Polaris can each house 378 guests and a 256-person crew.

Tourism representatives will be stationed near Heritage Park when the vessel arrives, using a mobile visitor center to offer a hospitable entry to the passengers and share information about the Algoma community.

Residents and visitors are invited to visit Heritage Park and the City Marina to see the passenger cruise ship docked just offshore. For more information, click here.

'They're beautiful vessels and we're lucky to have them here': Cruise ship season sailing into Windsor-Essex

The 2024 Great Lakes cruising season in Windsor-Essex is shaping up to be busy, with 30 cruise ships and luxury liners scheduled to dock in Windsor and Leamington.

According to Brad Manor, the operations manager of the Windsor Shipping Agency, May looks to be the busiest month with nine cruise ships slated to dock in the area, while July and September will also be busy.

“Each ship carries between 250 and 300 passengers and they go ashore and find things to do ashore,” Manor explained. “They're coming aboard to see our sites and hopefully spend their hard earned cash.”

Manor said he works as a liaison for foreign-owned cruise ships, helping them schedule dock space in Windsor and Leamington, “I'm their local representative. I make the arrangements for anything they may need to take on board. I handle their customs paperwork and all the details.”

According to Manor, there’s room to grow, with the region capable of handling more cruise ships and their passengers.

“They're beautiful vessels and we're lucky to have them here,” Manor said. “Other ports on the Great Lakes see upwards of 100 [ships]. I think Windsor should be included in that.”

He added, “Keep them coming as far as I'm concerned.”

Officials with the multi-state coalition Cruise the Great Lakes are forecasting nearly 600 port visits across the five Great Lakes in 2024, bringing over 20,000 individual passengers—roughly double that of a decade ago.

Cruise the Great Lakes anticipates the regional economic impact generated by cruising all of the Great Lakes will surpass U.S. $200 million in 2024, driven by the upward trend in passenger numbers, port visits, shore-side spending, and the growing domestic and international appeal of Great Lakes cruises.

Local tourism officials suggest the industry gained steam in the region after the pandemic, noting only a handful of cruise ships docked in Windsor-Essex before 2020, compared to the current level of cruise ship traffic today.

“What's great about the growing cruise ships, or coming back cruise ship is it's a new way for people to experience the region and explore,” said Jason Toner, director of communications for Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI.) “It's a great asset for us in terms of new volume into the region.”

“Oftentimes, they'll skip the Detroit port and come over here or vice versa, depending on what their flow is and what their excursions are. So, in the fall, we always get the Hamburg coming in with some German tourists as well which is great to see,” said Toner. “So it always varies and those numbers have been rebounding since obviously COVID-19 impacted the travel, but we're happy to see those 30 dockings and continue to see that grow in the future years too.”

Toner told CTV News, “It's not a cheap experience to jump on these cruise ships and explore the lakes and they're really looking for things to do when they get off the boat. So if it's exploring downtown, we welcome them with downtown maps, downtown dining guides, getting them into the shops. If it's going out on excursions, we have tour buses coming over there and exploring.”

“Our goal is to get them out and get them to spend when they're here,” Toner said. “Windsor is that kind of hidden gem and when you get here you don't realize how much is here. So we always like to educate and get them out more.”

Toner added, “We're known as a road trip market, so people driving down into the market and spending a day or spending a weekend. We have great convention business with meetings and businesses at Caesars Windsor our premier convention center space, but the cruise ships is a whole other aspect of visitors that we don't normally get.”

“That's a bonus to the region of thousands each year, getting out and spending money,” said Toner.

— With files from AM800/Rusty Thomson

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If you want to upgrade your summer wardrobe, try adding a few of these stylish pieces from amazon to your closet, if you're looking for a new face sunscreen, here are 16 that reviewers are loving right now, 17 useful amazon products that deserve to be in your home, 14 grilling accessories that'll help you get ready for barbecue season, our guide to the best air quality monitors in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), 15 amazon products that'll make you love your bed even more than you already do, 18 of the best father's day gifts under $50, 16 foolproof father's day gifts your dad is almost guaranteed to love, 15 unique father's day gifts they're guaranteed to love, 15 of the best niacinamide serums you can get online right now, i tried 7 of the most popular eye creams on amazon canada, and here are my thoughts, health & fitness, if your feet always hurt, you probably need a few of these things in your life, the best under-desk treadmills under $300, these accessories for golfers will take your game to the next level.

Ontario to start expansion of alcohol sales in convenience and grocery stores this summer

Alcohol sales in Ontario will be enhanced in grocery stores and expanded to convenience stores this summer, a year-and-a-half sooner than expected, following a deal that will see the Ontario government provide The Beer Store up to $225 million for the early rollout.

Five people taken to hospital and 26 displaced after Cambridge fire

More than two dozen people have been forced from their homes after a fire ravaged an apartment building in Cambridge.

Ontario's so-called 'Crypto King' transferred more than $500K on video game platforms as recently as March: bankruptcy report

Ontario’s so-called 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski has transferred more than half a million dollars on video gaming platforms in a series of transactions made as recently as March, a new bankruptcy report shows.

Federal ministers visit London to tout proposed pharmacare program

The Liberal government says it is open to adding more medications to the list of drugs covered by its proposed pharmacare program.

Person arrested twice for walking near a school with a weapon

A 26-year-old from Woodstock is charged with one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose one count of fail to comply with probation order.

'Their life still needs to be celebrated': Photographers sought to capture dying newborns with their families

Volunteers are needed for a London group with a heartfelt mission. It consists of photographers who tastefully capture the final moments of dying newborn infants with their families.

Arrest made in 2022 fatal shooting of woman in Alliston, Ont.

Police have made an arrest nearly two years after a woman was allegedly gunned down in front of her Alliston, Ont. home.

Barrie man convicted of sex crimes arrested after failing to show for sentencing hearing

Police confirm the 50-year-old Barrie man convicted of sex crimes involving a child, who failed to show up for his sentencing hearing on Thursday, has been arrested.

Northern Ontario

Attempted murder, drug charges follow shooting in Greater Sudbury

One person is charged with attempt murder and two people have been charged with drug and weapons offences following a shooting early Friday morning in Greater Sudbury.

Northern Ont. police find dog hanging from a tree, owner charged with cruelty

A 39-year-old in Sault Ste. Marie has been charged with animal cruelty following a disturbing discovery in the city Thursday evening.

Out-of-control fire rages just north of Cobalt, Ont.

A now 134-hectare fire is burning three kilometres north of Cobalt near the east shore of Kerr Lake, the province’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services says.

Sault Ste. Marie

Sault tourism expecting fewer cruise ships this year

Tourism officials in Sault Ste. Marie are preparing for a quieter-than-usual cruise ship season.

Northern Ont. police seize weapons, $200K in drugs, Toronto pair charged

Three people, including two from Toronto, have been arrested in northern Ontario and Ontario Provincial Police have seized a haul of drugs, weapons and other items.

Ottawa man charged in death of gosling in city west end

A 68-year-old Ottawa man is facing animal cruelty charges after a gosling was allegedly stomped to death outside a business in Kanata.

Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle in Barrhaven Thursday night

Ottawa police say a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle in Barrhaven has died from her injuries.

Ottawa police looking to locate missing Vanier boy, 15

The Ottawa Police Service is asking the public for help in locating a missing 15-year-old from the Vanier area who went missing earlier this month.

Independent Toronto MP Kevin Vuong asks Poilievre to let him join Conservative caucus

Independent Toronto MP Kevin Vuong says he is asking Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to let him join the Tory caucus, and intends to seek a nomination for the party in a Greater Toronto Area riding.

'It was devastating': Ontario mother denied boarding flight with her family after ticket mistake

A dream vacation for an Ontario family quickly turned to frustration when a mother’s name on a ticket didn’t match the name on her passport, meaning she was left behind while her husband and two children flew to France.

Man who escaped from prison in Quebec may be in Ontario

A warrant has been issued for 32-year-old Yacine Zouaoui, who went unaccounted for at the minimum security Federal Training Centre.

Number of young people with anxiety-depressive disorders peaks in Quebec

The proportion of young Quebecers with an anxiety-depressive disorder has reached a peak, with 8.4 per cent of 15- to 29-year-olds diagnosed in 2021-2022.

Manitoba RCMP shoot and kill man allegedly assaulting woman in car

A 51-year-old man was fatally shot by RCMP on a Manitoba highway Friday morning.

Health information of hundreds of Manitobans accessed inappropriately: Shared Health

Hundreds of Manitobans had their personal health information "inappropriately accessed" over an eight-month span Shared Health has learned following an investigation.

Here's how much rain fell in Manitoba overnight

As southern Manitoba gear up to receive up to 60 millimetres of rain, some communities have already started to feel the impact of the low-pressure system.

Anti-UCP protests planned across Alberta this weekend

Rallies are planned in eight cities and towns across Alberta on Saturday to protest the United Conservative Party.

$350K fine levied against company after death of worker in 2021

An industrial painting and coating company has been ordered to pay $350,000 after the death of a worker more than two years ago.

McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener

Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver

The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.

Robotics technology will help fulfill your Amazon orders at this Calgary facility

A new Amazon warehouse that opened in Calgary on Friday is the first of its kind.

Tires 'destroyed' by massive Calgary pothole, driver says

While city crews remain hard at work patching many Calgary roads, a massive pothole on 16 Avenue N.W. created some very expensive problems for drivers on Thursday.

BREAKING | Jeremy Harrison resigns as Sask. Gov't House Leader over allegations he brought gun to legislature

Sask. Party member Jeremy Harrison says he will resign as Government House Leader, revealing he brought a gun into the legislative building a decade ago.

EMS workers concerned with public's social media response to accidents

Yorkton Protective Fire Services is asking the public to have some compassion when taking photos and videos during the aftermath of accidents.

Search for truth goes on, regardless of killer Robert Pickton's fate, say victims' advocates

Advocates for alleged victims of B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton say they remain focused on getting justice for the women, as Pickton lies in a Quebec hospital in a coma after being attacked in prison.

Catalytic converter thieves are targeting these North Vancouver neighbourhoods: RCMP

Mounties in North Vancouver are warning residents to be vigilant after noting what they say is a "dramatic increase" in catalytic converter thefts.

18 hydrogen refuelling stations to be built in B.C., premier announces

More than a dozen hydrogen refuelling stations are expected to be built in B.C. as part of a new project aimed at reducing emissions in the transportation sector.

Vancouver Island

Someone has been stealing bronze vases from graves in nanaimo, rcmp say.

Mounties in Nanaimo are investigating a string of thefts from a local cemetery, and are asking the public for help with the case.

Border workers have voted in favour of a strike mandate which could lead to 'significant disruptions' to the flow of goods, services and people through Canadian ports of entry, their union said Friday morning.

RCMP believe deceased man was driver in fatal P.E.I. collision

The RCMP has completed its investigation into a fatal crash that claimed the lives of four people in Marshfield, P.E.I., last December.

Sarah McLachlan announces tour stops in Halifax, Moncton

Grammy and Juno-award winning artist Sarah McLachlan will return to her hometown of Halifax this fall during the Canadian leg of her latest tour.

Gas prices in the Maritimes up slightly

The price of gas increased slightly overnight for Maritime motorists after a few weeks of a downward trend.

Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years

Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.

Newfoundland grandmothers can wail on the accordion. A historian wants them on stage

79-year-old Madonna Wilkinson has been playing the accordion since she was 15, when she picked one up that had been left behind at one of her parents' rollicking parties in the oceanside town about 25 kilometres north of St. John's, N.L. She has played Sunday masses and St. Patrick's Day parties, and community events of all kinds.

The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for child care as soon as you're pregnant

Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.

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‘new and shiny’ great lakes cruise ship industry expects further growth.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Travel leaders in Michigan expect another busy year as the 2024 cruise ship season kicks off.

Cruises the Great Lakes expects ships will make close to 600 port visits to Great Lakes cities this year, bringing with them more than 20,000 individual passengers. It is expected to have an economic impact of $200 million, a 50% increase over 2022.

In Michigan, seven port destinations, including Muskegon, are expected to welcome a total of 157 visits from a nine ships, Kelly Wolgamott with Travel Michigan said in a press conference on Mackinac Island Tuesday.

“We are just really excited to be launching the 2024 cruise season here on Mackinaw Island,” she said. “Taking a Great Lakes cruise throughout Pure Michigan allows travelers to discover a fresh perspective along our over 3,200 miles of a fresh water coastline, creating cherished moments that will last a lifetime.”

Cruises brought 2,500 people — and their money — to Muskegon in 2023

Wednesday’s press conference comes after the Great Lakes cruise ship industry broke records in 2023. In Muskegon alone , around 2,500 passengers stopped by last year, generating around $700,000 in economic impact.

Cruise the Great Lakes expects to continue to see steady, manageable growth over the next several years.

Victory Cruise Lines, previously under the flag of American Queen Voyages , is expected to return to the Great Lakes in 2025. Construction on a number of cruise ships is underway, and Bay City is working to become a port that can accept cruise ships, leaders said during the press conference.

“We have a number of ports and destinations that are currently in various stages of infrastructure enhancements, shore excursion development,” said Anna Tanski, the tourism director of Cruise the Great Lakes. “We are the new and shiny option for cruising. Even though we do have a rich history dating back … 150 years, we are viewed now as this new experience for people who want to immerse themselves into our communities, to learn more about the rich history that the Great Lakes brings, the unique scenic beauty.”

The demographics that are interested in a Great Lakes cruise continues to diversify, leaders said. In partnership with Great Lakes USA , the team is working to bring more international tourists into the area, especially from the United Kingdom and German-speaking markets.

“There definitely is an international component,” Tanski said. “The targeted demographic of these passengers, they’re well-seasoned, well-traveled, they’ve gone on the Alaskan cruises, the Caribbean cruises. … We are providing a fresh, new experience and an opportunity to explore a region that is mostly undiscovered to many visitors.”

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