Great Lakes & Waterfronts: Chicago to Toronto - 2023

Arrive in Toronto for the first leg of your Great Lakes adventure! Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure, with time to explore your new surroundings, then join in for a Welcome Dinner and reception.

Maximize your Toronto time with a day at leisure to explore this city however you wish. Browse the exhibits at the Art Gallery of Ontario or the Royal Ontario Museum . . . taste your way through the famous St. Lawrence Market . . . or enjoy waterfront views from the Harbourfront Centre. Lunch and dinner are on your own — and this diverse city offers a gamut of memorable dining experiences.

After breakfast, a panoramic tour of Toronto ensures you’ll see this wonderful metropolis and its skyline in full view. We’ll drive by Toronto City Hall, the Eaton Center, and more, before visiting the pedestrian-only Distillery Historic District. Drive by the Hockey Hall of Fame and we'll also enjoy the stunning city views from the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere and one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World.

Afterwards, you'll embark the Ocean Explorer! Thanks to the small size of your ship, in many ports we’ll be able to dock right onshore, giving you easy access to your destination. This is almost exclusively how you will embark and disembark throughout most of your journey. However, please note that other ports may require anchoring offshore and tendering inland, which will require a certain level of agility. We’ve peppered this voyage with a series of illuminating presentations by the onboard historian, whose insights will enhance every discovery on land. After settling into your cabin, join your fellow travelers for a lively Welcome Dinner as you cast off.

Included Feature:

• Half-day panoramic tour of Toronto

Excitement prevails today as we disembark in Port Colborne on the southern end of the Welland Canal and drive along the Niagara River for dramatic views of Horseshoe Falls. Then you’ll board the iconic Hornblower “Voyage to the Falls” for a cruise past the American and Bridal Veil Falls before heading into the misty spray of Niagara’s thunderous Horseshoe. Back on shore, we’ll drive along picturesque Niagara Parkway, spotting famed Niagara sights including the Floral Clock and the Whirlpool Rapids.

Included Feature:

• Embark on a Hornblower “Voyage of the Falls” cruise to Horseshoe Falls

Cultural Discovery:

• Visit a local winery for wine tasting

Embark on a city tour of Cleveland, nestled along the banks of Lake Erie. Depending on the day of the week, our stops may include the stately Museum of Art, the Tiffany-designed Wade Chapel at Lakeview Cemetery, and the bustling West Side Market, where hundreds of vendors hawk everything from fresh seafood to flowers.

Included Features:

• Half-day trolley tour of Cleveland
• Visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Sailing from Lake Erie toward Lake Huron, we’ll find ourselves in Detroit, Michigan. Peruse artifacts from American history during a self-guided tour of the Henry Ford Museum, home to 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 Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated.

After an included lunch at the museum, visit the Detroit Institute of Arts, featuring one of the most renowned art collections in the country. Some of the museum’s notable holdings include Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals and Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait — the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum collection. This evening, enjoy dinner and a Motown performance back on the ship as we set sail for Lake Huron.

Included Features:

• Peruse artifacts from American history during a guided tour of the Henry Ford Museum
• Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts

Spend the day enjoying incredible views of Lake Huron. The second largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron features more 30,000 islands and boasts more shoreline than any of the other Great Lakes. Head to the sun deck with a cocktail and a good book, or with a good camera for some excellent photo opportunities.

• Scenic cruising around Lake Huron

Keep your cameras ready as we cruise through the rugged beauty of UNESCO-listed Georgian Bay, sometimes called the sixth Great Lake. We’ll anchor just offshore and tender into our destination of Manitoulin Island, the world’s largest freshwater island and home of the Ojibwe tribe. With native and non-native communities coexisting like nowhere else on the continent, Manitoulin has a history as colorful and diverse as any in Canada. Later, at Little Current, you’ll explore the area’s rich native and nautical history, and discover how the beliefs and customs of the Ojibwe intertwine with Catholicism during a visit to the Immaculate Conception Church.

Included Feature:

• Explore Manitoulin Island and visit the Immaculate Conception Church

Cultural Discovery:

• Experience a traditional smudging ceremony and powwow at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation

Scenic Sailing:

• Cruise through Georgian Bay - part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve

Today, we’ll transit the Soo Locks from Lake Huron towards Lake Superior at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Located at the mouth of the St. Mary's River, these four parallel locks — MacArthur (constructed in 1943), Poe (1895), Davis (1914), and Sabin (1919) — pass an impressive 10,000 ships each year.

After docking, you’ll have your choice of adventures and attractions on the U.S. side of the locks, including the  Valley Camp Museum Ship and Soo Locks Visitors platform or the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site.

Included Feature:

• Choice of tours in Sault Ste. Marie: Visit the Valley Camp Museum Ship and Soo Locks Visitors platform or the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre and Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site

Please note: The locks can be congested and it is not guaranteed the ship's passage thru Soo Locks to Lake Superior, in the rare even this happens, we will do our best for those interested to take a ferry to go across.

We’ll anchor just offshore and tender into Mackinac Island. Your city tour includes a stop at Fort Mackinac, which was constructed by the British in 1780, taken by the Americans in 1796, and reclaimed by the British at the start of the War of 1812. Then, you'll lunch at the historic Grand Hotel, which features the longest porch in the world and has hosted a roster of illustrious guests, including several U.S. presidents, Thomas Edison, and even Mark Twain. Next, embark on a Fort Mackinac tour that features a cannon and rifle firing event!

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the village on your own. This evening, you're invited to a delightful cocktail hour in the ship's lounge, where a captivating presentation by the ship’s historian rounds out another delightful day.

• Narrated horse-drawn carriage tour of Mackinac Island
• Tour Fort Mackinac

• Buffet lunch at the historic Grand Hotel
• Lecture by onboard historian

The only Great Lake located entirely within the United States, Lake Michigan has a surface area of more than 22,000 square miles, making it the fifth largest lake in the world. The name Michigan is believed to come from the native Ojibwe word mishigami, which translates to “great water.” After a scenic day of cruising, we’ll gather for a festive Farewell Reception, followed by dinner in the ship’s main dining room.

Included Feature:

• Scenic day of cruising on Lake Michigan

Disembark in Milwaukee, a 2-hour transfer from Chicago by motor coach. After arriving in Chicago, you'll take an exciting architectural tour through this fascinating city, followed by delicious deep dish pizza lunch, and then checking into your hotel in the afternoon.

Included Feature:

• Half-day panoramic tour of Chicago

Cultural Discovery:

• Deep dish pizza lunch

Today you'll take a scenic route through Chicago on a city tour that highlights the history, culture, and modern marvels of this great metropolis.

Your afternoon is at leisure if you'd like to explore more of Chicago on your own. Explore this beloved metropolis and its offerings as one of the country’s most walkable cities. Take some time to explore the city’s iconic skyscrapers, renowned museums, waterfront, and pristine parks.

Included Feature:

• Architectural boat tour of Chicago

After breakfast at the hotel this morning, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.