Great Lakes & Waterfronts: Chicago to Toronto - 2023

Arrive in Illinois for the first leg of your Great Lakes journey! If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, a Vantage representative will meet you and arrange transfer to your cruise ship. Spend the afternoon at leisure, with time to explore your new surroundings. Later, join in on a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers.

We’ll take a longer route from our hotel through the city on a half-day panoramic tour of this cultural capital. Enjoy a classic lunch of deep-dish pizza, one of the city's iconic dishes. Then, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. We'll provide you with a City Pass, which unlocks entrance to some of Chicago's best museums. Chicago is also considered one of the country’s most walkable cities, so take some time to explore the city’s iconic skyscrapers, waterfront, and pristine parks.

Included Feature:

• Half-day panoramic tour of Chicago

Cultural Discovery:

• Deep dish pizza lunch

Today, see Chicago from the water on an architectural tour. There are more than 50 buildings that line the Chicago River, which celebrate how this metropolis has thrived over the past century to become one of the world’s largest cities.

Later, you'll embark the sleek Ocean Explorer to prepare for your exciting Great Lakes journey.

Included Feature:

• Architectural Boat Tour of Chicago

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 Welcome Reception, followed by dinner in the ship’s main dining room.

Included Feature:

• Scenic cruising day on Lake Michigan

Explore the popular retreat of Mackinac Island today. With its Revolutionary-era heritage and car-free streets, arriving on the island feels like a true step back in time! Revel in the feel of simpler times with a horse-drawn carriage ride through town. 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. Before dinner this evening, enjoy an onboard lecture.

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

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

Today, we’ll transit the Soo Locks from Lake Huron toward 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

Keep your cameras ready as we cruise through the rugged beauty of UNESCO-listed Georgian Bay, sometimes called the sixth Great Lake. Our destination is 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. Docking 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

Spend the day marveling at 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

Sailing from Lake Erie to 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, you'll have a choice of tours: You can visit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History or spend more time at the Henry Ford Museum. Or, you can 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
• Your choice of tours: Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts or the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Embark on a charming hop-on/hop-off trolley 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. You're welcome to spend additional time at four museums where entrance fee is included: the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland History Center, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. You'll also have the opportunity to visit the iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, spanning generations of incredible music history displayed in interactive, audibly pleasing exhibits.

Included Features:

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

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

After breakfast, disembark the Ocean Explorer and set off on a half-day panoramic tour of Toronto. Drive by Toronto City Hall, the Eaton Center, Hockey Hall of Fame, and more, before visiting the pedestrian-only Distillery Historic District. 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. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, with dinner on your own.

Included Feature:

• Half-day panoramic tour of Toronto

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 at the hotel this morning, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or, stay a few days longer on an optional extension to discover more of Toronto's gems.