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Seamlessly blending luxury small ship cruising and intimate cultural discovery, Vantage Deluxe World Travel is delighted to show you North America's rich natural beauty and buzzing metro hubs on this small ship ocean cruise through the Great Lakes and beyond!
Your journey begins in sophisticated Montréal, one of Canada's great cultural jewels. Discover more about Canada’s multicultural history before moving onto scenic Lake Ontario and the city of Kingston. Explore Niagara Falls on both the Canadian and American sides of the falls. Continue through the Great Lakes and the historic cities that border them, including rock-and-roll Cleveland and innovative Detroit.
Along the way, get in-depth cultural insights thanks to an onboard Resident Lecturer, who will lead riveting talks and discussions on your destinations. Your adventures along Lake Huron and Lake Michigan will conclude with visits to Manitoulin Island (where you’ll experience a traditional Ojibwe smudging ceremony), Mackinac Island, and a final stop in Chicago for a boat tour. If you fall in love with Chi-town, you can choose to stay on for our two-night extension.
North American Waterways will give you an unmatched sailing experience aboard the 5-star Ocean Explorer. This state-of-the-art small ship offers smoother navigation while pampering you with Deluxe amenities and a small passenger-to-crew ratio with just 77 cabins, including a landmark 15 solo cabins. While aboard, indulge in a massage at the spa, or try hot-rock cooking at the onboard restaurant. For lakeshore excursions during the course of your journey, you’ll be transported by bus, trolley, and even horse-drawn carriage. With 25 included features and Cultural Discoveries, each day will bring new wonders in some of the most intriguing destinations in North America.
Arrive in Montréal, Canada
Arrive in Montréal for the first leg of your Great Lakes adventure! If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, you’ll be met at the airport by a representative who will assist you with your hotel transfer. Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure, with time to explore your new surroundings.
Included meals:
Enjoy Montréal at your leisure
You’ll be able to explore more of Montréal on your own today. The city’s eclectic mix of stunning heritage architecture and impressive skyscrapers make for captivating sightseeing. You can visit the award-winning Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) to gain insight into the city’s architecture and learn about its role in shaping contemporary society.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Enjoy a uniquely Canadian experience when you visit a traditional sugar shack. Learn more
Known for its delicious maple syrup, Canada’s sugar shacks are a long-held tradition that dates back to the earliest First Nations people. European settlers arriving in the northeast during the fur trading boom observed Indigenous peoples making high-calorie maple sugar every spring, which was used to sustain them through the tough winter months. The settlers used their technology to improve on the process of tapping maple trees and making crystallized maple sugar, which was then broken down into slices and melted or shaved directly over dishes. Today, sugar shack meals are a popular northeastern event for locals and visitors alike. A sugar shack meal is unlike anything else and you have to be fully prepared to indulge in a rich, delicious, maple-laden meal that will leave you completely satisfied. You’ll be able to celebrate the tradition yourself on this one-of-a-kind, full-day excursion that includes a sugar shack tour and, of course, a full meal!
Due to high call volume, we recommend you visit MyPortfolio to book this Destination Enhancement. Don’t wait — these optional experiences are limited to a select number of guests and are selling out fast!
Discover Montréal’s highlights and embark the Ocean Explorer
Set out to explore this remarkable city, situated on an island in the St. Lawrence River. This UNESCO City of Design (one of only a few in the world), is home to more than 50 national historic sites, and it boasts a lively downtown arts and cultural scene. View many of its gems, including historic Old Montréal’s stunning architecture, and the magnificent neo-Gothic Notre Dame Basilica, one of the crown jewels in Québec's rich religious heritage.
This afternoon, embark the 5-star Ocean Explorer to take advantage of all its amenities, including ongoing educational and interesting lectures. As we depart, you'll be treated to some scenic views of the St. Lawrence River, island of Montréal, and Mont Royal in the distance.
Included Feature:
Relax on board with a day at sea
Today you will spend the day at sea, enjoying all of the Deluxe amenities Vantage has to offer. Relax with your favorite movie or book, rest up, and take in sweeping vistas as you sail to your next destination.
Onboard Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional onboard experience. Enhance your time on board with one of our Vantage-exclusive activities, including wine and whiskey tastings, a multicourse Chef’s Table Dinner, or an exclusive wine-pairing dinner. Learn more
Tour Kingston by coach
Today we'll explore Kingston, known as the "Limestone City" for its historic architecture and charm. You'll experience this city in the best way, via a hop-on/hop-off narrated coach tour. The included stops will offer a look at all of the city's most well-known visitor destinations, including the Canadian Penitentiary Museum, Queen’s University's Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Pumphouse Museum, Bellevue House, Kingston City Hall, and Market Square. Later we'll visit the downtown shopping area for a brief stroll and finish our tour at Fort Henry. Fort Henry is a 19th century British military base complete with period equipment, museum, and even garrison parades. There will be an interactive tour and lunch at the fort before returning to the ship.
Included Features:
Enjoy a panoramic tour of Toronto
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, then drive by the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Sail into the mists of Niagara Falls
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. Here, 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.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting in the Niagara Wine Region. Learn more
The Niagara Peninsula is the largest and most concentrated winemaking region in Canada. Gently blanketing much of the Niagara countryside, the area’s countless vineyards and wineries offer a wide array of one-of-kind, intimate experiences. This optional tour includes a tour of a local winery, followed by a tasting and lunch. Whether you’re a serious connoisseur, or a wandering grazer more interested in food and views, there is a varietal for your palate.
Tour Cleveland’s iconic sites, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Depart for a charming coach 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'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.
Please note: Some groups will experience today’s itinerary in reverse order. However, both groups will enjoy the same number of features.
Discover Detroit’s Henry Ford Museum
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. Tonight, enjoy dinner and a Motown performance on board as we set sail for Lake Huron.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Explore the extensive art collection at the renowned Detroit Institute of Arts. Learn more
Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts on this optional tour. Located in midtown Detroit, this museum features one of the most renowned art collections in the country. Some of its most notable holdings include Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals and Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, the first Van Gogh painting to be featured in a North American museum collection.
Spend a day on Lake Huron
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.
Encounter Ojibwe tradition and a powwow on Manitoulin Island
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.
Choose your own adventure in Sault Ste. Marie
Today, we’ll transit the Soo Locks from Lake Huron into 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: a hop-on/hop-off tour, Valley Camp Museum, River of History Museum, Das Gift Haus, Historic Water St. Homes, and the Soo Locks.
Step back in time on car-free Mackinac Island
We’ll anchor just offshore and tender into 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. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the village on your own before returning to the ship.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Enjoy lunch at the historic Grand Hotel and tour Fort Mackinac. Learn more
Enjoy a delicious lunch at Mackinac Island’s historic Grand Hotel. Featuring the longest porch in the world, this Victorian-era hotel has hosted a roster of illustrious guests, including several U.S. presidents, Thomas Edison, and even Mark Twain. After lunch, head to Fort Mackinac for an immersive tour that includes a cannon and rifle firing event! Back on board, enjoy an engaging historical lecture from a local historian.
Sail along scenic Lake Michigan
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. Included Feature:
Disembark the Ocean Explorer and tour Chicago’s highlights
Following breakfast this morning, you’ll disembark the Ocean Explorer and head out on a on a panoramic tour of Chicago. Take in the highlights of this cultural capital, including its magnificent architecture. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy as you wish.
Enjoy Chicago at your leisure
Following breakfast at your hotel this morning, you’ll have a full day at leisure to explore Chicago on your own.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Enjoy an optional boat tour of Chicago’s iconic skyline and savor traditional deep-dish pizza. Learn more
See Chicago’s iconic skyline from a new perspective on a guided architectural boat 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, enjoy a classic Chicago favorite for lunch: deep-dish pizza!
Board a return flight home
After breakfast at the hotel this morning, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Please Note: Ocean cruising is not the same experience as river cruising; as such, you may experience fluctuating tides and weather patterns that may involve some rocking of your vessel. Itineraries will include all activities as planned except in extreme cases that can’t be controlled by your shipboard crew. Day-by-day itineraries are preliminary and therefore subject to change. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Cruise Director or regional expert.
