Great Lakes cruises offer a unique way to explore the beauty and charm of the North American Great Lakes region. These cruises typically traverse the interconnected waterways of the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, as well as the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara River.

Passengers on a Great Lakes cruise experience breathtaking scenery, visit charming port cities and towns, and learn about the rich history, culture, and ecology of the region. Popular ports of call often include cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, and Montreal, among others.

Activities on board may include lectures and presentations by experts on the history, geology, and ecology of the Great Lakes, as well as culinary experiences featuring regional cuisine and entertainment showcasing local music and arts.

Some cruises also offer shore excursions to explore landmarks, national parks, historic sites, and cultural attractions along the Great Lakes shoreline. These might include visits to lighthouses, museums, wineries, and scenic hiking trails.

Great Lakes Cruise Itineraries

A Great Lakes lighthouse in the foreground with a setting sun over a great lake.

All 5 Great Lakes Cruise

On this 11-day All 5 Great Lakes cruise, explore the Great Lakes with Victory Cruise Lines, with an intimate voyage from Toronto to Chicago and back. These vast “inland seas” stretch along North America’s eastern border between Canada and the United States, each one steeped in rich history and breathtaking natural beauty.

Mackinac Bridge

Great Lakes + Thunder Bay

On this 16-day Great Lakes + Thunder Bay cruise, embark on an unparalleled adventure exploring the captivating beauty and rich history of Lake Superior and beyond. This extraordinary journey will take you through breathtaking landscapes, charming coastal towns, and vibrant cities.

Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan

Great Lakes and Georgian Bay (8-Day)

On this 8-day Great Lakes and Georgian Bay voyage aboard the 210-guest Pearl Mist, enjoy the beautiful and clear waters of the Great Lakes, the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world. Sail among the Thirty Thousand Islands and visit the many remarkable destinations along the way.

Pearl Mist sailing the Great Lakes

Great Lakes Explorer (15-Day)

On this 15-day Great Lakes Explorer voyage aboard the 210-guest Pearl Mist, experience the most immersive exploration along The Great Lakes. Take an exhilarating boat ride in Niagara Falls, visit the Cleveland Museum of Art, then travel to the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit to learn how he changed the world of technology and manufacturing.

Lighthouse

Great Lakes Explorer (8-day)

On this 8-day Great Lakes Explorer cruise from Milwaukee to Thunder Bay Wisconsin aboard the 378-passenger Viking Octantis or Viking Polaris, discover the maze of granite islands that comprise Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve while hiking and kayaking through its tranquil beauty and admiring sweeping vistas.

Lake Superior Sea Cave

Undiscovered Great Lakes

On this 8-day Undiscovered Great Lakes cruise from Thunder Bay to Milwaukee, Wisconsin aboard the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, cross the width of Lake Superior from Duluth to the Soo Locks, exploring the Apostle Islands and Keweenaw Peninsula along the way.

Niagara Falls

Niagara & the Great Lakes

On this 8-day Niagara & the Great Lakes cruise between Toronto, Ontario to Milwaukee, Wisconsin aboard the Viking Octantis, discover North America’s wilderness alongside renowned cultural attractions while cruising the striking waterways of the Great Lakes.