If you've ever wanted to take a cruise around Michigan, now is your chance! The Great Lakes Cruise Company was founded in 1998 by Tom Conlin, founder of Conlin Travel, and his son Chris. 21 years later, the cruise offers several different options for those who want to sail through the Great Lakes, and it includes stops in Michigan.
According to the company, they are the only travel company in the world to specialize in Great Lakes cruises, and Tom and Chris wanted to revitalize the Great Lakes cruising industry. There are also several different tour options.
Splendor of the Great Lakes
The Splendor of the Great Lakes cruise is an 11-day, 10-night cruise that runs from Chicago to Toronto or vice-versa, and it hits all five of the Great Lakes.
You'll stop at Mackinac Island and transit to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, stop in Detroit on your way to Toronto with a visit to The Henry Ford, Motown Museum or DIA, then go to Cleveland and finish with Niagara Falls and Toronto.
The trip is on the Victory I, which is an agile, small ship that helps easily navigate canals and locks. There are state rooms throughout, with a sun deck, observation lounge, galley, dining room, tavern and more.
In 2020, trips depart two or three times per month from May through October. Prices for the cruise start at around $5,000, and you can check out the details here .
Great Lakes & Georgian Bay
For those who want a trip a little different than the Splendor of the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes & Georgian Bay trip is a 12-day, 11-night cruise from Milwaukee to Toronto.
It sails through Lake Michigan with a stop in Holland & Muskegon, then continues to Mackianc Island and Sault Ste. Marie, Little Current, Ontario and Windsor before once again finishing with Niagara Falls and Toronto.
This cruise is on the Pearl Mist, which has 100 staterooms,a ll of which have private balconies, plus open sundecks, a gym, lounge and more.
Prices for the Great Lakes & Georgian Bay trip start at $8,000, and for more information, click here .
Great American Waterways
One of the longest and largest cruises offered by the Great Lakes Cruise Company is the Great American Waterways cruise. As its name suggests, the cruise hits some of the best waterways in America, and goes from Chicago to New York for 16 days and 15 nights.
You'll sail through Lake Michigan, the Straits of Mackianc, Lake Huron, the Detroit and St. Claire rivers, Erie Canal and Lake Erie, Welland Canal and Lake Ontario, the New York State Barge Canal, Hudson River and New York Harbor.
It includes stops at Mackinac Island, Wyandotte, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, N.Y., several other New York cities before finishing in New York City.
The trip is on a much smaller ship, the Grande Caribe or Grande Mariner, which holds no more than 84 guests.
Prices start at just over $5,000, and you can learn more here .
