I recently came back from sailing the Great Lakes on Vikings unique Niagara & the Great Lakes expedition cruise itinerary, which began in Milwaukee, sailing four of the five Great Lakes and traversing the historic Welland Canal before ending in Toronto, Canada.?
Along the way, I enjoyed visiting Mackinac Island, Michigana historic island thats been using horses and bicycles instead of cars for over a centuryalong with Alpena, known for its shipwrecks; Detroit, known for its industry and its cultural and artistic resurgence; Point Pelee, a Canadian National Park and the southernmost tip of Canada; and scenic Niagara Falls, one of the worlds natural wonders.?
Sailing the Great Lakes was a wonderful way to explore this underrated region of the world, home to a unique history and some of the worlds largest freshwater resources.?
Here are some key takeaways I learned from my Viking expedition cruise along the Great Lakes.?
Lesson One: Water is Wonderful?
A view of the Niagara Falls. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)
One of the lessons that grew on me throughout the duration of my weeklong cruise was that theres likely no other place on the planet quite like the Great Lakes region, at least in terms of its wealth of water.?
The five lakes hold about 20 percent of all the melted freshwater on the planet, and if all of it was taken up and splashed onto the United States, the contiguous U.S. would be under nine feet of water. Thats an insane amount of water!?
Sailing on it was similar to sailing on the ocean, though we were blessed with calm waters and relatively sunny, warm weather. Once we were out of port, we often couldnt see land, just like an ocean, and many guests were amazed to find that the lakes were so large that land easily disappeared from view.?
Shipping in the Great Lakes first began about three hundred years ago with French fur trappers, followed by loggers, salt miners and other industries. The Great Lakes region was also a theater of war during the War of 1812, the end of which formalized the current boundary between the United States and Canada.?
Lesson Two: The Great Lakes are Mostly Calm?
The view of Mackinac Bridge from a cruise ship. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)
While the Great Lakes have a history of shipwrecks from Lake Michigan to Lake Ontario, we had amazing weather and lake conditions throughout our trip.?
The Viking Polaris is a Polar Class 6 ship, the highest classification of Polar Class. Specifically designed to sail in some of the roughest waters in the world (including the infamous Drake Passage), it ensures a smoother ride than most ships.
I think that helped our smooth sailing, but the weather definitely helped, too.
Even tendering into port, the lakes were relatively smooth and calm. There was only one day where it was a little windy, and that caused the waves to swell somewhat.
If you want to take an expedition cruise and youre worried about getting seasick, the Great Lakes are a great choice for you. ?
Also: the Great Lakes are surprisingly buggy this time of year, so we were cautioned not to open our window in my stateroom. While it didnt dampen my experience, it was surprising. I wouldnt recommend bringing bug spray along, however, as the bugs werent interested in us.?
Lesson Three: All About Expedition Days?
A kayaking expedition at Point Pelee National Park in Canada with Viking. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)
We had one expedition day on the cruise, at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada. The southernmost tip of Canada, its a beautiful preserve that hosts a plethora of migratory birds and wildlife, including the elusive beaver.?
I chose to go on the kayaking expedition through the parks marshland, and it was a really fun time. Because it was a little windy and rain was on the way, we donned the ships dry suits and dry booties, and then wore life vests over our suits.?
Im not going to lie, I felt a bit like I was going to space, and not out in a kayak, but I later grew happy I had the dry suit.?
We took a Zodiac ride from the Viking Polaris to the beach at Point Pelee, then walked a short distance to the marsh, where the kayaks were waiting for us. The expedition leaders helped us into the two-person kayak, then we shoved off.?
The marsh was a beautiful landscape, full of cattails and other tall plants, along with tons of large lily pads sporting brilliant yellow flowers. We spotted plenty of birds and a beaver lodge, but no beavers.?
One note about the kayaking expedition: we had to be tested on the proper way to get in and out of a kayak while in a Zodiac boat. If we couldnt pass the test, we couldnt go on the excursion.?
While all of us passed, I do think its important to note that those with limited mobility may not be able to enjoy all the expedition activities available, and for good reason: safety. The expedition team is good about explaining the importance of safety first, hence the kayak test.?
There were a few other tours available that expedition day. Along with rotating Zodiacs taking people to and from the park to wander independently, there was also a Zodiac tour of the park by boat, an excursion to the beach which forms the tip of Point Pelee and a ride in the Special Operations Boat, providing more than enough opportunity for people to choose the expedition that suits them.?
Even the travelers with more limited mobility were able to enjoy an excursion that day.
Lesson Four: The Welland Canal Might Be Cooler Than the Panama Canal
The Viking Polaris traversing through the Welland Canal from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)
The Welland Canal is an achievement in engineering, constructed in 1829, 196 years ago, to provide an easy path from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, and therefore out to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway.?
Prior to its construction, Niagara Falls was the only connection point between the lakes, making shipping and industry challenging, as cargo had to be constantly changed from one ship to another.?
Today, it boasts eight locks (more than the Panama Canal), and drops or raises ships about 300 feet. The Panama Canal is about double the length of the Welland Canal, but the Welland is older and, in my opinion at least, quite a bit cooler.?
Unlike many Panama Canal cruises that merely stop in the lock for guests to see before backing out the same way they entered, the Viking Polaris actually went through all eight locks to enter Lake Ontario, providing a unique experience for guests onboard the ship.?
It was a great experience to traverse such large locks. Plenty of people turned out on the upper decks to watch and take photos as our boat sank below the doors of the locks, and the staff on the ship provided margaritas for those waiting. Canadians driving or walking past the canal often stopped to wave at us or take photos or video, and I felt a little bit like I was in a parade.?
Lesson Five: Each Destination is So Different
The Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)
I wasnt sure what to expect with the destinations on our itinerary. Id only visited Mackinac Island as a child, but had never visited any of the other places.?
I was surprised by how different they all were. Mackinac Island, our first stop, was like something out of a Hallmark movie, all clopping horses and bicycling families, the scent of lilacs wafting through the air. It felt like heaven on earth.?
Alpena was a sleepier small town undergoing an exciting revitalization, with the preservation of its coastal shipwrecks at the heart of its tourism growth. We also saw a ton of wildlife that day, from a deer along the lakeshore to a muskrat wandering the heart of downtown.?
The towns welcoming committee was also there to help us find our way, and they offered us a local treasure: a Petoskey stone, a fossilized coral found right on the local Lake Huron shoreline.?
Detroit was so much cooler than I expected, and I lamented that we didnt have more time to explore it. The former boom city had bust long ago, and our local guide told us that at one point in time, 80 percent of the buildings in the now beautiful, bustling city center were abandoned.?
Today, its undergoing a cultural and artistic renaissance, and historic buildings are being lovingly restored and renovated.?
Point Pelee is a fascinating stretch of land and freshwater, a piece of unspoiled paradise in the middle of a land that has been shaped by human hands for about three centuries.?
Niagara Falls was a beautiful natural wonder, and while it, too, had not been spared the impact of human intervention, it remains a place to marvel at the beauty of the world and the blessing of freshwater that exists in such volume in this part of the world.?
The Final Lesson?
The Viking Octantis, the identical sister ship to Viking Polaris, in Port Colbourne, Canada. (Photo Credit: Lacey Pfalz)
Vikings Niagara & The Great Lakes itinerary is a unique choice for a cruise vacationnone of the destinations are considered heavily touristed, but all offer new opportunities for learning and exploration.?
Its a great choice for travelers who want to discover the Midwest for the first time, or for those Midwesterners who prefer cruising over road tripping.?
My final lesson? Expect the unexpected while in the Midwest. You never know what treasures you might find here.?
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