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8 Night Voyage Along the Great Lakes with Smithsonian Journeys

From Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Toronto

Le Bellot

Ponant Cruises
4 Stars
  • Cruise #: 13966249
  • Departs: Wed, Aug 19, 2026
  • Returns: Thu, Aug 27, 2026
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    Oceanview $8,810
    Balcony
    Call to Book1-800-543-1915
    Suite $14,960
    *Prices are per person based on double occupancy
    Includes taxes & fees
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    Itinerary Summary

    Day by Day Details

    Cruise Segment of Itinerary

    Wednesday - Aug 19, 2026
    Day
    1
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
    • Depart: 17:00:00
    Nested on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, the largest city in the State of Wisconsin, harmoniously combines tradition and modernity. Industrial long ago, the city, known as Brew City because of its old breweries renowned all over the world, is experiencing a certain Renaissance. While warehouses have given way to restaurants, bars, theatres, and art galleries in the city centre, the district still retains traces of its manufacturing past. Further south lies Chicago, the economic centre of the Midwest, with an interesting mix of natural and urban landscapes: its immense skyscrapers, diverse architecture, many parks, and magnificent beaches make the city a popular destination. ...
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    Thursday - Aug 20, 2026
    Day
    2
    Lake Michigan, United States
    • Lake Michigan, United States
    You will sail the United States' largest freshwater body, which gave its name to Michigan, one of the four states that border this lake measuring 500 kilometers long and 200 kilometers wide. The first colonists settled in the south at the end of the 17th century, on the site of the present-day Chicago. Wild landscapes of forests with sparkling colours, cliffs, golden sandy beaches, and dunes as far as the eye can see stretch along its 2,600 kilometers of shoreline. In the north, magnificent wind-swept islands rise out of the lake's emerald waters. At 8 kilometers long, the Mackinac Bridge, which spans the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, is one of the world's longest suspension bridges. ...
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    • Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States
    Close to the banks of Lake Huron in the State of Michigan, Mackinac Island promises a real journey through time. Originally inhabited by Amerindians, then occupied by French and British colonists, this small island measuring only a few square kilometers still retains an atmosphere of yesteryear today, with its Victorian-style buildings and elegant horse-drawn carriages. Fort Mackinac, on the heights of the island, is a reminder of the conflicts that punctuated the history of this strategic place, a former fur trade centre. In addition to this scenery from the past, the island offers magnificent fine sandy beaches and is home to one of the oldest national parks in the United States. ...
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    Friday - Aug 21, 2026
    Day
    3
    Sault Ste. Marie, United States
    • Sault Ste. Marie, United States
    Located to the east of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Separated from its Canadian twin city by St. Marys River, it is famous among other things for its locks, known as either the Sault Locks or the Soo Locks, which enable ships to travel the metres in change in elevation between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. The locks date back over 160 years and are the important due to the commercial shipping traffic. Make sure you visit the Museum Ship Valley Camp where you can visit the interior of a former freighter that sailed on the Great Lakes for more than 50 years. ...
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    Saturday - Aug 22, 2026
    Day
    4
    • Little Current, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, Canada
    A small port town located along the North Channel of Lake Huron, Little Current is considered to be the gateway to Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world. The town's emblematic construction, the Little Current Swing Bridge built in 1913, provides the only land access to the island, a peaceful land whose name means "the island of spirits" in the local dialect. A real haven of peace, sheltering wild nature, and some hamlets, the place is ideal for outdoor activities such as horse-riding and hiking. ...
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    Sunday - Aug 23, 2026
    Day
    5
    Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, Canada
    • Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, Canada
    The charming city of Parry Sound enjoys an exceptional natural setting in the heart of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, east of Georgian Bay. A holiday destination favoured by the province's inhabitants, the city and its surroundings offer a condensed version of all that the Great Lakes region has to offer: windswept forests of conifers, rocky shores characteristic of the Canadian Shield, beaches of fine sand, clear and calm waters producing magnificent reflections that change with the time of day and luminosity... A real paradise for fauna and flora, the place will delight fans of nature and photography. ...
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    • Lake Huron, United States
    A natural border between the American State of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario, Lake Huron is one of the five American Great Lakes and one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. Comprising the main lake, Saginaw Bay, North Channel, and Georgian Bay, and home to around 30,000 islands, it offers varied coastal landscapes and unique views. From your ship, you'll thus be able to admire the wild beauty of the wooded and at times craggy coastline of Manitoulin Island, or the spectacular cliffs of the Bruce Peninsula. ...
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    Monday - Aug 24, 2026
    Day
    6
    St. Clair River, United States
    • St. Clair River, United States
    Forming a natural line of separation between the United States and Canada, the St. Clair River, which flows from Lake Huron into Lake St. Clair, is a significant element of the Great Lakes Waterway. Used in the 18th century for the fur trade by the French colonists of North America who sailed it on small boats to trade with the Amerindians, it was then travelled by freighters transporting lumber, iron ore, and copper from the Great Lakes region to the cities of the Rust Belt. ...
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    • Detroit River, Canada
    During your navigation along the Detroit River, an important commercial waterway linking Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair to Lake Huron, you will sail along the largest city in Michigan. You'll then enjoy panoramic views over the skyscrapers of the former Motor City, jewel of the automotive industry, Fordism, and Motown music in the 20th century. You'll also be able to admire the Ambassador Bridge, which spans the river and enables access to Windsor, on the Canadian shore of the river. This steel suspension bridge, over two kilometers long, was constructed in 1929. This bridge alone carries over 25% of trade between the United States and Canada. ...
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    Tuesday - Aug 25, 2026
    Day
    7
    Lake Erie, United States
    • Lake Erie, United States
    Located to the south of Lake Huron and connected to Lake Ontario by the Welland Canal, Lake Erie, which owes its name to one of the Amerindian tribes which peopled its banks before the arrival of the French in the 17th century, is remarkable for its unique ecosystem. Its shallow fish-filled waters make it an excellent fishing spot, while its banks, famous for their many migratory birds, attract photographers and ornithology enthusiasts. ...
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    • Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, Canada
    Port Colborne is a small port city located in southern Ontario at the mouth of the Welland Canal. It is well-known for one of the longest locks in the world: measuring 420 metres, this lock, the 8th in the canal, has an observation footbridge and marks the final transit point before the Erie Canal. In addition to the discovery of this tremendous hydraulic infrastructure, this port of call will be your privileged access point to the famous Niagara Falls, renowned all over the world for their spectacular beauty. Located on the river of the same name, which means "water thunder" in Amerindian language, these wonders of nature are among the most powerful waterfalls in the world. ...
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    Wednesday - Aug 26, 2026
    Day
    8
    • Welland Canal, Canada
    More than 42 km long, the Welland Canal is part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and enables ships to travel between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. With eight locks today, this canal, whose first version dates from 1824, is considered to be one of the major technical constructions of the 20th century. Its completion revolutionised trade in the Great Lakes region by facilitating the transport of goods from the big industrialised cities of Chicago, Cleveland, or Milwaukee to the Atlantic Ocean. Sailing along this technological masterpiece is a unique experience that will let you admire the different locks, real jewels of engineering, and enjoy the magnificent surrounding scenery. ...
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    Thursday - Aug 27, 2026
    Day
    9
    Toronto, Canada
    • Toronto, Canada
    The largest city in Canada and capital of the province of Ontario, Toronto fascinates as much by its incredible diversity as by its size. Make sure you visit the CN Tower, the tallest tower in the western hemisphere, as well as the St. Lawrence Market whose stalls reflect the multicultural wealth of this city known as the global city. Not far from there, the historic Distillery District unveils its brick-paved streets imbued with romantic charm and its myriad of small restaurants, cafes, boutiques, theatres, and art galleries. The Royal Ontario Museum and its impressive collections devoted to the world's natural and cultural history will also be an unmissable stop during this port of call. ...
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