2 1 8 NORTH AMERICA: REPORT An unmissable opportunity Cruising in the Great Lakes of Canada and the USA gives experienced passengers a unique mix of ocean travel and river boating The Great Lakes of North America are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. The rivers and channels that connect them extend 3,700 kilometres inland from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in eastern Canada, to Duluth, Minnesota, on the western end of Lake Superior, creating an unmissable opportunity for cruise operators and their passengers. “Approximately one third of the cruise vessels being built today will carry fewer than 400 passengers,” says Kate Ferguson, the newly elected chairwoman of the US Great Lakes Cruising Coalition (GLCC). “These small ships will offer guests a more intimate and off-the-beaten-path experience, perfect for sailing through the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System.” The miles of rivers, lakes and channels make the Great Lakes a cruising destination that perfectly strikes the balance between ocean travel and riverboating, with ports of call available in the eight neighbouring states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. These ports are improving and expanding their dock space and accommodation for cruise ships. For example, the port of Cleveland, Ohio, invested in a new passenger clearance facility and Duluth, Minnesota, recently broke ground on another new facility. These locations will enable cruise lines to return to the US on Lake Erie and Superior. On Lake Michigan, the ports of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan, are also building new docks for larger expedition-type cruise ships. Due to the location of the Great Lakes and the vast area that they cover, there are a diverse range of shore excursions for cruise guests to indulge in, covering local history, art, architecture and native culture. Travellers can disembark on Mackinac Island for horse and carriage rides, or visit Green Bay, Wisconsin, to tour the American football team Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame and National Pearl Seas Cruises’ Pearl Mist docked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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