With so many options to choose from, CFIP highlights some of the many outstanding ports of call for cruise ships sailing the Great Lakes Essential destinations Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada, is the largest city on the shore of Lake Superior, the world’s biggest freshwater lake, and is also located on the edge of the world’s largest contiguous boreal forest. Popular shore excursion options include visits to Kakabeka Falls, the second-highest waterfalls in Ontario; Fort William Historical Park, a reconstructed early 1800s fur trade post; and Anemki Wajew, a lookout over the city on First Nation land. Meanwhile, Silver Islet, a small cottage hamlet outside of Thunder Bay, is popular for hiking, history walks and water-based activities, including the opportunity to dive down to shipwrecks using onboard submersibles. The peninsula includes Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, a popular destination for nature walks, paddle sports, mountain biking and wildlife viewing, that is also home to the highest cliffs in Ontario. The Canadian north coast of the lake is part of the proposed Parks Canada Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, creating a unique future opportunity for cruise lines to explore the undeveloped coast. The area is the traditional lands of a large Anishnawbae Indigenous population that have called the area home for over 10,000 years, and is rich in wildlife including black bears, wolves, eagles, deer, moose and caribou. Thunder Bay has become a turnaround port for Viking Cruises’ Viking Octantis in 2022 and 2023. The city’s Pool 6 Cruise Terminal is named after the property’s historical use as the world’s largest grain elevator in the 1900s. The 1,000-foot-long seaway draft pier specifically serves the needs of cruise ships and is a 10-minute walk or four-minute shuttle ride to the Waterfront retail and culinary district. The facility offers potable water, international waste handling services and local food supply options. Thunder Bay International Airport offers daily direct flights to Toronto Pearson and City Centre Airports, connecting the world to Thunder Bay. 2 3
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