Cruise the Great LakesLet our Great Lakes Cruises experts help you pick the perfect voyage to match your travel preferences. We work with all of the cruise lines serving the region, and can guide you on the trade-offs between the various itineraries, ships and destinations.
While 2022 Great Lakes cruises have finished sailing, spaces on 2023 Great Lakes cruises and 2024 Great Lakes cruises are currently open, and our experts can help you get the best deal possible through our industry insider connections. One of our most frequently asked questions is, "Do you charge fees for your service?" We don't add any extra charges, since we're paid by the cruise lines themselves. So, you can be sure you're getting the best deal possible on your cruise when you travel with Great Lakes Cruises. Due to extraordinary demand, most cruise lines' call centers are completely overwhelmed. If you're having trouble reaching the cruise lines directly, give us a call at +1-888-756-9008. We work directly with every Great Lakes cruise line and most of North America's small ship lines too -- utilizing our extensive networks to book you the perfect cruise. Countless Ways to Enjoy a Great Lake CruiseThere are many cruise lines on the Great Lakes, each with their own shore excursions, inclusions, and unique features. Choosing a cruise and booking it can quickly feel like a full-time job. Because of this taxing and often daunting task, we've made it our mission to help you navigate it all.
Combined, our team has multiple decades of experience in the Great Lakes and North American cruise industry. We do all the hard work of learning the cruise lines, getting to know the ships, and keeping track of each and every Great Lakes cruise itinerary.
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We match you with the perfect cruise every time using the Engage our Experts Survey below. Once you submit it, our team of real-life experts analyzes that information before contacting you with a specific selection of offerings that meet your desires.
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Learn more about each Great Lake
Select one of the buttons below to find out more about each Great Lake's cruise destinations and sights.
Lake Superior's North Shore Nominated for Expedition Cruise Initiative of the Year
Battle Island Lighthouse on Lake Superior's North Shore Inside Passage
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For the past several years, cities and towns along Lake Superior such as Thunder Bay, Silver Islet, Red Rock, Rossport, and Terrace Bay have collaborated with the Great Lakes Cruise Association to establish a new cruise route -- known as the Lake Superior North Shore Inside Passage. In early August 2022, Seatrade, an industry news source, announced that the the North Shore Inside Passage was one of three nominees for 2022's Expedition Cruise Initiative of the Year.
In July 2022, our team had the chance to travel this same route to see the massive amount of work that's been done to showcase the region's charm and beauty. We're excited to see more Lake Superior cruises showcase the urban life, nature, and history of the North Shore. Currently, American Queen Voyages and Viking Expedition Cruises already offer cruises to the area.
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More to prepare for a Great Lakes CruiseThe Great Lakes of North America are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. With a surface of over 94,000 square miles, they form an elongated inland sea with waves, winds, currents, depths and distant shores.
The earliest evidence of human occupation in the region is estimated at 10,000 year ago, at the end of the last ice age. Cruising the Great Lakes, you'll have the chance to see all this history in person, learning even more with the aid of the enriching educational programs offered by our luxury cruise lines. |
Map of the 5 Great Lakes
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Great Lakes Cruise DestinationsYou'd be surprised at the number of cities, towns and villages included in the ports of call for our cruises. If you're interested in a particular region of the American Great Lakes, this state-by-state list will help you narrow down your choices: |
Featured Great Lake Cruises 2023 & 2024 ItinerariesWe work closely with all major Great Lakes cruise lines to bring you the very best experiences: New for 2023 | Viking Cruise Lines brings their luxury river cruise pedigree to the wonders of the Great Lakes. Viking's Undiscovered Great Lakes Itinerary will wow you in 2023. An Extravagant 16-day Cruise | Pearl Seas' Canadian Maritime & St. Lawrence Seaway Cruise winds you through Quebec, Nova Scotia and Maine. Continental Luxury in North America | Ponant brings their French hospitality standard to a fascinating Ponant Explorers' Great Lakes of North America 8-day cruise itinerary. |
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What's so Great About the Great Lakes? - by Cheri Dobbs and Jennifer Gabrys. "The North American Great Lakes — Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior — are so big that they border 8 states and contain 23 quadrillion liters of water. They span forest, grassland, and wetland habitats, supporting a region that’s home to 3,500 species. But how did such a vast and unique geological feature come to be?"
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More on the LakesElevations of the Great Lakes
Elevation Profile Map
Ice, Ice BabyYou can book a Great Lakes Cruise for spring, summer or fall. Why not winter? The answer is ice.
The Great Lakes, February 2018, NOAA satellite
Lake Superior is 77% covered with ice. Lake Michigan is 51% covered. Lake Huron 81% covered, with only 19% open water! Lake Erie is 91% covered. Lake Ontario is only 15% covered. Read more about 2018 ice coverage of the Great Lakes at MLive.com |
Great Lakes
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Highest Elevation |
601 ft (Lake Superior) |
Lowest Elevation |
243 ft (Lake Ontario) |
Surface Area |
94,250 mi² |
Drainage Area |
201,460 mi² |
Volume of Water |
5,439 mi³ |
Avg Depth |
260 ft |
Max Depth |
1,332 ft |
Length (N-S) |
497 mi |
Length (E-W) |
750 mi |
Length of Shoreline |
10,210 mi* |
Avg Surface Temp |
48º F |
Retention Time |
320 years |
*Total shoreline length is greater than the sum of the shoreline length for the lakes because it includes the connecting channels (but not the St. Lawrence River).
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA .
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA .
Great Lakes
By the Numbers
Highest Elevation |
183 m (Lake Superior) |
Lowest Elevation |
74 m (Lake Ontario) |
Surface Area |
244,160 km² |
Drainage Area |
521,830 km² |
Volume of Water |
22,684 km³ |
Avg Depth |
79 m |
Max Depth |
406 m |
Length (N-S) |
800 km |
Length (E-W) |
1,200 km |
Length of Shoreline |
17,017 km* |
Avg Surface Temp |
9º C |
Retention Time |
320 years |
*Total shoreline length is greater than the sum of the shoreline length for the lakes because it includes the connecting channels (but not the St. Lawrence River).
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA .
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA .
Learn more about Great Lakes Cruises
Our Great Lakes Cruise Lines
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Updated 12-28-22 MR
