Aside from the mesmerizing natural beauty and inspiring destinations visited by our Great Lakes cruises, our interest in the lakes stems from the incredible stories that take place on these historic waters. With Native American legends passed down over the course of thousands of years, tales of pirates, battles, romance, and shipwrecks, and even more recent writings that deliver the findings of groundbreaking research, literature regarding this part of the world is an experience of its own.

To share this passion for the literature of the Great Lakes, we partnered with intrepid adventurer and Executive Director of the Great Lakes Cruise Association, Stephen Burnett. Mr. Burnett has personally curated a Great Lakes library of what he, and other experts, consider to be the best of the region's writings -- from fictional epics to historic accounts. We hope that this library will inspire and better prepare you for your next Great Lakes cruise.

While all of the books in our Great Lakes Library are available on Amazon, we'd be remiss if we didn't support small businesses just like ourselves. Any of these readings can be found at or ordered by your local independent bookstore. These oases of literature are full of people passionate about reading, but they've struggled to survive due to larger companies. By supporting your local bookstore, you can help keep reading alive in your community.

A Note from Stephen Burnett, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Cruise Association:

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Upon leaving high school, which was located in Yorkshire, UK, I became something of a bookworm. My chosen field of work involved a considerable amount of travel, with inevitable layovers in airports, hotels and train stations. In the early days when laptop computers were beyond my imagination, books were still in vogue and my backpack had at least three hardcovers tucked inside. One of these was partially read, a second waiting patiently alongside it, with a third book in reserve to cope with inevitable delays. Reading served a number of purposes. It transported me into other countries, with first person accounts of famous and not so famous journeys. It brought other perspectives to challenge my UK centric views on life. It was always entertaining. It allowed me to cope with the tedious wait for my next connection. Above all, it educated me and broadened my horizons. When Mark -- the founder of Great Lakes Cruises -- asked if I would share some of my Great Lakes reading, I immediately reached out for help from some of my friends, neighbours and colleagues in this amazing cruise industry.  The following list is a compilation of books we have collectively read, and which I am happy to share with you.

Stephen Burnett. Kingston, Ontario, Canada

PS: What has brought me so much pleasure, was reading about a region while traveling through it. I am suggesting that can also work on your next Great Lakes cruise.

Great Lakes History: The War of 1812

Great Lakes History: Storms & Shipwrecks

Great Lakes Ecology

Great Lakes Destinations

Great Lakes Native America & First Nations

Great Lakes Ships

Great Lakes Lighthouses

Great Lakes General Reading: Fiction

Great Lakes General Reading: Nonfiction