GREAT LAKES CRUISE AUG 2025
|
|
We embarked on our cruise following an arrival the prior evening in Toronto. Part of the group took a city tour, while most of the rest of us boarded the Viking Polaris in time for a buffet lunch. We set sail at 8p.
To get from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, we traveled through the Welland Canal, passing through 8 locks and 326’. Our first port-of-call was Niagara. Most of us took the tour that brought us to the top of the gorge. We walked along the top of the gorge, and gazed down the powerful waters as they cascaded over the edge of the falls. Two others took the tour in the boat that passes under the Falls. Exhilarating!
Our next stop, on Day 3, was Point Pelee Peninsula in Ontario. Here some of us rode in a special operations boat, others in zodiacs, while another hiked along the marsh boardwalk. And several of us partook of a picnic on the beach.
Day 4, in Detroit, some of us went to the Henry Ford Museum which showcases presidential limousines from the past century, and a replica of Wright brothers’ plane flown at Kitty Hawk in 1903. It also houses Lincoln’s chair from Ford’s Theatre and the Montgomery bus where Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat in 1955. Others toured the Ford Rouge Factory which manufactures the F-150 truck. It’s fascinating to see the interplay between the robotics and auto workers. We learned a truck rolls off the line every minute, and they manufacture 4000 a week, ALL pre-ordered and prepaid!
The following day in Alpena, Michigan most of us toured two historic, well-preserved lighthouses on the shores of Lake Huron. Old Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in 1840 and stands 30’ high. New Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in 1870 to replace the Old one and stands 113’ tall. We were also treated to freshly baked cookies at a local store. Some also explored charming downtown Alpena on a guided walk. Highlights included late Victorian-era IOOF Centennial Building, several uniquely shaped buildings and murals on display throughout.
On Day 6, we explored charming Mackinac Island, Michigan. We all took morning horse-drawn carriage rides to view downtown sites, learning about the relationship between the teams of horses and the carriage drivers. We followed this up in the afternoon with a walking tour for a close-up view of downtown sites, and a fudge tasting. OK, we got in a little shopping, too.
Our last port-of-call was Milwaukee which sits on the shores of Lake Michigan. We all took a panoramic overview tour that included a stop at the Art Museum, a visit to the Harley Davidson Museum and a visit to the Pabst Mansion.
We were blessed with warm, dry weather, rather than the normal hot and humid temperatures of August.
On the Polaris, we enjoyed great service and excellent food. We had two dinners in the private dining room shared by the two specialty restaurants. Our waiter both times, Mark, was delightful. We celebrated a birthday there the first night. Additionally, the dining room manager arranged for us all to go to one of the specialty restaurants for dinner an additional night.
And a half dozen of us ventured out one evening when the onboard duo was playing rock music “of our era”. We couldn’t sit still, and most of us were on the dance floor for almost the entire hour.
Too soon, we were disembarking. We really enjoyed this transborder slice of North America.
To get from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, we traveled through the Welland Canal, passing through 8 locks and 326’. Our first port-of-call was Niagara. Most of us took the tour that brought us to the top of the gorge. We walked along the top of the gorge, and gazed down the powerful waters as they cascaded over the edge of the falls. Two others took the tour in the boat that passes under the Falls. Exhilarating!
Our next stop, on Day 3, was Point Pelee Peninsula in Ontario. Here some of us rode in a special operations boat, others in zodiacs, while another hiked along the marsh boardwalk. And several of us partook of a picnic on the beach.
Day 4, in Detroit, some of us went to the Henry Ford Museum which showcases presidential limousines from the past century, and a replica of Wright brothers’ plane flown at Kitty Hawk in 1903. It also houses Lincoln’s chair from Ford’s Theatre and the Montgomery bus where Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat in 1955. Others toured the Ford Rouge Factory which manufactures the F-150 truck. It’s fascinating to see the interplay between the robotics and auto workers. We learned a truck rolls off the line every minute, and they manufacture 4000 a week, ALL pre-ordered and prepaid!
The following day in Alpena, Michigan most of us toured two historic, well-preserved lighthouses on the shores of Lake Huron. Old Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in 1840 and stands 30’ high. New Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in 1870 to replace the Old one and stands 113’ tall. We were also treated to freshly baked cookies at a local store. Some also explored charming downtown Alpena on a guided walk. Highlights included late Victorian-era IOOF Centennial Building, several uniquely shaped buildings and murals on display throughout.
On Day 6, we explored charming Mackinac Island, Michigan. We all took morning horse-drawn carriage rides to view downtown sites, learning about the relationship between the teams of horses and the carriage drivers. We followed this up in the afternoon with a walking tour for a close-up view of downtown sites, and a fudge tasting. OK, we got in a little shopping, too.
Our last port-of-call was Milwaukee which sits on the shores of Lake Michigan. We all took a panoramic overview tour that included a stop at the Art Museum, a visit to the Harley Davidson Museum and a visit to the Pabst Mansion.
We were blessed with warm, dry weather, rather than the normal hot and humid temperatures of August.
On the Polaris, we enjoyed great service and excellent food. We had two dinners in the private dining room shared by the two specialty restaurants. Our waiter both times, Mark, was delightful. We celebrated a birthday there the first night. Additionally, the dining room manager arranged for us all to go to one of the specialty restaurants for dinner an additional night.
And a half dozen of us ventured out one evening when the onboard duo was playing rock music “of our era”. We couldn’t sit still, and most of us were on the dance floor for almost the entire hour.
Too soon, we were disembarking. We really enjoyed this transborder slice of North America.