
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys
A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys
- ItineraryToronto to MilwaukeeDuration8 days
- DatesPrices from
Come aboard Le Champlain for an unforgettable voyage.
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
Set sail with PONANT aboard Le Champlain for an 8-day cruise to discover the Great Lakes amidst the splendid colours of autumn.
You will leave from cosmopolitan and dynamic Toronto, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Ontario. Canada’s largest city will charm you with its museums, parks, and gardens.
Le Champlain will then sail the canal connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. From your call in Port Colborne, you will be able to see the impressive Niagara Falls. These three powerful waterfalls, renowned the world over, are an exquisite natural spectacle.
Your next lake, Lake Huron, boasts myriad islands in its northern part, with white rocks capped with conifers plunging into the sapphire waters of the lake. Here you will discover the quaint town of Little Current, gateway to Manitoulin Island, the world’s largest freshwater island.
From Sault Ste. Marie, you will have the opportunity to transit the engineering marvel of the Soo Locks for a foray into Lake Superior, before continuing to Mackinac Island for an exploration of the island’s Victorian past by horse and buggy.
End your voyage by sailing the length of Lake Michigan, a veritable inland sea, following in the footsteps of the region’s indigenous Americans, first settlers, and trappers. Make your way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the United States’ “brew city,” for disembarkation.
Your voyage
All-inclusive

Destination
North America and Canada
Toronto to Milwaukee
Duration
8 days, 7 nights on board
Smithsonian Journeys, Timeless

Smithsonian Journeys

Frederick Stonehouse, Jim Zimbelman
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
Ref: TM3645US - EC170925





Journey
Your daily itinerary
- A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call.
- Engaging lectures and discussions on board with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts, including maritime historian and author Frederick Stonehouse and geologist Jim Zimbelman.
- A cruise with the opportunity to explore the five Great Lakes of North America, between the United States and Canada.
- An itinerary combining nature and culture: picturesque landscapes and geological curiosities, the history of indigenous Americans inhabiting the region before European colonization, and charming villages.
- An excursion to the magnificent Niagara Falls.
- A visit to charming Mackinac Island, with its preserved Victorian architecture.
- A transit through the locks of the Welland Canal, connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

Customize your journey:

Date
16 Sept 25
Sharing your journey with

Frederick Stonehouse

Jim Zimbelman
Staterooms and suites
Elegance and refinement

Deluxe Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
204 ft²

Prestige Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
204 ft²

Deluxe Suite
Guests
3
Size
290 ft²

Prestige Suite
Guests
4
Size
409 ft²

Privilege Suite
Guests
3
Size
344 ft²

Grand Deluxe Suite
Guests
4
Size
484 ft²

Owner's Suite
Guests
4
Size
484 ft²
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Details
More information
What's Included
Important travel details
In your luggage
A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys
Itinerary
Embarkation 17/09/25 from 16:00 to 17:00 Departure 17/09/25 at 17:30
17 Sept 25 - Toronto

Arrival 18/09/25 Departure 18/09/25
18 Sept 25 - Going through the Welland Canal locks

Arrival 19/09/25 Departure 19/09/25 mid afternoon
19 Sept 25 - Port Colborne

2 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 19/09/25 Departure 19/09/25
19 Sept 25 - Sailing Lake Erie

Arrival 20/09/25 Departure 20/09/25
20 Sept 25 - Sailing through Detroit

Arrival 21/09/25 Departure 21/09/25
21 Sept 25 - Sailing Lake Huron

Arrival 21/09/25 early morning Departure 21/09/25 early evening
21 Sept 25 - Little Current

4 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 22/09/25 early morning Departure 22/09/25 early evening
22 Sept 25 - Sault Ste. Marie

2 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 23/09/25 early morning Departure 23/09/25 midday
23 Sept 25 - Mackinac Island

4 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 23/09/25 Departure 23/09/25
23 Sept 25 - Sailing Lake Michigan

Arrival 24/09/25 early morning Disembarkation 24/09/25 at 8:30
24 Sept 25 - Milwaukee

A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys
Included package
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys
Customize your journey
Cosmopolitan toronto (1 night)

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and well worth a day of exploration. Take advantage of a specially designed program to get acquainted with some of the highlights of this vibrant, multicultural city on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Day 1 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Arrive at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the Fairmont Royal York hotel. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and to offer suggestions for dining and independent exploration. In the evening, join fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception in the hotel. Dinner is on your own.
Day 2 – Toronto | Embark
After breakfast and check-out, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel to accompany your discovery of Toronto. Begin with a panoramic tour of the central city, including University Avenue, the Legislative Building, the Theater District, and City Hall, ending at the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of Toronto's finest museums. A docent-led tour will introduce you to the museum's preeminent permanent exhibition—the oft-awarded McLean Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art. After the tour, enjoy time to look around on your own or visit the extensive gift shop.
From the museum, drive to Toronto's emblematic CN Tower, where glass-enclosed elevators take you to the top floor for lunch at the 360 Restaurant, which provides constantly changing views of the city from a vantage point more than 1,000 feet above street level, as the restaurant completes a full revolution every 72 minutes. After your meal, enjoy time at leisure to visit the Observation Deck, before returning to the ground to drive along the waterfront to the Toronto Cruise Terminal, where you board your ship.
Your hotel:
The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto’s landmark hotel, is located in the heart of Old Toronto. Recently revitalized, the Fairmont offers all of the facilities and services one would expect from a luxury hotel in a world-class city, including two restaurants and access to a health club, spa, and pool.
Your program includes:
· 1 night at the Fairmont Royal York
· Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day
· Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the ship on embarkation day
· Welcome cocktail reception on Day 1
· Breakfast and Lunch on Day 2
· Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
· Local English-speaking guide
· Gratuities for the drivers and local guides
Your program does not include:
· Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day
· Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program
Please note:
· It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.
· Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
· The official currency is the Canadian dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
· This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
· Program is offered on a space available basis.
· Program is subject to change without notice.
Hotel contact information:
The Fairmont Royal York
100 Front St W
Toronto, Canada
M5J 1E3
Telephone: +1 416 368 2511
£1,010/person*
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys
Other available dates
17/09/2524/09/25
7 nights aboard the ship Le Champlain
From
/person*
11/08/2619/08/26
7 nights aboard the ship LE BELLOT
No single supplement, PONANT Bonus 25%
From
/person*
13/08/2721/08/27
7 nights aboard the ship LE BELLOT
No single supplement, PONANT Bonus 30%
From
/person*