Great Lakes Small Ship Cruises
Niagara Falls to Mackinac Island
Cruise the Great Lakes by Small Ship
The Great Lakes hold nearly a fifth of the world’s surface fresh water, and from the deck of a small ship they feel less like lakes and more like inland seas. Horizons disappear into open water, lighthouses mark headlands visible for miles, and ports that built the industrial Midwest sit along shorelines that in places look as wild as they did two centuries ago.
Three distinct itineraries cover the lakes from different angles. The Great Lakes and Thousand Islands sailing runs 8 nights from Syracuse, New York west to Buffalo, threading through an archipelago of more than 1,800 islands on the St. Lawrence River and stopping at Clayton, where the Antique Boat Museum preserves the maritime heritage of the region, and Ogdensburg before crossing Lake Ontario, transiting the Welland Canal that connects Lakes Ontario and Erie, and finishing with a visit to Niagara Falls. In Rochester, the Susan B. Anthony House marks the birthplace of the women’s suffrage movement.
The Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula sailing circles Lake Michigan roundtrip from Milwaukee over 8 nights, calling at Sheboygan, Escanaba on the Upper Peninsula, Green Bay with its Lambeau Field and National Railroad Museum, and Muskegon, where the restored USS Silversides submarine is open to visitors. The American Great Lakes crossing runs 13 nights from Buffalo to Milwaukee, covering the widest geographic range and passing through all five lakes.
Sailings run from late May through October, with the widest selection of departures from June through September.
Great Lakes Small Ship Cruises FAQs
How big are the Great Lakes, and does sailing them feel like ocean cruising?
The five lakes together hold about 21 percent of the world’s surface fresh water and cover roughly 94,000 square miles. On the open-water crossings, particularly Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, the far shore disappears entirely and the experience feels genuinely oceanic. The difference is that the water is fresh, the ports are American and Canadian cities rather than island towns, and the industrial and maritime history of the region shapes the story onshore.
What is the Welland Canal, and what is it like to transit it?
The Welland Canal is an engineering marvel that connects Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, bypassing Niagara Falls with a series of eight locks that lift or lower ships nearly 100 meters in the process. Transiting it is a highlight of the Great Lakes and Thousand Islands itinerary, a slow, close-up look at one of the most significant waterway engineering projects in North American history.
What is Mackinac Island known for, and does it appear on any Great Lakes itineraries?
Mackinac Island sits in the Straits of Mackinac between Lakes Huron and Michigan and is famous for banning motorized vehicles, making it one of the few places in the United States where horse-drawn carriages are the primary transport. It appears on the American Great Lakes itinerary running between Buffalo and Milwaukee.
Are Great Lakes cruises available in fall?
Yes. Sailings run through October, and fall departures offer cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and autumn color along the lake shores. The Great Lakes and Thousand Islands itinerary runs fall departures through early October.
How do I choose between the three Great Lakes itineraries?
The Great Lakes and Thousand Islands focuses on the eastern lakes, the St. Lawrence archipelago, and Niagara Falls in 8 nights. The Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula keeps entirely to Lake Michigan in 8 nights with a strong Midwest character. The American Great Lakes is the broadest crossing, spanning all five lakes over 13 nights. Call 800-578-1479 and our agents will match you with the right itinerary for your schedule and interests.