Looking for a freshwater cruising experience like no other? Consider a small-ship Great Lakes cruise. Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario comprise the largest group of freshwater lakes — or “inland seas” — on earth, and our tours explore them all. Nature-lovers will be entranced by the sea-like character of these bodies of water.

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On our unique Great Lakes tour boats, you will traverse great depths, watch the sun rise and set over distant horizons and learn compelling details about the region — both on- and offshore. Along the way, enjoy stops at local wineries, historic lighthouses, museums, aquariums, renowned restaurants and so much more!
Niagara Great Lakes Cruise
As you’ll discover when you click on the individual Great Lakes cruises listed below, each and every one of our trips has something to write home about.

With our Niagara and the Great Lakes trip, for example, you can write about the sheer volume of water cascading over the world-famous Niagara Falls. (For the record, more than 3,000 tons of water cascade over the falls every second!) The roar can be heard for miles, and you’ll have a front-row seat to this magnificent natural wonder.

Or a bird’s eye view if you opt for the helicopter.

And that’s just the beginning! What follows is a trip that comprises eight days and seven nights of splendor aboard the sleek, modern Viking Octantis. Your cross-two-countries trip will include visits to Point Pelee, Ontario, Detroit, Michigan, the Thunder Bay National Maritime Sanctuary, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where you’ll disembark.

Intrigued? There’s more where that trip came from. USA River Cruises offers a multitude of Great Lakes cruises — something for every taste.
Chicago to New York City Great Lakes Cruise
Our Great American Waterways: Chicago to NYC trip is a case in point. Onboard the Grand Caribe, which was refurbished in 2009 and carries 84 passengers, you’ll have a grand time cruising across several great lakes. Starting in the Windy City, you’ll traverse Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. You’ll even get a taste of life on the famous Erie Canal and the Hudson River as you wind your way toward the Atlantic Ocean.

This cruise takes its time: 16 days and 15 nights, to be exact. With scenery that rivals any in North America, you’ll see vast cityscapes and picturesque villages in abundance.

Stops include Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Mackinac Island, Michigan, where horse-drawn carriages are likely the only traffic you’ll see, and Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The itinerary also includes Buffalo, New York, Rochester, New York, and finally New York City. We promise you’ll be a changed person once you disembark in the Big Apple. Seeing the country from a USA River Cruise is a special kind of experience, after all.
USA River Cruises: Great Lakes Cruises
That’s just two of our exciting cruises. There’s so much to explore, and we try to design cruise itineraries that make time for both natural and manmade wonders.

Give us a call today to get started on your own Great Lakes Cruise adventure!

Great Lakes Collection-Viking Octantis

Duluth, MN to Toronto, ON

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Niagara & the Great Lakes-Viking Polaris

Toronto to Milwaukee

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St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes

Quebec City, QC to Milwaukee, WI

  • 15 Nights
  • September 19, 2025,September 18, 2026
  • From $13,480
  • Pearl Mist
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Great Lakes Explorer

Toronto, ON to Duluth, MN

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Great Lakes Collection-Viking Polaris

Duluth, MN to Toronto, ON

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Great Lakes & Thunder Bay- Victory II

Roundtrip Chicago

  • 15 Nights
  • May 29, 2025,June 12, 2025
  • From $8,699
  • Victory II
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All 5 Great Lakes – Victory II

Chicago to Toronto

  • 10 Nights
  • May 2, 2025,May 11, 2025,May 20, 2025--
    11 more dates available.
  • From $6,299
  • Victory II
  • New Itinerary for 2025! Pricing Includes Inaugural Savings of $2000 off Per Stateroom!!
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Viking Great Lakes Explorer

Milwaukee to Thunder Bay

  • 7 Nights
  • May 26, 2025,June 24, 2025,September 1, 2025
  • From $6,995
  • Viking Octantis
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Undiscovered Great Lakes

Thunder Bay to Milwaukee

  • 7 Nights
  • June 2, 2025,July 1, 2025,September 8, 2025
  • From $6,995
  • Viking Octantis
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Niagara & the Great Lakes-Viking Octantis

Toronto to Milwaukee

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Canadian Discovery

New York to Toronto

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All 5 Great Lakes Cruise – Victory I

Chicago to Toronto

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