Great Lakes, Canada
HANSEATIC inspiration cruise – The Five Great Lakes, from Toronto to Milwaukee
Cruise aboard the HANSEATIC inspiration – The Five Great Lakes, from Toronto to Milwaukee
Expedition cruise in Canada and the United States between lakes, wild islands, locks and Zodiac outings.
Highlights : Five Great Lakes, Zodiac, wilderness, locks, expedition
For whom: nature lovers, adventurers
Duration
12 nights – From 07 to 20 August 2027
Meal plan
Full board
Departure
Without transport to the port of departure
ROOM TYPE
Outside cabin
The destination
The Great Lakes form a vast system of five interconnected lakes between Canada and the United States. This cruise lets you discover Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, alternating lock passages, islands, cliffs, forests, lighthouses and urban stopovers.
Climate: variable summer weather around the Great Lakes, with conditions that can change depending on the lakes and the regions crossed.
Activities: Zodiac cruising, hiking, island exploration, wildlife watching, cultural visits, lock passages.
The cruise
The HANSEATIC inspiration takes you from Toronto to Milwaukee along an itinerary that crosses the five Great Lakes. The cruise combines expedition cruising, nature stopovers, technical transits through canals, and guidance from experts who offer lectures, commentary and hikes.
| Itinerary | Toronto – Lake Ontario – Welland Canal – Lake Erie – Windsor / Detroit River – Tobermory / Lake Huron – Parry Sound – Killarney – Sault Ste. Marie Canal – Lake Superior: Silver Islet, Terrace Bay, Battle Island, Slate Islands – Sault Ste. Marie – Mackinac Island / Lake Huron – Lake Michigan – Milwaukee |
| Facilities | OCEAN SPA with Finnish sauna and steam room, 3 restaurants, fitness area with a view, sports programme, Ocean Academy, Zodiacs, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, 24/7 in-cabin service, Wi-Fi |
The experience
The onboard experience combines exploration, nature discovery, hiking, Zodiac cruising, culture and expert-led talks, in an environment designed for expedition travel across North America’s vast lake regions.
Passing through the Welland Canal is one of the cruise’s nautical highlights, with eight locks, around twenty bridges, and an elevation change of nearly 100 metres between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
Highlights
- Discover the five Great Lakes on a single itinerary.
- Pass through the Welland Canal’s eight locks, with nearly a 100 m difference in altitude.
- Expedition days on Lake Superior, including Silver Islet, Terrace Bay, Battle Island and the Slate Islands.
- Zodiac outings and hikes accompanied by the ship’s experts.
- Varied landscapes combining islands, cliffs, forests, waterfalls and lighthouses.
Onboard activities
- Take part in a Zodiac cruise on Lake Superior.
- Hike with the experts in Killarney or along the shores of Lake Superior.
- Follow expert commentary during the Welland Canal passage.
- Enjoy the OCEAN SPA with Finnish sauna and hammam.
- Attend Ocean Academy presentations and content.
5 experiences during the cruise
- Discover Detroit and its industrial history from Windsor.
- Explore the Thirty Thousand Islands from Parry Sound.
- Discover the trails and scenery of Killarney Provincial Park.
- Visit Mackinac Island, its historic fort and its car-free districts.
- Discover Milwaukee, its RiverWalk, museums and industrial heritage.
Frequently asked questions
This cruise begins in Toronto and ends in Milwaukee, with the option to book transfers to the departure port and from the arrival port.
Shore activities are not included in the cruise price and are offered as optional extras, giving you the freedom to tailor your experience to your discovery preferences.
However, landings and cruises carried out using the ship’s Zodiacs are included, subject to local conditions, weather and official authorisations. On Lake Superior, the use of Zodiacs is permitted only on the Canadian side; when the ship is at anchor in the United States, tenders are used.
Ready to set off to discover the five Great Lakes, between wild expanses, spectacular locks and North American landscapes?
Between Zodiac cruising, hikes with the experts and iconic passages like the Welland Canal, this expedition aboard the HANSEATIC inspiration invites you to explore the Great Lakes from a perspective that is as natural as it is historical.