Share 16 unforgettable days with captain, crew and fellow passengers as we make our way from Chicago to New York via 4 of the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal. When we make port in Manitowoc, WI, you can visit the Maritime Museum and board a WWII submarine. On Mackinac Island, MI, you’ll think you’ve traveled back in time to horse-drawn carriages as you take high tea in the Grand Hotel.

At our stop in Wyandotte, MI, you can see the Henry Ford Museum featuring exhibits that capture the American spirit of inventiveness and ingenuity. In Cleveland, OH, we’ve put together an optional tour with everything from mansions on “Millionaires’ Row,” to Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The excitement spills over as our next destination, Buffalo, NY, offers you a chance to see the magnificent Niagara Falls! Next is Rochester, NY, with stunning views of towering High Falls on the Genesee River and other notable landmarks. But there’s even more to see in the New York cities and towns to come.

At Oswego, we enter the Erie Canal where you’ll enjoy the natural landscape and marvel at the man-made locks that make this canal navigable. Enjoy the quiet town of Sylvan Beach, before we make for Amsterdam where you can tour Baseball’s Hall of Fame. At Troy, we go through the last 5 locks of our journey, then to the Hudson River and the city of Kingston for a chance to visit the home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Next is West Point, home of the United States Military Academy. And finally, it’s the one and only New York City, with the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Battery Park and the New York skyline. No wonder the Great American Waterways Cruise is our top seller. It’s a journey you’ll retrace in your mind again and again.

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Ports Visited

Chicago, IL

Manitowoc, WI

Mackinac Island, MI

Wyandotte, MI

Cleveland, OH

Buffalo, NY

Rochester, NY

Oswego, NY

Sylvan Beach, NY

Amsterdam, NY

Troy, NY

Kingston, NY

West Point, NY

New York, NY

Waterways Navigated

Lake Michigan

Straits of Mackinac

Lake Huron

Detroit River

St. Claire River

Lake Erie

Welland Canal

Lake Ontario

NY State Barge Canal

Hudson River

NY Harbor

ADVENTURE DAY-BY-DAY

Onboard Early Arrival

Enjoy an extra night of exploration and leisure in Chicago with Blount Small Ship Adventures. This affordable “Early Arrival” option invites guests to board the ship one day early, settle into their private cabin, and explore the windy city at their leisure. For just $150 per person, passengers may board the vessel at 5 p.m. Included with the option is a chef prepared dinner and breakfast the following morning.

Chicago, IL

Welcome to the architecturally renowned Chicago skyline, juxtaposed against Lake Michigan to create a fusion of serene vistas and exciting cityscapes.

Manitowoc, WI

Known as Wisconsin’s Marine Capital, Manitowoc is the home to Wisconsin’s Maritime Museum, which captures the riveting history of the entire great lakes area, including the building of 28 submarines for WWII. Don’t miss out on the Rahr-West Art Museum which hosts pieces from Picasso, Miro, Dali, and many others.

Optional Excursions and Activities

*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Explore the nation’s most completely restored WWII submarine and stroll the streets of a 19th century shipbuilding town as you experience a self-guided tour (or docent guided tour based on their set schedule) of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. Learn about the maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes and view various art and artifacts in the galleries. Tour the USS Cobia submarine from top to bottom and get a feel for life aboard a sub. See the bunks where men slept above torpedoes and learn about the important role that US Navy submarines played in World War II, and how Manitowoc came to build 28 submarines during the war.

Mackinac Island, MI

Arrive in Mackinac Island and step back in time to enjoy horse-drawn carriages and the island's old-world charm. Admire the architecture during an optional carriage tour of the island, including entrance to the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory and Surrey Hills Antique Carriage Museum with a working Blacksmith shop. Conclude your tour at the Grande Hotel, for a traditional afternoon tea.

Optional Excursions and Activities

*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

Mackinac Island Carriage Tour
Step back in time on Mackinac Island where beauty and history have been preserved by allowing only horse-drawn carriages instead of motorized vehicles. This nostalgic carriage ride will showcase the highlights of this picturesque island along with a visit inside the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly conservatory. With weekly butterfly shipments, and over 200 different species represented, there is always an abundant array of colorful butterflies to experience. Also enjoy a visit to the Surrey Hills Carriage Museum, an antique carriage museum complete with a working blacksmith shop. Your tour ends at the majestic Grand Hotel.

Grand Style Afternoon Tea
What an experience! You’ll feel as though you are royalty! In keeping with more than 100 years of tradition, indulge in Afternoon Tea in the Grand Hotel’s Parlor. You will not only enjoy this specially brewed traditional tea, but you can also enjoy sherry and champagne, as well as delightful petite finger sandwiches, fresh-baked scones, and an array of pastries, accompanied by a chamber music recital. Time permitting, you may also want to do a self-guided tour of the public places of this historic hotel, as well as enjoy the wonderful scenery that surrounds it. Transportation is not provided on this excursion.

Cruise Lake Huron

Admire the beautiful views of Lake Huron. Cruise past freighters or “Lakers” as they are called by many, while transiting the Detroit and St. Clair River System; a major throughway for vessels traveling between the western and eastern Great Lakes. This river system serves as the border between the U.S. and Canada as it flows through Detroit, under the ambassador bridge, the busiest border crossing in the U.S. and Canada and into Lake Erie.

Wyandotte, MI

Spend a full day in Wyandotte, Michigan, nestled on the Detroit River. An optional tour in nearby Dearborn begins at the Henry Ford Museum, home to President John F. Kennedy’s limousine and the Rosa Parks bus. Continue your tour to Greenfield Village, where nearly 100 historical buildings have been relocated to create a demonstration of American life from the founding of the country through modern times.

Optional Excursions and Activities
*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

American Ingenuity Tour
Experience the past, present and future of American automotive manufacturing when you travel to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. With a rich and diverse offering of exhibits, demonstrations, programs and reenactments, The Henry Ford Museum celebrates yesterday’s traditions as well as today’s innovations. Housing one of the largest collections of its kind ever assembled, Henry Ford Museum showcases the people and ideas that have fired our imaginations and changed our lives. The museum has grown into the ultimate place to explore what Americans past and present have imagined and invented, and truly brings American ideas and innovations to life. Feel a sense of awe as your mind adjusts to a bigger sense of scale. The expansive, single-floor space with soaring 40-foot ceilings covers nine acres dedicated to showcasing the finest collection of its kind. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Greenfield Village. Spread over more than 90- acres, this living history attraction comes alive with the unforgettable sights, sounds and settings of America’s past. Entering the village is like stepping into a time machine thanks to its 83 authentic historic structures, from Noah Webster’s home, where he wrote the first American dictionary, to Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory, to the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. You can ride in a genuine Model T or “pull” glass with world-class artisans. Watch an 1867 baseball game or ride a train with a 19th-century steam engine. Spend a quiet moment pondering the home and workshop where the Wright brothers invented the airplane. Greenfield Village is a celebration of people, whose unbridled optimism and ingenuity came to define modern-day America.

Cleveland, OH

Sail through Lake Erie for an introduction to the legendary American city of Cleveland, OH, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Explore this Great Lakes metropolis during an optional panoramic city tour via trolley. Don’t miss the Great Lakes Science Center and educational facility on the shores of Cleveland Harbor, along with the Steamship William G. Mather Maritime Museum.

Buffalo, NY

Located at the head of the Niagara River, Buffalo, NY is known for its sports, snow, and special sauce. Admire breathtaking views of world-famous Niagara Falls during an optional tour, including visits to the Whirlpool Overlook, the Table Rock area, and a boat ride on the Hornblower (passport required). Just steps away from where the vessel is docked, visit the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, home to 3 naval vessels, tanks, jets and other historical exhibits.

Optional Excursions and Activities
*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

Niagara Falls Tour
A day of spectacular scenery is planned for you today on your journey to magnificent Niagara Falls! After crossing the border into Canada, we’ll head upriver to view the Upper Rapids and make a stop at the iconic Table Rock, the most famous viewing point to see the falls and the point where most of the daredevils have taken their plunge over the brink. Next stop is at the Whirlpool overlook, where the falls were located over 6000 years ago. From there you will see the beautiful Niagara Gorge, the Lower Rapids, the Spanish Aero Car, and the only whirlpool in America that changes direction twice a day. Then it’s off to view the Floral Clock and to stop to eat (box lunch provided). After eating, we travel back up to the falls area to board the Maid of the Mist (raincoats provided), the boat ride that takes you past the American and Bridal Veil Falls and right up to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. It is an exciting and safe ride that provides an unforgettable view of the falls.

**Please note: Passports are required for this excursion; this excursion crosses over into the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls.

Cruise the Welland Canal

Today, cruise the magnificent Welland Canal, which connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Located in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada, learn how ships travel through the locks of this gravity-flow canal. Transit through 8 locks which will lower the vessel 320 feet as you bypass the Niagara Escarpment and Niagara Falls.

Rochester, NY

Explore Rochester, located on the southern shore of beautiful Lake Ontario. It sits at the middle of what has been called the 100 must-see miles of the Erie Canal. An optional tour offers stunning views of towering High Falls on the Genesee River and showcases the city's most notable landmarks.

Optional Excursions and Activities
*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

Cultural and Historical Tour of Rochester
Rochester, located on the southern shore of beautiful Lake Ontario, is an important historic, educational and cultural American city. It sits at the middle of what has been called the 100 must-see miles of the Erie Canal. Learn of its economic evolution from “Flour to Flowers”, and of its famous inhabitants, such as Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass and George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company and the International Museum of Photography. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of his home on the tour on 6/15. If your tour is 8/6, you will the opportunity to tour the Memorial Art Gallery. Visit the 96-feet high falls in the High Falls/Brown’s Race Historical District, which powered Rochester for over 100 years, when it was the center of the flour milling industry. Your tour continues through historic and beautiful neighborhoods; the Maplewood Rose Gardens, Highland Park and Mt. Hope Cemetery District.

Oswego, NY

Departing from Oswego harbor, enter Lock #8 of the Oswego Canal. One of 4 branches of the NY State Barge Canal System. Cruise the Oswego Canal and then begin your journey on the Erie Canal.

Optional Excursions and Activities
*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

Oswego Historical Walking Tour
Experience the port city of Oswego, located on the oldest fresh water port on the Great Lakes. While traveling along the beautiful Oswego River with your knowledgeable local guide, you will pass through the city’s historic downtown shopping district. You will then cross the Harbor Rail Trail, a reconstructed walkway that follows the original 1880’s train bridge in Oswego. The trail spans the Oswego River and features an enclosed concourse that provides breathtaking views of the city, the harbor and the river. Your tour will conclude with a visit to one of the most preserved homes in New York State, the Richardson-Bates Museum. This home & museum features an extensive archival collection and exhibit space documenting the history of Oswego County. The museum is also home to the Oswego County Historical Society.

Sylvan Beach, NY

After dinner this evening, disembark the vessel to explore Sylvan Beach, NY. This quiet town was founded around 1840. Railroads and ferries were the only form of public transportation and made the village a desirable resort community. The Village of Sylvan Beach was incorporated in 1971.

Amsterdam, NY

Cruise along the Erie Canal through historic towns and villages. Today, an optional excursion takes you to picturesque Cooperstown, NY, located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Experience an optional tour to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Farmer’s Museum or Fennimore Art Museum.

Troy, NY

The highlight of the Erie Canal, enjoy a leisurely sail to Troy, NY. 5 locks will lower the vessel 169’, by passing Cahoes Falls where the Mohawk River flows into the Hudson. Later, watch as the retractable pilot-house is raised back to its full height. Tonight, delight in the local culture during an onboard musical performance.

Kingston, NY

In Kingston, NY, dock in Rondout Creek just off the Hudson River. Included in your cruise is a visit to the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Next, you may join an optional visit to Hyde Park or the Vanderbilt Mansion (based on availability). The Hyde Park excursion includes a visit to “Springwood,” the estate of Franklin D. Roosevelt, now home to his presidential library and museum (tour available eastbound only).

Optional Excursions and Activities
*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

Historic Hyde Park Tour
“All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River,” wrote President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his years in the White House. You will understand his sentiment when you visit Springwood, the first U.S. Presidential Library and Museum honoring America’s only president elected to four terms. On the grounds are the family home where FDR was born, and the graves of the president and his wife, Eleanor. Your guide will provide you with in-depth interpretation of this historic area and its founding family on your drive to and from the ship.

West Point, NY*

Travel to West Point, NY, home of the prestigious United States Military Academy, where you may opt to take a tour of its magnificent campus and admire its famed Gothic Revival-style Chapel. *Ability to tour West Point is subject to availability, determined by the U.S. government.

Optional Excursions and Activities
*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

United States Military Academy
This unique tour brings you into “central area” where cadets live and attend classes. Enjoy the history and beauty of this section of the post. Visit the Parade Grounds where cadets of today drill and parade where George Washington drilled and organized the Continental Army. Tour Trophy Point, Battle Monument, and relics of wars dating back to the Revolution. Before the tour comes to an end,get ready for a “million-dollar view” of the scenic Hudson Valley.

**Please note: Due to security at West Point, you cannot visit the Academy on your own; you must be part of the tour group. Photo ID in compliance with the REAL ID Act is required, a passport is the most common form of REAL ID compliant ID. Tours are subject to accessibility and daily approval.

New York, NY

Take in the view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Battery Park, and the Big Apple’s world-famous skyline. Docked in Chelsea Pier, explore the New York High Line and Chelsea Market. Later join an optional private bus tour of New York City, led by a professional guide.

Optional Excursions and Activities
*Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost unless otherwise specified.

Hop On, Hop Off Big Bus Tour
Have you ever been on a tour and wanted to hop off and explore a particular attraction? Well now you can with Big Bus Tours of New York City. You will have the option of not 1 but 2 tours, one of Uptown, one of Downtown, that you can hop on and off all day long! This exciting tour will start at the M&M World in iconic Times Square. On the Uptown you will see and hear all about the Broadway Theater District, Grand Central Terminal, the MET, the Frick Museum, Central Park Zoo, the Plaza Hotel, Columbus Circle, Carnegie Hall, and Madison Square Garden. On the Downtown tour you will see Times Square, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron District, Union Square, Greenwich Village, NOHO, SOHO, Little Italy, Chinatown, Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall, Wall Street, the Charging Bull Statue, Statue of Liberty from Battery Park, and Restaurant Row. If you decide to explore any one of these destinations more, another bus will be along approximately every half an hour.

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Pricing Per Person

Category I

$5,149.00

Category II

$6,899.00

Category III

$7,209.00

Category IV

$7,829.00

Category III Singles

$9,059.00

Port Charges

$395.00

Departure Dates

Ship: Grande Mariner

Embark: New York, NY

Jun 20, 2020

Disembark: Chicago, IL

Jul 05, 2020

Ship: Grande Mariner

Embark: Chicago, IL

Jul 07, 2020

Disembark: New York, NY

Jul 22, 2020

Ship: Grande Mariner

Embark: New York, NY

Aug 09, 2020

Disembark: Chicago, IL

Aug 24, 2020

Ship: Grande Caribe

Embark: New York, NY

Aug 14, 2020

Disembark: Chicago, IL

Aug 29, 2020

Ship: Grande Mariner

Embark: Chicago, IL

Aug 26, 2020

Disembark: New York, NY

Sep 10, 2020

Ship: Grande Caribe

Embark: New York, NY

Aug 31, 2020

Disembark: Chicago, IL

Sep 15, 2020

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Optional sightseeing tours are at an additional cost. All itineraries including ports, activities and routes are subject to change based on availability, weather, river, water levels and sea conditions.
Passport required for Niagara Falls optional tour.
Travel to West Point is subject to availability.