Great Lakes Explorer - Toronto To Chicago

Upon arrival in Toronto, guests will be met at the airport and escorted to the hotel to enjoy their complimentary extra pre-journey night in the heart of this vibrant city.

On the June 6 and July 19 sailings, we travel from Chicago to Toronto. Enjoy a free pre-cruise overnight at the Chicago Hilton.

After breakfast, guests have this entire day to enjoy as they wish. Take advantage of our hotel's location to experience all that Toronto has to offer from world class museums to shopping dining. Our other guests will be arriving today.

After breakfast, guests have this morning at leisure to discover the sights and charms of Toronto at their own pace. Later this afternoon, we'll take you to the pier where the intimate and stylish mv Victory I awaits. Settle in to your outside stateroom and then join your fellow travelers for an elegant dinner with wines, cocktails and beverages.

A thrilling Hornblower Cruise will take you through the Great Niagara Gorge and past Bridal Veil Falls into the very heart of Horseshoe Falls - where the mighty spray and thundering roar of Niagara will virtually envelope you! Enjoy lunch at Queens landing, a lovely Georgian mansion overlooking the Niagara River, After a tasting at a local winery, you'll have time to explore the galleries and boutiques in the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Today's excursion begins at the Cleveland Museum of Art. With more than 61,000 works spanning 6,000 years, it's a fascinating and broad look at human artistic achievement - from ancient Greek sculptors and Monet's soothing Water Lilies to Andy Warhol's vibrant and colorful take on Marilyn Monroe. At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, set in a striking lakefront structure designed by the renowned architect I.M. Pei, you'll discover more than just a collection of Rock & Roll memorabilia. Indeed, its well-curated and thoughtfully presented exhibits trace the evolution of this musical genre and explore its cultural impact upon generations of Americans. Among the items in the collection are Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche, Michael Jackson's famous glove, and scribbled lyrics that became 20th-century classics!

America's source of industrial innovation and creativity, Detroit has figured both in the development of the automobile and in the "Motown" sound during the 20th Century. Today's included excursion includes all entry fees to the Detroit Institute of Art and its many galleries, the Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum and the West Canfield Historic District. You can also choose the optional premium experience at the expansive Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village.

Enjoy this day of cruising – enriched by our shipboard experts, fine dining, congenial camaraderie with your fellow passengers and our open bar.

You'll also make a stop at the Immaculate Conception Church. With its unique in-the-round architectural style that evokes a teepee and the circle of life, this church is the spiritual focal point of the local community and brings together the beliefs and customs of the native Ojibwe culture and the Catholic Church.

Today you can join your fellow passengers for flexible Hop-on Hop-off touring. Exploring at your own pace, you'll be able to visit a number of the town's highlights including the Valley Camp Museum. Here in the enormous hold of a cargo ship that plied the Great Lakes from 1917 through 1966, you'll find fascinating exhibits that trace the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes. Other sightseeing stops afford the chance to visit the River of History Museum, to see the historic homes of Water Street, and to marvel at the Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, one of the oldest churches in the United States.

Your sightseeing tour ends at the Grand Hotel, famed for its colonnaded verandah. Opened in 1887, it's still the longest front porch in the world. As you take in the breathtaking views from this hilltop setting and walk through the Grand's elegant interior spaces, you may recognize them from "Somewhere in Time," the 1980 film starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour that was filmed here. Sit down to the hotel's renowned Grand Luncheon Buffet and then return to ship as our cruise continues.

Delight in another day of cruising as we navigate south toward Chicago. Take in the scenery from the expansive Observation Deck, enjoy congenial conversation in the Lounge, or join a final talk with our engaging Great Lakes experts. Elegant dining in two distinct venues – the Coastal Dining Room and the casual al fresco Grill - and our open bar enhance your day at sea.

After a final breakfast onboard, you'll step off the ship in Chicago and be chauffeured to the airport for your homeward flight.