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Midwest Majesty & Archipelagos Of Georgian Bay

Midwest Majesty & Archipelagos Of Georgian Bay

From USD $6,389

Description

A wonderful survey of the beautiful coastlines of Lake Superior and Lake Huron from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan. Price includes airfare from Toronto to Thunder Bay.

Trip Name
Midwest Majesty & Archipelagos Of Georgian Bay
Days
10
Overview
Vessel Type: Motor Ship/Small Ship Length: 286 ft, 87 m Passenger Capacity: 202 Built/Refurbished: 2001/2015 Refined, intimate ship experiences The indisputable joy of sailing is brought to life on the M/V Victory I and II, agile intimate ships that easily navigate canals and locks, tranquil bays, and hidden ports where larger ships dare not go. Onboard, our fresh, modern design tips its hat to our maritime past as spacious open-air lounges, inviting dining venues, and generous windows ensure you never miss a chance to savor the spectacular view. Intuitive and attentive service With a caring crew of 84, pampering no more than 202 guests, you’ll feel at home from the moment you step on board. Whether it’s a favorite cocktail served on deck or the delicate chocolate on your pillow ensuring sweet dreams, our attentive, intuitive staff are available whenever you need them. Serving you is our pleasure. On-board experts and included excursions Aboard the M/V Victory I and II, you’ll often travel in the company of engaging specialists focusing on areas where our journey takes us. They share their expertise freely in presentations and impromptu discussions throughout the journey. In port, included shore excursions with knowledgeable local guides provide meaningful opportunities to uncover the rich history, unique wildlife, and fascinating cultures of the destinations you will visit. Onboard Amenities Complimentary coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks and filtered water - Free flowing house wine, beer, and spirits during entire cruise - Free Internet & WiFi available onboard - 100% Egyptian cotton bedding - Personal robes and slippers - Top of the line bath amenities that are environmentally sensitive - Premium mattresses - In-room electronic safe - Individual climate control - LCD flat screen television (satellite) - Alarm clock - Hair dryer - Telephone - Daily housekeeping with nightly turndown - Onboard Salon & Spa - Themed afternoon tea service Pamper Your Palate On Board And On Shore Beyond outstanding service and hospitality, every meal will bring about moments of sheer bliss. Each day, you will enjoy mouth-watering canapés as a prelude to casual and sophisticated cuisine in distinctive venues. The Seascape Tavern Share stories and laughter with friends and fellow travelers in the casual comfort of this cozy, English-style tavern. In the early evening, talented musicians bring the ship to life with all your favorite songs. Cliff Rock Bar & Grille Enjoy fresh air and fresh selections at the Cliff Rock Grille, where “hot rock” cooking is the special of the day, every day. Choose your ingredients and watch them cook to perfection on 100% pure volcanic lava rock. Serving buffet breakfast and lunch and seated dinner. Shearwater Dining Room Savor delicious cuisine in the easy elegance of the main dining room, where a professional wait staff serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily from our chef’s menu of regionally inspired dishes. The Compass Lounge Log onto the ships WiFi and catch up on the latest news or send a few emails to friends back home. Attend an enriching presentation by an onboard specialist. Gather around the grand piano for an old fashioned sing-along. After dinner, music, and dancing keep the fun going into the evening hours. Observation Deck Lounge & Sun Deck Lounge on the aft deck on comfortable, cushioned outdoor sofas under the pergola… the perfect place to celebrate a successful shore excursion, gather for afternoon cocktails, amber sunsets or a little late-night stargazing. In the morning or afternoon, take advantage of the forward deck to greet the day with your morning coffee, relax with a book and soak up some rays on one of the outdoor lounge chairs. Latitude Salon & Spa Renew yourself with a relaxing massage or with one of our many beauty treatments during your stay. Latitude Salon and Spa features indulgent scented oil treatments and a beauty salon for manicures, pedicures and styling. 

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Thunder Bay, Ontario
The elegant M/V Victory II awaits you at the Thunder Bay pier. Settle into your outside stateroom before joining your fellow passengers for dinner with free-flowing wines, cocktails and beverages.
Day 2 - Day 2 Duluth, MN
The city of Duluth is nestled in the hills overlooking Lake Superior. Originally settled by the Sioux and Chippewa, Duluth was claimed for France in 1679 by Daniel Greysolon Sieur du Lhut, the city’s namesake. Our visit starts with a drive past the Aerial Lift Bridge, which guards the harbor, then along the North Shore Scenic Drive for an excellent view of city and its environs. We then climb Hawk Ridge to the “raptor flight path,” where these extraordinary hunting birds take a rest on their Arctic migration. Enjoy a scenic walk along the waterfront to Leif Erikson Park, which houses a replica Viking Ship, and down to “The Depot” with its exceptional collection of trains and carriages from a bygone era. The afternoon is free to explore Canal Park, whose restored ships and exhibits showcase Duluth’s history.
Day 3 - Day 3 Houghton, MI
Houghton is located on the Keewenaw Peninsula, which jets out into Lake Superior and is known for its massive deposits of high-grade copper. The Hancock Houghton Canal–also called the Keewenaw Waterway–is a convenient shortcut for the M/V Victory II as it makes its way to and from Duluth, Minnesota. In its hayday, this canal was a hive of commerce as freighters arrived with supplies and departed full of copper. On our shore excursion, we’ll visit the Quincy Copper Mine, which operated from 1846 to 1945, and explore how miners moved underground and extracted this valuable resource. After lunch, we’ll visit the internationally-recognized A. E. Seamen Mineral Museum on the grounds of Michigan Technological University, which houses an extraordinary collection of minerals, including a fascinating set of phosphorescent deposits.
Day 4 - Day 4 Marquette, MI
Marquette is located on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, on the southern border of Lake Superior. Named for the French Jesuit missionary who explored the region, Marquette became a major Great Lakes port when iron ore was discovered in 1844. In the late 19th century, during the height of iron mining, Marquette was a summer haven for passenger steamships, whose guests filled the city’s hotels and resorts. On our shore excursion, we’ll visit the Michigan Iron Industry Museum on the site of an original iron forge. Closer to town, we’ll visit the working harbor to witness the loading of Great Lakes freighters along the impressive 1000-feet-long iron ore dock. Our exploration of Marquette concludes with a visit to the Maritime Museum and Lighthouse.
Day 5 - Day 5 Soo Locks / Scenic Sailing of Lake Superior
Located at the mouth of the St. Mary’s river, the twin “Soo’s” of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan were originally established as one settlement by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century, and remained so until the war of 1812. Today the locks on the American Soo side bypass the 20-foot fall of St Mary’s Rapids that connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron and the lower lakes. The Soo locks are the busiest in the world in terms of tonnage, accommodating 1000 foot freighters. Travelling upstream and arriving from Mackinac Island, the ship will traverse the locks for a day of sailing on beautiful Lake Superior.
Day 6 - Day 6 Mackinac Island
We’ll awaken in the Straits of Mackinac, which connect Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. With no cars allowed on the island, your horse-drawn carriage tour is a great way to experience the Victorian ambiance of this National Historic Landmark. Learn about the island’s history and see turn of the century summer homes built by early captains of American industry. High atop a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, your tour of Fort Mackinac delves into its strategic importance during the War of 1812. Next, take in the views from the Grand Hotel’s verandah, the longest in the world, and enjoy the hotel’s famous Grand Luncheon Buffet. Back in town, you’ll have time to browse galleries and boutiques. Before sailing this evening, the Grand hotel’s resident historian Bob Tagatz will come aboard for a colorful talk on the history of Mackinac Island and its world-famous hotel.
Day 7 - Day 7 Little Current
Sail into the rugged beauty of Georgian Bay where you’ll step ashore in Little Current, the gateway to Manitoulin Island. Learn about the island’s nautical heritage as you journey to the Immaculate Conception Church. With its distinctive architecture evoking a teepee, this church is a focal point of the community, bringing together traditions of the Ojibwe culture and the Catholic Church. At the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, enjoy a tour through the art galleries and exhibits of this heritage museum. You can browse the artisan shop and participate in a smudging ceremony, an Ojibwe ritual that uses smoke from cedar, sage, sweet grass and other plants known for their healing powers. A drum and dance performance offers further insight into Ojibwe culture.
Day 8 - Day 8 Parry Sound
Traversing the “inland ocean” of the Georgian Bay, we will dock at the charming waterfront town of Parry Sound. Its beautiful beaches, parks, and trails fall within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, supporting sustainable development of Georgian Bay’s terrestrial, marine, and coastal ecosystems. The area boasts several Provincial Parks for canoeing and kayaking, hiking, fishing, and nature walks. Parry Sound is the birthplace of hockey legend Bobby Orr, the namesake of the local community centre and the town’s own Bobby Orr Hall of Fame.
Day 9 - Day 9 At Sea - Scenic Sailing of Lake Huron
Delight in this day of cruising aboard the second largest of the Great Lakes. Early French explorers named this “fresh water sea” after the indigenous peoples inhabiting the region. Lake Huron has more shoreline than any other Great Lake with over 30,000 islands and includes the massive Georgian Bay, often called the “sixth Great Lake.” Enjoy convivial conversation with your fellow passengers or join an engaging discussion with our shipboard experts, who are well-versed in the history, peoples, and natural wonders of the Great Lakes region. Elegant dining in two distinctive venues with free-flowing house wine, beer, and spirits enhance your day at sea.
Day 10 - Day 10 Detroit / Windsor
This morning, we’ll arrive at the port in Detroit. After breakfast, you’ll disembark the M/V Victory II and make your way to the airport for your flight home.
Day 11 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change depending on weather and port availability. Substitutevisits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water levels, changes in policy or otheruncontrollable factors.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
08-08-201917-08-2019USD $0Category E
08-08-201917-08-2019USD $0Category D
08-08-201917-08-2019USD $0Category C
08-08-201917-08-2019USD $0Category B
08-08-201917-08-2019USD $0Category A
08-08-201917-08-2019USD $0Category AA
08-08-201917-08-2019USD $0Owners Suite
17-08-201926-08-2019USD $0Category B
17-08-201926-08-2019USD $0Category A
17-08-201926-08-2019USD $0Category AA
17-08-201926-08-2019USD $0Owners Suite
17-08-201926-08-2019USD $0Category E
17-08-201926-08-2019USD $0Category D
17-08-201926-08-2019USD $0Category C
27-07-202004-08-2020USD $0Category E
27-07-202004-08-2020USD $0Category D
27-07-202004-08-2020USD $0Category C
27-07-202004-08-2020USD $0Category B
27-07-202004-08-2020USD $0Category A
27-07-202004-08-2020USD $0Category AA
27-07-202004-08-2020USD $0Owners Suite

Inclusions

    • Discover Parry Sound that lies on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, at the mouth of the Seguin River. Founded in the mid-19th century, it was named after William Parry, the Arctic explorer.
    • Visit Detroit, known as “the big D”, looms large in the American imagination, both as a success story for the birth of the automotive industry and the struggles of the industrial heartland in the modern age.
    • Sail into the rugged beauty of Georgian Bay, and its thousands of tiny islands, bays, inlets and sounds. Our visit takes us to Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world and part of Georgian Bay’s famous archipelago.

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