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Peregrine Travel Centre

Expedition Between Lake Michigan & Lake Superior

Expedition Between Lake Michigan & Lake Superior

From AUD $15,520

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Description

Set off with PONANT aboard Le Champlain on an all-new 11-day expedition cruise discovering Lake Superior, an exceptional exploration amidst flamboyant nature and the cultural riches of the Indigenous communities.

Leaving from Milwaukee, you will enjoy sailing on Lake Michigan, a real inland sea and a perfect introduction to this region following in the footsteps of the first settlers, trappers and Indigenous communities.

Door County and the small town of Sturgeon Bay will welcome you for an exceptional port of call. Its landscapes, its jagged coastline to which historic lighthouses cling, and its vineyards and fruit trees as far as the eye can see compose a lovely postcard of this territory, known as the orchard of the Midwest.

You will continue your exploration towards Mackinac Island, only accessible by boat. This preserved and car-free haven will reveal itself to the sound of horse-drawn carriages and the noise of hooves hitting the paved streets. The Victorian charm of past-times works its spell here and the impressive Mackinac Bridge spans the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

You will arrive back in Canada in Sault Ste Marie, located on the banks of St. Marys River, a natural border with the United States. Indigenous, French and British influences have endowed the city with a wealth of historical treasures, and it is also renowned for its locks where the shipping traffic is one of the highest in the world.

Then, Lake Superior, designated a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve, will open the path to some fine exploring along the northern ‘Inside Passage’. Its sparkling waters are home to rich fauna, primary forest and communities descending from the First Nations, among the oldest indigenous peoples before colonisation.

You will finally set sail for Thunder Bay, your di

Trip Name
Expedition Between Lake Michigan & Lake Superior
Days
11
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Length: 127 metres Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2017/2018 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series, Le Champlain will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Champlain will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Champlain has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 MILWAUKEE
Nested on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, the largest city in the State of Wisconsin, harmoniously combines tradition and modernity. Industrial long ago, the city, known as Brew City because of its old breweries renowned all over the world, is experiencing a certain renaissance. While warehouses have given way to restaurants, bars, theatres and art galleries in the city centre, the district still retains traces of its manufacturing past. Further south lies Chicago, the economic centre of the Midwest, with an interesting mix of natural and urban landscapes: its immense skyscrapers, diverse architecture, many parks and magnificent beaches make the city a popular destination.
Day 2 - Day 2 SAILING LAKE MICHIGAN
You will sail the United States’ largest freshwater body, which gave its name to Michigan, one of the four states that border this lake measuring 500 km long and 200 km wide. The first colonists settled in the south at the end of the 17th century, on the site of the current megalopolis of Chicago. Wild landscapes of forests with sparkling colours, cliffs, golden sandy beaches and dunes as far as the eye can see stretch along its 2,600 km of shoreline. In the north, magnificent wind-swept islands rise out of the lake’s emerald waters. At 8 km long, the Mackinac Bridge, which spans the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges.
Day 3 - Day 3 STURGEON BAY
Sturgeon Bay is a small, little-known town in the Great Lakes region. It offers a perfect blend of traditions and gentle way of life. The gateway to Door County (Wisconsin), known for its cherry and apple orchards as well as its vineyards, Sturgeon Bay is sometimes called “the orchard of the Midwest”. Several old lighthouses and early-19th century merchant ship wrecks, visible from the surface, make up an interesting historical heritage. Nature is all around, allowing visitors to engage in a host of outdoor activities: hiking in one of the five national parks, kayaking on crystal-clear waters to discover the myriad islets dotting the lake, bike riding, and more.
Day 4 - Day 4 MACKINAC ISLAND
Close to the banks of Lake Huron in the State of Michigan, Mackinac Island promises a real journey through time. Originally inhabited by Amerindians, then occupied by French and British colonists, this small island measuring only a few km² still retains an atmosphere of yesteryear today, with its Victorian-style buildings and elegant horse-drawn carriages. Fort Mackinac, on the heights of the island, is a reminder of the conflicts that punctuated the history of this strategic place, a former fur trade centre. In addition to this scenery from the past, the island offers magnificent fine sandy beaches and is home to one of the oldest National Parks in the United States.
Day 5 - Day 5 SAULT STE. MARIE
The oldest city in Ontario and the centre of one of North America’s oldest settlements, Sault Ste. Marie has a rich historical heritage due to its Amerindian, British and French influences. Linked to its neighbouring and homonymous American city by a bridge spanning St. Marys River, the city owes its name to the river’s many rapids, called “les saults de Sainte-Marie” by French colonists. The gateway to the Algoma region, renowned for its wild expanses, Sault Ste. Marie is also known as the home of the National Historic Site of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, which was completed at the end of the 19th century and constitutes the final part of a navigation network that connects the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior.
Day 6 - Day 6 SAILING LAKE SUPERIOR
Lake Superior stands in a league of its own. It is not only the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes of North America, it is also the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, holding around 10% of the globe’s surface freshwater! It was named by the first European settlers, who had noticed its higher altitude compared to the other four lakes. Lake Superior connects with Lake Huron and Lake Michigan via the Sault Ste. Marie locks. From the decks of your ship, you will relish your experience of sailing on this vast inland body of water, and imagine it entirely frozen over during the winter months...
Day 7 - Days 7 - 10 EXPLORING LAKE SUPERIOR
Your team of naturalist guides invites you to explore the largest freshwater lake in the world! The different ports of call, all carefully selected among the most beautiful and most emblematic, and the daily activities immersed in nature, make this a special way to discover Lake Superior. Through outings in an inflatable dinghy, kayaking or hikes, you will have the opportunity to admire islands and coasts where the First Nations walked well before you, as they fished and hunted here before the arrival of the French and British settlers. The Indian reserves, the vestiges of mining operations, and the old lighthouses now designated as heritage, are all sites of great cultural and historical significance.
Day 8 - Day 11 THUNDER BAY
Situated in the north-west of Lake Superior, the Canadian city of Thunder Bay enjoys a strategic position on the seaway connecting the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence, which explains why it is also called “Lakehead”. The city was also the terminus of a Canadian Pacific Railway corridor. This contributed vastly to its rapid growth in the 20th century. The historical museum is a must-see, as is the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, specialising in contemporary artwork by First Nations artists. Today, the city is a far cry from the small French fur-trading post established there in 1683. Nevertheless, a well documented historical reconstruction can be visited on the outskirts of the city: Fort William Historical Park.
Day 9 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $15,520Deluxe Stateroom
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $45,420Grand Deluxe Suite
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $47,780Owner's Suite
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $17,330Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $18,240Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $19,310Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $27,300Deluxe Suite
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $37,260Prestige Suite Deck 5
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $39,260Prestige Suite Deck 6
14-09-202424-09-2024AUD $41,250Privilege Suite

Inclusions

    • An all-new expedition cruise to discover natural and cultural riches from Lake Michigan to Lake Superior.
    • Outings and shore visits with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
    • Hiking and kayak opportunities.
    • Discovery of the culture of peoples descending from the First Nations.
    • Sailing on three of the five Great Lakes of North America: Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior.
    • An all-new port of call in Sturgeon Bay, on the shores of Lake Michigan.
    • Scenery: jagged coasts, cliffs, vineyards, orchards, primary forest, islands, lake landscapes…
    • Wildlife: brown bears, raccoons, reindeer, elk, birds…

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