Five-Day Travel Aida Levitan, Ph.D. • August 29, 2024
The Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — and their canals form the largest freshwater system in the world. More than 40 million people drink water from these lakes. The lakes are also an important economic source, generating over $6 trillion in wealth. The region is home to 3,500 species of plants and animals and offers spectacular landscapes. The Great Lakes are a major tourist attraction due to their natural beauty and the history of the cities along their shores.
We took the cruise called Viking “Great Lakes Collection” and sailed aboard the grand expedition vessel Viking Octantis to visit attractive destinations along the lakes in both Canada and the U.S. With a maximum of 378 passengers and 256 crew members, the ultra-modern Octantis is a destination in itself. At 665 feet long, this ship, launched in 2022, is both a tourist cruise vessel and a scientific center with expert naturalists, researchers, and nature photographers on board. In its Aula (Lecture Hall), passengers learn about upcoming destinations and scientific topics related to the voyage.
The cost of the trip is high (a minimum of $10,000 per person for 15 days, and much more for suites). It includes: economy-class airfare, one excursion in each destination, all meals and beverages (beer, wine, and soft drinks) during breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the ship’s restaurants, Wi-Fi, room service, entertainment, lectures, transport on rescue boats and Zodiacs, and excursions in submarines and Special Operations boats. All cabins have a Nordic Balcony with beautiful views of the lake scenery. The most affordable stateroom, at 215 square feet, is well organized, with a king-size bed or two twins, a balcony with an exterior view, 55” TV, comfortable bathroom, Freyja shampoos and creams, purified water, binoculars, and other amenities. Most importantly, the efficient, friendly, and disciplined crew goes out of its way to serve passengers.
The World Café offers fresh and varied international buffet-style meals with open seating. Dishes include: Maine lobster, sushi and premium meats, delicious cheeses, crab, shrimp, burgers, pizzas, fresh breads, and fabulous gelatos. At the intimate restaurant Mamsen’s, which features the recipes of Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen’s grandmother, we enjoyed delicious Pannekaken (Norwegian pancakes), unforgettable almond cakes, Gravlax (smoked salmon), soups, meat, shrimp and fish sandwiches, and Norwegian waffles with fruit.
The Restaurant and Manfredi’s, two fine-dining venues with extensive wine lists, offer a varied menu of gourmet dishes in elegant settings. Offerings include: Bistecca alla Fiorentina, pasta, Beef Wellington, Sole Meunière, Poached Salmon, and tempting desserts. The waitstaff is extremely attentive.
After dinner, we listened to live music in The Library, The Living Room, and the Explorers’ Lounge. In the latter, we sometimes relaxed in comfortable chairs to enjoy views of the spectacular scenery. The ship also has pools, three of which are heated. The Spa offers massages, sauna, fitness sessions, and hair salon services. The Aula is where we attended expert lectures on science and the destinations we visited.
The itinerary began in Toronto, on Lake Ontario, though no city visit was included. On the third day, we went on the first included excursion to the beautiful Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. On the fourth day, in Cleveland on Lake Erie, we visited the fun Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where we saw videos, photos, costumes, musical instruments, and artifacts showcasing the history of rock legends such as Elvis, John Lennon, Elton John, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, and many more. We also took an optional (extra cost) excursion to the Cleveland Museum of Art, which houses more than 63,000 works and 6,000 years of artistic production.
On the fifth day, we visited the fascinating Henry Ford Museum of Innovation, located in Dearborn near Detroit. For lovers of classic cars, carriages, and old trains, this visit may be the most memorable. We saw Henry Ford’s first car from 1896, the historic bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, the 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale convertible, the prototype of the 1960s Ford Mustang (which inspired the Ford GT), and historic presidential cars.
In the following days, we explored Alpena, a historic town on Lake Huron, and Algoma, on the shores of Lake Michigan, where we sampled Wisconsin wines and cheeses. The visit to Mackinac Island, the eighth day’s included excursion, was one of the most enjoyable and memorable. Located on Lake Huron, this picturesque town is like “Disneyland” for adults. To see its beautiful historic homes surrounded by flowers, we rode in horse-drawn carriages — the only transportation allowed on the island besides bicycles. Founded in 1780, it has an interesting Fort Mackinac with historic military buildings we toured. In Mackinac Island State Park, we walked through lush cedar, fir, and birch forests. A popular attraction is the stunning Arch Rock, a limestone formation. Mackinac is also famous for the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve, filmed at the Victorian Grand Hotel. An optional, expensive excursion included a guided tour of several rooms of the Grand Hotel and English-style tea in its restaurant.
On the tenth day, we arrived at Georgian Bay, part of Lake Huron, and visited Killarney, Ontario, for a “Fish Fry” lunch at the charming Killarney Mountain Lodge, inspired by log cabins. We then enjoyed beautiful views of Georgian Bay and the Soo Locks, followed by a visit to the rocky island of Silver Islet, Ontario, on the Sibley Peninsula near Lake Superior. There’s not much to do on the island, but we recommend visiting its old store and tea room. The village was founded in 1868 when silver was discovered, and a huge mine was built.
We missed the opportunity to meet the Anishinaabek Indigenous people of the Great Lakes due to bad weather. Viking did its best to make up for it with delightful chocolate and cheese stations, special drinks, and entertaining onboard activities. During the final included excursion, we visited historic Fort William in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Young actors in period costumes brought the year 1819 to life. Between 1803 and 1821, this was the base of the North West Company, the largest fur trading enterprise in North America. The Rendezvous held here between settlers (Anglo-Scottish and French-Canadian) and Indigenous peoples was notable for its peaceful product exchange, information sharing, and relationship building. This excursion also took us to the stunning Kakabeka Falls — Ontario’s second-largest waterfall — known as the “Niagara of the North,” with a 40-meter drop.
After a farewell toast with the crew and passengers, we disembarked in Duluth, on Lake Superior, Minnesota, at 8 a.m. We stayed an extra day in Duluth before flying to Miami, and Viking covered the accommodation. Friendly businessman Eduardo Sandoval Luna, owner of the popular Mexican restaurant Oasis del Norte, gave us a tour of the beautiful Rose Garden at Leif Erikson Park and took us to see Duluth’s unique Aerial Lift Bridge. We then took a tour of the historic Glensheen Mansion, a Jacobean-style estate with 39 rooms and 12 acres on the shores of Lake Superior. Chester Adgate Congdon built it, and Elizabeth Congdon lived there until 1977. The interior, designed by William French, features Arts & Crafts, Federal, and Art Nouveau styles. A chilling mystery inspired films about the mansion: in 1977, the husband of Marjorie (Elizabeth’s adopted daughter) murdered Elizabeth and her nurse. Marjorie, possibly involved, later served prison time for arson and bigamy. In 1979, the mansion opened to the public and now attracts over 100,000 visitors annually. This visit was an intriguing end to our vacation.
The Viking Great Lakes cruise offers fascinating tourist, culinary, scientific, and historical experiences aboard an elegantly designed, eco-friendly, ideally sized, safe, and comfortable ship. But without a doubt, what we appreciated most was the skill and exceptional service of the Viking Octantis crew.
