Close your eyes and imagine yourself lounging on the deck of a cruise ship, favorite beverage in hand, your body warmed by the sun and your soul caressed by the gentle breeze.
You are relaxed. You are at peace. You are…
…on the Great Lakes!
Yep, open your eyes and look around. You are on one of the growing number of cruise ships sailing the world’s largest system of freshwater lakes.
The popularity of lake cruising has surged in recent years, and Great Lakes ports are seeing double the number of passenger visits compared to a decade ago – up to about 150,000 annually. A half-dozen cruise lines operate on the Great Lakes and many of them make Mackinac Island a port of call.
Where Mackinac Island Cruise Ships Originate
Cruise itineraries on the Great Lakes range from just a few nights to longer than two weeks, with some routes passing through all five Great Lakes. Cruise guests embark or disembark in a variety of places including Chicago and Milwaukee at the southern end of Lake Michigan, Thunder Bay, Ont. at the western edge of Lake Superior, Toronto on Lake Ontario or all the way east to Montreal on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Ports of call vary from one route to the next, but Mackinac Island is a popular stop on many cruises. The USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination is especially suited to cruise ships because it’s located right where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, at the tip of Michigan’s mitten between the Upper and Lower peninsulas. Plus, cruisegoers love Mackinac Island’s car-free charm and Victorian architecture – not to mention the gorgeous natural scenery and exciting downtown vibe.
Downtown Mackinac Island: Something For Every Visitor
Things To Do When Your Cruise Stops on Mackinac Island
Cruise ships that stop on Mackinac Island typically dock in the morning, enabling passengers to enjoy a day exploring the island’s delights before retiring to their stateroom at night. Cruise excursions may include horse-drawn carriage tours of Mackinac Island, buffet lunches at the iconic Grand Hotel and visits to historic Fort Mackinac.
You can also rent a bike and pedal all the way around Mackinac Island in only an hour or two, indulge in the diverse culinary scene including world-famous Mackinac Island fudge, browse downtown Mackinac Island’s charming shops or just sit and listen to the clip-clop of horse hooves in a place unsullied by the automobile. There’s no shortage of things to do on Mackinac Island.
5 things to do the first (or next) time you visit Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island Cruises
Interested in a Great Lakes cruise that visits Mackinac Island? Take a look at these options:
- Pearl Seas Cruises operates an 8-day trip between Milwaukee and Midland, Ont. and a 12-day trip between Milwaukee and Toronto on the 210-passenger “Pearl Mist”
- Victory Cruise Lines operates a 9-day trip between Niagara Falls and Chicago with passage through Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan as well as the Georgian Bay on the “Victory II”
- Ponant Explorer operates an 8-day trip between Milwaukee and Toronto that sails four of the five Great Lakes and the Georgian Bay
- Viking Expedition operates 8-day trips between Milwaukee and Thunder Bay, Ont. through Lake Superior on board the Octantis, and an 8-day trip between Milwaukee and Toronto on the other four Great Lakes
Find itineraries and booking information for all Mackinac Island cruises
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