GreatLakesCruises.com is a sales agent for every cruise line that operates on the Great Lakes.
GreatLakesCruises.com is a sales agent for every cruise line that operates on the Great Lakes.
Let our Great Lakes Cruises experts assist you in selecting the perfect voyage to match your travel preferences. We work with all of the cruise lines serving the region, both big and small, and guide you on the trade-offs between the various itineraries, ships and destinations.
Space for the 2025 Great Lakes cruises and 2026 Great Lakes cruises are currently booking fast and there will not be much availability left if you delay. Our experts are here to help!
Due to extraordinary demand, most cruise lines’ call centers are completely overwhelmed. Instead, call us directly at +1-888-756-9008. Using our extensive network of cruise lines, we will sort out all the details of your Great Lakes cruise and get you on the best cruise possible – all for no extra cost to you!
Combined, our team has multiple decades of experience in the Great Lakes and North American cruise industry. We do all the hard work of learning the cruise lines, getting to know the ships, and keeping track of each and every Great Lakes cruise itinerary.
We match you with the perfect cruise every time using the Engage our Experts Survey below. Once you submit it, our team of real-life experts analyzes that information before contacting you with a specific selection of offerings that meet your desires.
Combined, our team has multiple decades of experience in the Great Lakes and North American cruise industry. We do all the hard work of learning the cruise lines, getting to know the ships, and keeping track of each and every Great Lakes cruise itinerary.
You’d be surprised at the number of cities, towns and villages included in the ports of call for our cruises. If you’re interested in a particular region of the American Great Lakes and their Canadian counterparts, this list will help you find out more about it:
Illinois cruises invite you to a home of rich culture, vibrant nature, and the great American city of Chicago. Whether you’re in the north, center, or south region of Illinois, you’ll be amazed by all the activities this state has to offer. Learn American history through central Illinois, also known as the Land of Lincoln. […]
With Canadian Maritime cruises, you’ll explore the eponymous providences of Canada — some of the most historically important and beautiful destinations that the country has to offer. Found in the eastern parts of Canada, the Maritime Provinces are made up by Prince Edward Island (PEI), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Popular among Canadian and St. […]
Prepare for a Great Lakes Cruise Embark on a Chicago cruise today, and visit one of America’s most iconic travel destinations, along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago is not only the most popular travel destination across the great lakes, but across all of America! Chicago was founded as a town in 1833, but was settled […]
Great Lakes Gardeners The Great Lakes Region is home to a vast number of plant species that keep the lake’s surroundings beautiful and unique. Passengers that cruise the Great Lakes are often amazed by the region’s natural heritage and the gardening culture around it. Humidity and temperature vary around the coast of each of the […]
The Great Lakes of North America are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. With a surface of over 94,000 square miles, they form an elongated inland sea with waves, winds, currents, depths and distant shores.
The earliest evidence of human occupation in the region is estimated at 10,000 year ago, at the end of the last ice age. When you cruise the Great Lakes, you’ll have the chance to see all this history in person, learning even more with the aid of the enriching educational programs offered by our luxury cruise lines.
Contact our team of expert Great Lakes Cruisers for more help in planning and preparing your voyage across these historic waters.
We work closely with all major Great Lakes cruise lines to bring you the very best experiences:
Select one of the buttons below to find out more about each Great Lake’s cruise destinations and sights.
“The North American Great Lakes — Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior — are so big that they border 8 states and contain 23 quadrillion liters of water. They span forest, grassland, and wetland habitats, supporting a region that’s home to 3,500 species. But how did such a vast and unique geological feature come to be?”
– by Cheri Dobbs and Jennifer Gabrys.
*Total shoreline length is greater than the sum of the shoreline length for the lakes because it includes the connecting channels (but not the St. Lawrence River).
Read more on the “Physical Features of the Great Lakes” from the EPA .
| Highest Elevation | 601 ft (Lake Superior) | Volume of Water | 5,439 mi³ | Length (E-W) | 750 mi |
| Lowest Elevation | 243 ft (Lake Ontario) | Avg Depth | 260 ft | Length of Shoreline | 10,210 mi* |
| Surface Area | 94,250 mi² | Max Depth | 1,332 ft | Avg Surface Temp | 48º F |
| Drainage Area | 201,460 mi² | Length (N-S) | 497 mi | Retention Time | 320 years |
| Highest Elevation | 183 m (Lake Superior) | Volume of Water | 22,684 km³ | Length (E-W) | 1,200 km |
| Lowest Elevation | 74 m (Lake Ontario) | Avg Depth | 79 m | Length of Shoreline | 17,017 km* |
| Surface Area | 244,160 km² | Max Depth | 406 m | Avg Surface Temp | 9º C |
| Drainage Area | 521,830 km² | Length (N-S) | 800 km | Retention Time | 320 years |
You can book a Great Lakes Cruise for spring, summer or fall. Why not winter? The answer is ice.
Lake Superior is 77% covered with ice. Lake Michigan is 51% covered. Lake Huron 81% covered, with only 19% open water! Lake Erie is 91% covered. Lake Ontario is only 15% covered. Read more about 2018 ice coverage of the Great Lakes at MLive.com
