Perhaps one of the most romantic of choices is a dinner cruise. Almost every port on the Great Lakes has a provider who offers these short jaunts around the harbor. Often, the food is gourmet class and on some of the slightly larger vessels, there may be live music and dancing. In just a couple of hours, you can enjoy not only a wonderful meal, but also a romantic tour of the harbor. In midsummer, this might mean beautiful sunsets; in the spring and fall, it might mean moonlight on the waves, sweet music in the background, and the gentle sway of the ship.

If you want a bit more adventure in your cruise, many ports on the Great Lakes offer tall ship cruises. What could be more romantic than to return to times past when wind power was the primary mover of all vessels on the sea? Don’t be surprised if many of these tall ships also offer a dinner option. In fact, some of them offer dinner options, wine tasting options, ice cream social options and many other choices. The trips are often made during the afternoon or early evening, but a few of the tall ships will carry passengers later into the evening and early night for stargazing expeditions, fireworks shows and sometimes just because. Just remember that these ships are driven by the wind and as a result it is possible for the cruises can run a little longer than scheduled.

Small ship cruises like these take you away from the hassle of everyday life and give you the opportunity to concentrate on your partner without all the normal distractions. You can relax and enjoy the romance of the trip for a couple of hours and still be home early enough to make certain the kids are in bed. Or, if you want, there are providers offering options that will let you stay aboard until late in the night or even overnight as the case may be.

If you decide you would like to try one of these romantic small ship cruises on the Great Lakes, you need to consider what you expect from your cruise and then look for a provider who offers those amenities. That seems like such common advice that many people might think it worthless, but because there are so many different variations of amenities offered, you really need to do your homework if you want to have a satisfactory experience.

For instance, if you hope to have a few cocktails on board, you need to check with your cruise provider to see if the ship serves alcoholic drinks and if these drinks are available anytime during the cruise or just with meals. Some providers offer a cash bar, some include drinks with meals, and some don’t allow alcohol at all.

There are other amenities you may also want to give extra attention to. For instance, one of the simplest of questions to ask a provider of a dinner cruise is “what’s on the menu?” But, in the excitement of scheduling a cruise and arranging for tickets, it is easy to forget to ask this. Sometimes the menu may be somewhat flexible and at others it may not, but if you are planning a dinner cruise for the dinner it would be a good idea to see what is cooking in advance. Remember, many ports have more than one provider option and if you are lucky enough to be near a large port like Chicago, there may be many providers. That can greatly increase the odds of finding both a menu and a romantic small ship cruise that you will enjoy.

For instance, luxury cruise liners often have a lot of things that you can do. The very largest liners may have casinos, shuffleboard courts, a number of restaurants, salons, libraries and other activities that most adults would find pleasant. But, what about people traveling with kids? Consider checking with your cruise line before booking your cruise to see what activities may be available for children. On a short trip lasting a couple of hours most children will be relatively entertained simply by the novelty of the trip. On longer trips, kids will grow bored if there is nothing specifically for them to do. So consider checking with your cruise line to see what activities may be available on board for children. Some of the very largest liners may offer playgrounds and babysitting services, these same services may not be available on very many small ship cruises, so it is definitely worth finding out in advance.

A day cruise may be a good idea for anyone who hasn’t been on a cruise before because this gives you an opportunity to decide if you like cruising while committing no more than a couple of hours of your time and perhaps $40 or $50 of your money. For this small sum you will often wind up with an exciting tour or a very nice meal. If you take your kids along on such a short trip you will have an opportunity to discover how they take to cruising. Do they get sea sick? Do they get bored? These are both questions that you can answer for just a few dollars rather than the many dollars that you might have to commit for a longer cruise.

First-time cruisers and even some veterans sometimes talk about a certain level of disorientation that they experience when they first get onboard ship. The environment is different than you are used to living in, it may be much more congested than you are used to, and it is nearly certain that most of us are not used to walking around on something that is moving under our feet. A day cruise can give you an opportunity to test yourself and see how you enjoy that type of an environment. Even if you have cruise many of times before, it is a good idea to get a map of the cruise ship when you board, and use this to help you navigate around the ship for the first few days. It can make moving through hallways that all look relatively the same much easier.

A Great Lakes cruise can provide the experience of a lifetime. To get the most of it you only need a few slight precautions.

Now is the time to start planning if you want to take one of these cruises in the summer of 2010. Many of the cruise lines are already taking reservations, or will begin shortly, and it is wise to start thinking about the particular cruise you might like to take and what part of the Great Lakes you would like to see.

Cruises on the Lakes tend to fall into one of several categories. For starters, there are the day and dinner cruises. These may last most of one day or only part of it. Dinner cruises usually last only a couple of hours, during which time you are treated not only to a cruise, but also to a scrumptious dinner. Chicago, Ilinois is famous for party cruises with live music, dancing and cocktails. Traverse City, Michigan is known for the tall ship that offers ice cream socials around the beautiful Traverse Bay area. Toronto, Ontario is also known for its own fleet of tall ships. Lake Erie has the Goodtime cruise ship. All of these offer short dinner cruises or day excursions.

The second category of cruises falls under the adventure heading. Chicago steps up again to offer cruises on the Schooner Red Witch or high speed thrills on the speedboat Seadog. Traverse City has its own tall ship, the Manitou which makes some trips every year that are several days long. If you want one of these, you had better speak up early because they sell these highly desirable berths fast.

The third category is in the luxury class. Tours on ships like the Clelia II which offer weeks long excursions on state-of-the-art cruise ships. These tours are offered both as regular sightseeing tours and with themes like golf and color tours.

The small ship cruises offered on the Great Lakes are fun, educational and best of all close to home. You are never out of U.S. or Canadian waters. European cruises and Caribbean cruises are fun and most people think of them when you mention the word “cruising,” but Great Lakes cruises are about home. The Lakes are the largest resource on the face of the planet and most of the people in the United states and Canada have never toured them, maybe never even had the chance to stand on the beach and look at this natural wonder.

Consider a Great Lakes cruise next year. Even if you can’t afford the luxury kind, day cruises, dinner cruises and sightseeing tours often can be had for around $30, which is about one tank of gas for the family car.

The cruise offered by Sleeping Bear Dunes Boat Cruise company begins in Frankfort, Michigan. Along the way, the ship passes by several lighthouses at Frankfort Harbor, Point Betsie and Empire. These small ports occupy one of the most charming and unspoiled shoreline areas that Northwestern Lower Michigan has to offer.

The ship that makes these Great Lakes cruises is called the “Miner’s Castle,” a name which appears to relate to a rock formation along another lakeshore area in Michigan’s upper peninsula. The Miner’s Castle is 68 feet long and will accommodate 149 people. This is a two deck ship. The lower deck is enclosed and the upper deck has open air seating. With this type of arrangement it may be wise to bring a wind breaker and perhaps an extra layer of clothing for underneath, depending on the weather and the time of year. The temperatures in this part of Michigan can range from 70 to the 90s during the summer and it can feel a little chillier near the lake.

At 77 feet long, the Red Witch is somewhat smaller than her more northern cousin the Manitou, which resides in Traverse City, Michigan. Still, even though she is a little bit smaller, the Red Witch will carry a respectable 49 passengers for a wonderful afternoon of fun.

The Red Witch is operated by Lakeshore Sail Charters out of Chicago, which also offers Great Lakes cruises on the Crescendo, a 36 foot Beneteau that carries up to 6 passengers.

You can take Great Lakes cruises on Red Witch one of three ways, you can charter the entire ship for your group event, or if you have a small group and you agree to share the ride with another small group, you can enjoy a lower rate. According to their website, a shared charter is priced at $600 for two hours in 2009 pricing. This covers up to 10 people and after that it is $50 for each additional passenger. If you want a 3 hour tour, the fee is $900 for the first 10 people and $65 per person after that. Tours include soft drinks, water and snacks. These rates are a significant discount over the regular rate which starts at over $1000 for the two hour tour if taken on a weekday.

The other way to get a ride on the Red Witch is to take advantage of one of the special events this small charter company offers. The Red Witch offers a few “ticketed” events every year, this means that individuals can buy a ticket to sail on these specially scheduled events. The events that Lakeshore Sail Charters schedules are Wednesday and Saturday fireworks cruises, Whale Watching/Happy Hour cruises, and Musical Mondays. Tickets start at $50 per person, which is cheap enough when compared to the charter rates.

Besides, anyone who has lived around the Great lakes, or knows anything about the Great Lakes will tell you that the Whale Watching/Happy Hour cruise must be very interesting indeed. Even if you don’t see any whales, I’m sure you will return happy, and if you do see a whale…well, I guess you will return even happier.

Like all sailing vessels, the Red Witch makes tours of an approximate length, and the actual time it takes for the cruise may vary slightly based on the wind and weather, but the fun will always be large. If you live somewhere in the vicinity of Chicago and you long for a schooner ride, you might consider taking your Great Lakes cruises on the Red Witch.

The Seadog is a fleet of three speedboats, and the cruise is a 30 minute thrill ride on Lake Michigan. Or, there is a 75 minute Lake and river tour. Both tours include stops at major landmarks and the longer tour includes an architecture tour.

The 30 minute tour combines high-speed runs from point to point. At each point, the ship stops and the passengers are introduced to a particular Chicago landmark, then the engines crank up and Seadog races off to the next stop. The rides don’t stop with just daytime landmarks, there is also an after dark thrill ride with Seadog racing over the waves.

If a Seadog Great Lakes cruise sounds too slow, how about the Seadog Extreme? This speedboat has twin 1400 horsepower engines. Seadog Cruises claims the Seadog Extreme is “the most horse powered commercial passenger vessel operating on the Great Lakes. In a vessel this size, this claim is very probably true, at least I haven’t run across another cruise company offering anything like this with similar horsepower.

Seadog is an open speedboat, which means there is no cabin to sit in, so you may get wet, or you may not. The cruise line advises that the ship is handicap accessible except for extra large motorized wheelchairs. That said, they do make a few limitations about potential passengers. You must be at least 48 inches tall to ride, and they caution against people with bad backs, bad hearts or late term pregnancy. One thing Seadog does that other cruise ships may not, is allow dogs.

The cost for this cruise is well in line with other cruises in the Chicago area and throughout the Great Lakes. The listed 2009 price is About $30 for adults and children under 12 at a reduced rate. Seadog is also available for group charters for schools, church groups, Scout outings or corporate outings. Contact the company with any questions and to find schedules and special events.

The Great Lakes ships Spirit of Chicago and Odyssey are parts of this fleet and so is the ship Mystic Blue. The name Mystic Blue is pretty catchy, and the cruise line bills this as a “hip and cool cruising experience”. In other words, cruises on Mystic Blue are centered around energy, youth, and fun.

Like the other ships operated by this cruise line, Mystic Blue offers lunch and dinner cruises. Entertainment is provided by a live DJ and there is plenty of room on the dance floor. The Blue After-Dark cruises cost only $34.90 per person (plus tax and fees), making this a inexpensive night out. The After-Dark cruises board at 12:15 am and cruises last until 2:30 am. Dancing and DJ’s entertain the entire time and there are cocktails and hors d’oeuvres available.

Dinner cruises are also available and appear to range between $55 and $60 per person. They include live entertainment and DJ’s. These dinner cruises board at 6:00 pm and cruise between 6:30 and 8:30.

Like the other ships operating from Chicago, Mystic Blue operates all year long, providing Great Lakes cruises even at New Years. This year, Mystic Blue will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a Fireworks Dinner Cruise. This trip will offer a premium bar package, champagne toast at midnight, and free boarding photo. As always there will be food, fun and music. The trip ends with a half-hour party dockside. The cruise boards at 8:30 and cruises from 9:30 to 12:30 with the dockside party lasting until 1:00. Weather permitting there will also be fireworks marking the evening. The price for this cruise is higher than the other Mystic Blue cruises and runs $149.90 per person. This is actually a decent price when you consider the bar package, the dinner buffet, and the additional time both on the water and at the dockside party.

Like the other ships from this cruise line, Mystic Blue is offering a Sweetest Day cruise with views of the Sweetest Day fireworks, treats, champagne and DJ entertainment.

Mystic Blue itself is described as being redecorated with a blue and silver interior and a lounge-like atmosphere. The ship was built in 2003 at a reported cost of $4.5 million dollars and is 160 feet long. With a reported passenger capacity of 500, Mystic Blue still falls under the heading of small ship cruises.

Like the other ships operated by Entertainment Cruises, Inc, the Mystic Blue is tailored for a specific group of passengers. Young, hip people who enjoy good music, good fun, and a unique atmosphere should really enjoy the Great Lakes cruises on this luxury yacht.

The menu for this dinner cruise is also better than you would find on the Spirit of Chicago. The 2009 dinner menu calls for main courses of Syrah Braised Center Cut of Beef, Seafood Ravioli Gratinee, Boneless Pork Chops, North Atlantic Salmon or a Mediterranean Vegetable Purse. The first courses and desserts are equally sumptuous and equal or exceed those found in many of the better land based restaurants. The Odyssey II experience includes the opportunity to order any of these fine meals that are prepared fresh on board every day.

Like the Spirit of Chicago, the Odyssey II offers several decks and each one has live music and a dance floor. The live music varies from jazz to contemporary and is performed by individual artists and groups. Odyssey II promises that the music won’t end until the ship returns to port.

The operators bill the Odyssey II as the “largest fine-dining cruise ship on the Great Lakes,” This may be true. At 200 feet long and 55 feet high above the water line, the Odyssey II is one of the larger Great Lakes ships offering dinner cruises. While there are other ships that are slightly larger, they won’t serve as many diners and those ships that will serve a similar number of diners appear to be slightly smaller in size and certainly not as luxurious. The Odyssey II has 3 climate controlled decks and promises skyline views from every table.

The cruise route runs south from Navy pier to the Shedd Aquarium, then back to the north to Evanston or thereabouts and then returns to Navy pier. This affords an excellent view of the Chicago skyline, and for the Midnight cruises the skyline provides an amazingly lit backdrop for this luxury cruise. The cruises last two or three hours–the exact time and route is determined by weather and the particular cruise offering.

Unlike some of her northern counterparts, Odyssey II offers cruises year around, although in the winter the are fewer days when cruises are offered and passengers may need to schedule their vacation or celebration times more around the ship’s schedule. Individuals, couple and groups are all welcome. Reservations are required, and there is a dress code so be sure to call ahead and plan to dress nicely. Lunch cruises start at $44.90 + tax and fees and dinner cruises start at $79.90 +. That is a very competitive price considering the menu and compared to the offerings of other Great Lakes cruise providers. As small ship cruises go, this one is a winner!

If you want a truly unique dinner cruise experience, the Spirit of Chicago offers a Thanksgiving Dinner cruise featuring Walnut crusted turkey breast, orange glazed ham and slow braised center cut sirloin. There are also two after Thanksgiving Champagne brunch and dinner cruises available on November 27th. There are few other small ship cruise lines that offer this level of dining, or trips as late into the fall as the Spirit of Chicago offers.

For those who like the night, the Spirit of Chicago offers a midnight moonlight cruise. This Lakes cruise includes a professional DJ, cash bar and light hors d’oeuvres. Sorry, this cruise is adults only (over 21) and you must be able to show a valid photo ID before boarding.

Another cruise offering is the Sweetest Day Dinner cruise which is offered October 17th. Offering live music, champagne and memorable views of the Sweetest Day fireworks, this cruise promises to be a winner. Fireworks cruises are always popular among dinner and evening cruisers and small cruise ships offer an outstanding platform for viewing fireworks unobstructed by either buildings or milling crowds. The Spirit of Chicago offers an upper level observation deck as well as several open patios on the other decks and should allow excellent viewing.

Fireworks cruises are available on the Spirit of Chicago on the fourth of July, Sweetest Day and News Years Eve. Since many Great Lakes cruise ships are closed for business during the winter season, this makes the Spirit of Chicago exceptional as it offers cruises most of the year.

The spirit of Chicago offers three dining decks and an observation deck and has a reported capacity of 572 passengers. They will take single passengers, small groups or even large group charters that occupy one or more decks. The decks are open and spacious and appear well lighted. The ship departs from Navy pier and the cruise provider reports that ample parking is available at the Navy Pier parking lot. There is also a continuous running (and free to ride) trolley that carries passengers from the parking a lot along Navy pier.

There is a dress code of sorts for the dinner cruises, so be certain to check with the cruise providers for exact recommendations. These cruises are generally not shirt and tie affairs, but the cruise line prefers passengers on the dinner cruises be a little more dressy. There are also enhancements you can add to your cruise to make to more memorable. These include private tables, balloons, roses, appetizer plates, open bar, champagne, wine, souvenir glasses, photographs, guaranteed window seats and other perks that add to the experience of a Great Lakes cruise on this small ship.

The locks are located on the border between the United States and Canada in the area of Northern Michigan. A lock-tour cruise is available to those wanting to view the locks and experience the feeling of “locking through.” This is a small ship cruise made on a day-trip basis. From the city of Sault Ste. Marie, your cruise ship will depart on a 2 hour narrated tour of the locks that will not only move you from lake to lake, but from the US side to the Canadian side and back again, for Sault Ste. Marie itself is found on both sides of the river and bills itself as Michigan’s oldest City.

The tour company operates a fleet of 5 boats, so you can imagine this is a pretty popular day-cruise. The boats used for these small ship cruises are climate controlled and have restrooms and snack bars.

Soo Locks Boat Tour’s rates are somewhat lower than other 2 hour tours I’ve examined, with the fare being $21 for adults and $10.50 for children 5 to 12. The company is advertising that no passports are required in 2009 for any of their tours. This is an important consideration as new changes in the law have made some form of passport or enhanced driver’s license necessary for many tours that land at Canadian ports. These Great Lakes cruises operate 3 times a day through the second half of May and all of June, and 12 times a day in July through mid-August. Tours continue at a slower pace in September and October. Most days, tours begin around 10:00 am with the last departure being between 3:00 and 5:00 depending on the time of year. No reservations are required, but it might help to call ahead to verify the schedule.

Cleveland, Ohio is the home of the Goodtime III, which the owners bill as the “largest quadruple-deck 1,000 passenger luxury ship on the Great Lakes.” At 1,000 passengers it is very possible that the Goodtime III is in fact the largest passenger ship on the Lakes. Lakes liners are normally smaller and only carry 300 to 400 passengers on the largest ships. If the Goodtime III is not physically the largest liner on the lakes it certainly ranks among the elite few in the number of passengers it can carry.

The Goodtime III offers regular sightseeing, entertainment and dinner/dance cruises as well as custom charters. Most of the offerings appear to fall into the “day cruise” category with 2 hours cruises being advertised. The ship is heated and air conditioned and has a canvas enclosed upper deck.

The cruises and tours are on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie and include a commentary on the sights provided by an experienced guide. The Goodtime III is large enough to have an onboard pub and both sandwiches, soft drinks and spirits are available.

The Gootime III’s homeport is the East 9th Street Pier in Cleveland and they advertise that this location is next to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Great Lakes Science Center. This is a convenient location for families looking for a vacation stop with a number of different attractions all at one place. Another plus is that the Goodtime III sails rain or shine since there are enclosed and semi-enclosed decks. This is an important consideration when choosing a Great Lakes cruise vacation. Weather can sometimes pose a hazard for day cruisers. The Goodtime III has taken pains to prevent the weather from damping its passenger’s vacations.

The daily cruises and tours are each about 1 ½ hours long. These are lunch and dinner cruises and include a tour around the harbor and a running commentary on the sights given by an experienced guide.

There are a number of other specialty tours that are also offered by the Vista Fleet, these include Mother’s Day Brunch, Father’s Day Beer n’ Brats, Armed Forces Weekend, Blues Cruises, Harvest Festival and Fall Colors Cruises, Halloween Cruises and 4th of July Fireworks Cruises.

Children are welcome on most of the cruises and the prices are reasonable at anywhere from $20 to $60 in 2009 pricing. Of course the prices vary based upon the cruise, with the most expensive being the Fireworks Cruise. There are two locations for the Fireworks cruise; Duluth, Minnesota; and Superior, Wisconsin. The Duluth trip is aboard the Vista Star, the largest of the fleet and includes a prime rib dinner. The Superior trip is aboard the Vista Queen, the smallest of the fleet and includes hors d’oeuvres and a limited Open Bar. Yet a third 4th of July option is added when the Vista King sails from Duluth. This trip is only $30 per person but includes only light snacks and a cash bar.

If you want to try a Great Lakes cruise but you’re afraid you might not like it, or your budget is very small, one of these short “day trips” might be just perfect for you. You can easily test your sea legs without breaking your bank account.

You will find that companies like the Vista Fleet operate in many ports, so if you live anywhere in the area of the Great Lakes, there is probably a cruise company located somewhere near you. The ships these companies operate may have cabins for lodging, or like those of the Vista Fleet, they may be completely converted to passenger seating and dining areas. Either way, these short trips offer a great opportunity to learn about the local harbors and to get on the water and have some fun. At the relatively low price charged for one of these short Great Lakes cruises they also make fun Mother’s or Father’s day, birthday, graduation and wedding presents.

For a unique day cruise, these folks offer two different glass bottomed boats that will take you to view a number of shipwrecks dating from the turn of the century (the last century, not this new one). Ships wrecked in Lake Superior tend to stay in reasonably good condition due to the cold temperature of the water, and the water is relatively clear. The tour company promises visibility of 50 feet or more which is good for many areas in the Lakes.

The 2 hour long tours include stops at 3 wrecks, the Bermuda, the Scow and the Herman H. Hettler. A guide narrates the visits and explains the history of the ship and the wrecks.

The company bills itself as the only glass bottomed boat company in the United States that views shipwrecks. This may be so, it is certainly the only one in Northern Michigan.

This short Great Lakes cruise also includes a view of the East Channel Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses on Lake Superior and the Pictured Rocks, a destination and tour worthy by themselves.

At the moment, fours cruises are offered per day in July and August, two per day in June, September and October. The cost is advertised at $30 for an adult and $12 for children 12 and under which places the pricing in line with other day cruises in the Munising area.

As a unique Great Lakes cruise that is hard to top anywhere, these Glass Bottom Boat tours are unlike anything else in this part of the world, and if you find yourself in or near Munising, you might want to consider giving them a try.

If Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore sounds like an ideal opportunity for a Great Lakes cruise, you would be in agreement with the operators of Pictured Rocks Cruises, Inc. They offer 2 ½ to 3 hour cruises along the 42 mile shore of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The company has been in operation over 50 years and in that time has carried thousands of passengers, both local and tourist. Locals often take this short cruise as they say the rocks are best viewed from the water.

There are 3 cruises available. The Regular Cruise, the Sunset Cruise and the Spray Falls cruise. The sunset cruise is just at dusk and is usually the last cruise of the day. The Spray Falls cruise adds a trip to Spray Falls.

These specialty Great Lakes cruises open in mid-May and Close in Mid-October. Fees for summer of 2009 are listed as $33 each for adults and $10 for children 6 to 12. Pictured Rocks Cruises, Inc also advertises and onsite kennel service for those who travel with their pets.

In fact, I found out cruise lines all have regulations about what can and cannot be carried aboard. Since the regulations are at least partly determined by the cruise line itself, the list of restricted items varies somewhat from company to company as does the disposition of the contraband. Most companies will simply confiscate the item and hold it until the cruise is over, then return it to the owners. In some instances, the goods may be destroyed or thrown away.

Perhaps the most common item to be confiscated is alcohol. Most Great Lakes cruise lines have a policy of some kind about bringing alcohol on board. Some allow it, and some do not. Along with alcohol is any kind of drugs other than prescription medicine. Remember, all prescription medicine should be brought in the original pharmacy bottles. In the eyes of someone searching a bag the difference between prescription medicine and illegal drugs is often only the label on the bottle–so, always bring the original bottle with the original label intact.

Other things to avoid bringing are anything that makes a flame other than a cigarette lighter and anything that produces heat. So, leave at home the candles, incense and hot plates. Some Great Lakes luxury cruises may also curtail the use of small appliances like irons and blow driers so be sure to check with the cruise provider before bringing these items.

Of course pets are usually not allowed on board Great Lakes cruises except for service dogs and even they require advanced permission to bring. Some people have been known to argue that the animals they want to bring are not pets and therefore fall outside the ban. Therefore, most cruise lines simply state “animals” and this is implied to include fish, birds, bug collections, etc. Likewise, plants, seeds, shrubs and other similar items are often banned. These last two categories are important especially to travelers who may go off on a shore excursion and want to bring something back on board with them. Check with the cruise line first.

Also banned on Great Lakes cruise liners and most other cruises are explosives, firearms, ammunition, fireworks, knives, axes, bottled gasses (except oxygen for breathing and again only with advanced permission), and anything else that might be considered a weapon in general.

Skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, pogosticks, bicycles, tricycles, unicycles and motorized carts or scooters (wheel chairs and scooters will again require advanced permission).

To round out the list, certain foods might not be allowed, fruits, vegetables, etc. This again can be a problem when visiting different ports.

The best advice is: When in doubt, leave it out.

Great Lakes cruises can be had for under $100 a person if you are willing to cruise for under 1 day. Longer trips can be had for under $1000 and still longer trips might reach the $5000 mark. A lot depends on length of the trip and what you expect out of it.

A nice thing about Great Lakes cruises is the number and variety of small cruise operators running one to three boats and providing sightseeing tours of the shoreline. These tours are often centered around a scrumptious dinner, but there are also shipwreck tours, color tours, ice cream social tours, wine tasting tours, paddle wheeler tours, fireworks tours, waterfall tours, river tours and a host of others. Almost every port on the Great Lakes has at least one operator offering these short tours and some of the larger cities such as Chicago have many.

It is important to remember that even though these ships are smaller, they are still required to meet stringent US Coast Guard requirements for passenger vessels, which means they are inspected for safety on a regular basis.

Even longer Great Lakes cruises may be cheaper in direct comparison to ocean cruises because the ships are smaller and less costly to operate. And, while the ships are smaller, they are still luxurious mini-yachts.

Great Lakes cruise ships are different. They are smaller versions of their ocean going cousins, smaller so they can navigate the shallower waters of inlets and bays, but still large enough to be comfortable. The larger lakes liners typically run about 1/10th the size of their ocean going counterparts. With passenger lists under 200, it is often possible for passengers to come to know the crew on a first name basis. The smaller lakes liners may carry only a couple of dozen passengers as in the case of the schooner Manitou, which only has cabins for 24 passengers. With a group of passengers that small, most will come to know each other on a first name basis. The crews of these ships are highly trained and able seamen, and with such small passenger lists, they are usually able to take the time to answer questions.

Of course, much depends on which cruise line you choose, and which ship. The largest ship on the Great Lakes is usually about 400 passengers, and the smallest may be just a handful. The larger ship will offer more amenities–perhaps a ship’s store, a wider choice of meals, a licensed bar, a dance floor. On the other hand, the smaller ship may offer to take you beach combing in places that the larger ship wouldn’t dare enter, or it might have a wine tasting tour serving wine from local vineyards. Smaller ships have many niche markets they serve, and you are likely to find one that fits your needs and your pocketbook.

On a smaller ship you may be able to take a shorter tour, one that only lasts a couple of hours. Small tour operators are more likely to offer a couple of short, theme tours everyday. So, you might go wine tasting, or ice cream eating, or star gazing and be home the same day you left. That is less likely with the larger ships that need to make longer tours in order to pay the bills.

Great Lakes cruise ships may be smaller, but sometimes smaller is better.  It all depends what you are looking for in your cruise experience. Just don’t write the smaller craft off. Many people are reporting they like the little ships as well or better than the large ones.

Their ship is the Manitou, a 114-foot, 24-passenger schooner built in the 1980s. It is a replica of 1800s craft and was specifically built to carry passengers on Great Lakes cruises. The Manitou carries over 3000 square feet of sail and displaces 100 tons of water. Traverse Tall ship company offers two cruises aboard the Manitou per day–an afternoon cruise and an evening cruise. And what cruises they are!

Wednesday evenings are “entertainment nights” with music performed by the group “Song of the Lakes.”

If you like ice cream, you’ll love Monday and Friday afternoons when the tall ship Manitou hosts and ice cream tour of Grand Traverse Bay featuring “Moomer’s” ice cream. Moomer’s ice cream is handmade right in Traverse City by Moomer’s ice cream and dairy, and is reputedly some of the best in the country.

Wine Tasting Cruises. Two nights a week, you can sample various local wines while touring the bay.

If you yearn for a longer experience, the Manitou makes several 4 day cruises every year. For trips of this length, the ship will only carry the 24 passengers its staterooms will hold, so passengers should try to book passage early. The cost is advertised to be $685 per person, double accommodations. These are themed cruises and themes are: astronomy; wine tasting; chocolate and storytelling; and Music. Traverse Tall Ship Company requests that you board the ship for these 4 day excursions between 4-6pm the night before sailing. Minimum passenger age for these cruises is 12.

The Kajama is a 164-foot, 3 masted Schooner. Great Lakes Schooner Company claims that the Kajama cruise can only be duplicated in the Caribbean, and that may very well be true. While there is another tall ship cruise located in Traverse City, Michigan, USA, it is reported to lack a fully licensed bar. On that ship you are allowed to bring drinks on board and to pre-order, but a complete bar is unavailable.

Another interesting thing about the Kajama is that a Fireworks Tour is available. You can watch the fireworks in Toronto Harbor from the deck.

The Great Lakes Schooner Company also operates a steam powered paddle wheeler known as the Trillium, which is large enough to handle up to 500 guests. According to Great Lakes Schooner, the Trillium is the last steam operated paddle wheeler offering Great Lakes cruises. There is also a 97-foot schooner available for cruising the Great Lakes, and a 190 passenger conventional cruise ship that boasts an upper-level dance floor with a retractable roof.

Great Lakes Schooner Company typically offers two boarding times, one just after 12pm and an evening run that starts between six and seven. The company claims they are flexible with the times since their Great Lakes cruises are private.

If you are interested in having them host your Great Lakes cruise or other charter event, whether it is a wedding, company meeting or something else, you will want to contact them early and schedule your time. These are unique ships and you might have to hunt long and hard to duplicate these enjoyable and unique cruises.

Only during the last decade have Great Lakes Cruises again been growing in popularity. Several reasons for this renewed enthusiasm for Great Lakes cruising seem obvious.

With the news of ocean luxury cruise ships being attacked by pirates and the growing threats our modern world seems filled with, many people are finding it safer to take Great Lakes cruises where they are completely surrounded by the United States and Canada.

Another reason is that budgets are somewhat tighter than they were even a couple of years ago and Great Lakes cruising fits right in with those more stringent requirements. Great Lakes cruises can be only a few hours long or they can last a couple of weeks. You can keep your trip to a simple dinner cruise around one of the many bays or you can choose to sail the entire length of the lakes from Niagara Falls to Duluth, Minnesota.

Some people cruising the Great Lakes are simply finding they enjoy the opportunity to see one of the natural wonders of the earth, the largest single body of fresh water in the world. Along the way, they enjoy the ports of call that often offer a trip back in time.

If you’re worried about Great Lakes Cruises being less luxurious than ocean luxury cruises, you can relax. The larger liners carry a hundred or so passengers in ample staterooms. They offer satellite TV/DVD/VCR, private balconies, multiple lounges, fine dining and have doctors and small hospitals on board. These are really in the class of large luxury yachts and as such, have all of the luxuries and amenities you would expect.

One main difference between a Great Lakes Cruise and an ocean luxury cruise is in the timing. The Great Lakes are only open for cruising during the summer months since these northern lakes tend to freeze over in the winter. So, when you plan your luxury cruise, expect that you will be required to take it sometime between May and September. The rest of the year belongs to the Caribbean, the summer belongs to Great Lakes cruising.

The waterways are still an important part of the U.S. and Canada. So, is it any wonder that a lot of people still enjoy their vacations on the decks of Great Lakes cruise ships?

Whether it is a Great Lakes cruise, some chartered fishing time, scuba diving, or a dinner cruise, Great Lakes ports provide it all. Several companies offer luxury cruises on the Great Lakes as well as ocean luxury cruises and dozens more offer charters and dive excursions. Great Lakes cruises are available in all of the lakes, although a bit of shopping might be necessary to find one Great Lakes cruise that goes to every lake.

A favorite course seems to be from the Northwestern tip of Lake Superior through Lakes Huron and Erie and to Niagra Falls, and this Great Lakes cruise touches a greater number of the Great Lakes that most other Great Lakes cruises known available.

Another fun thing to do is charter a boat for fishing or scuba diving. Great Lakes charter boats are usually smaller that the luxury cruise ships and are often run by individuals who either specialize in providing charter services or provide the services part time. Which is better? It depends on what you want to accomplish. For a Great Lakes dive excursion, a competent dive master is a must. But, many of these individuals don’t earn their living exclusively from operating a boat. Many may run dive shops, provide equipment repair or lessons, and are still more than competent to handle the occasional charter.

Fishing charters are often the same way. The charter captain may have fished the Great Lakes for twenty years and operated a boat all of that time and still only be a part-time captain. Sometimes, even full time captains can provide poor service.

Great Lakes cruise ships and charter boats are required to be inspected for safety by the U.S. Coast Guard. This is a thorough inspection that helps ensure the passengers will have a safe and happy trip. Passengers who are nervous about the condition of a ship can always question the crew about the results of this inspection. With only a small bit of caution and effort, most people are able to have a safe, happy holiday on their Great Lakes cruise.

Remember, that Great Lakes Charters, like Great Lakes Cruises are best enjoyed in the warmer months between June and early September, and if you prefer the air to be a bit less nippy, you might want to consider late July and early August.

The smaller of the luxury cruise liners that Great Lakes cruise companies use are generally less than 200 feet long. These small liners will have several decks with staterooms, a large dining room, a small ship’s store, shuffle board courts, sun decks, etc. The larger cruise ships are generally only a little larger, but that is still enough to offer private balconies for the staterooms, flat screen satellite TV, multiple lounges, elevators, spas, a library and multiple observation areas.

Great Lakes luxury cruise ships always have a fine salon for dining. The exact type of cuisine will vary between cruise lines. Some Great Lakes cruises offer “home-cooked” meals complete with local fruit and vegetables that are picked up along the way. Other luxury cruises offer five-star cuisine.

Most cruise lines will try to accommodate dietary restrictions. So, when making reservations be sure to discuss any special food needs with the reservations clerk. The time to mention a low-sodium or peanut free diet is before buying the tickets. It makes it much more difficult for the staff to provide for special dietary requirements if they don’t have a chance to plan in advance. On a Great Lakes cruise ship, the chef can’t just send out at the last minute for something he doesn’t have on hand.

If time and money is limited, a day-cruise on a local ferry or small yacht may make more sense than a longer luxury cruise. These boats are smaller than even the smallest Great Lakes cruise ship and generally aren’t equipped with staterooms, lounges, or dining rooms. Most will have a cabin that passengers can ride in to stay out of the wind or to take shelter from rain. Ferries often run short routes from the main land to the islands, or around scenic bays in inlets. Often, the ferries can offer better views of the scenery that the bigger Great Lakes cruise ships because they can maneuver closer to the shore.

There are also dinner cruises available. Unlike the luxury cruises, these short Great Lakes cruises are usually only a couple of hours long and very reasonably priced. They include a high quality dinner, wine tasting, or ice-cream social event for the passengers to enjoy. Often, the Great Lakes cruise ships offering these types of trips are of a special design, meaning they may be tall ships or even steam powered paddle wheelers.

Whether booking a dream luxury cruise, a short day trip to see Mackinaw Island, or an 11-day color tour, there is a Great Lakes cruise ship waiting to show you the Great Lakes.