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.

The Columbus is a 400+ passenger state-of-the-art luxury cruise ship, built in 1997. At 473 feet long, the ship has a 71 foot beam, and gross tons of 15,000. This makes the Columbus one of the larger cruise ships that will be working the Great Lakes next summer. There are a number of domestic cruise lines offering luxury cruises, but only a few operate ships that are quite so large or as luxurious. For residents of the US and Canada, the Columbus offers an added attraction because it is operated by a foreign crew, giving passengers a feeling that they’re farther away from home than they may actually be.

The month of September can sometimes be a stormy one on the Great Lakes, but can also be one of the more pleasant months of the year. Spring months are often filled with storms and late fall beginning in October and bring many cold rains. This leaves June, July, August, and September as the prime cruise months. September is the end of the main cruise season, a time when the leaves on the trees begin to take on brilliant hues of orange, red and yellow, which can make this a beautiful time for touring the Great Lakes. The evenings are frequently cool, and the days are generally still warm to enjoy without a jacket, although those on the water will want to consider bringing warm clothing.

As always, there are a number of other options available for anyone wanting to take a color tour cruise. These range from small boats to large ships, and from cruises that last only a few hours to those that last several days or a couple of weeks; all of the Great Lakes have at least some options available for color tour cruises.

Generally Great Lakes cruises are all small ship cruises, because the size of the ships that sail the Great Lakes is dictated in large part by the size of the channels the ships have to pass through to enter the Great Lakes and by the depth of the harbors, which tend to be shallower than those found on the oceans. The Columbus just fits within the small ship category as it carries less than five hundred passengers and that makes it able to enter the Great Lakes with ease, carrying passengers in both directions.

The great advantage to sailing on small ships is that they provide a much more intimate cruise experience than you would find on the larger cruise ships which are basically small cities at sea. You get a chance to know me to and no some of your fellow passengers, and you may even get a chance to learn a little bit about the crew and a few crew members.

If you’re planning a Great Lakes cruise in 2011, you might want to remember that the Columbus is returning to the Lakes once again, and consider booking your cruise on what is perhaps one of the most interesting luxury cruise ships working the Lakes.

Owned and operated by BaySail, the ships Appledore IV and Appledore V are steel hulled, gaff rigged schooners that are very similar to the ships that worked the Great Lakes a hundred years ago. Built within just a few years either side of 1990, the ships employ modern techniques to provide an old world experience.

There are several different Great Lakes cruise packages offered to the public on these ships, everything from stargazing and midnight dinner cruises to history cruises and ecology sails. The history cruises typically start at 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning and end about 2:00pm, and include a guided tour down the Saginaw River and into Saginaw Bay. Local historians narrate along the way, explaining the important features. A lunch is also included in the price of this cruise.

Dinner cruises start about 7:00 in the evening and end by 11:00pm. They include a fine meal that is catered by Fusion 1 Café. A similar meal is provided on the fireworks cruises. Fireworks cruises start about 6:00pm and end by 9:00pm. The actual fireworks generally begin about 10:00 pm, which is about an hour after the cruise ends and guests are invited to stay aboard the Appledore and watch from the deck.
Stargazer cruises begin at 8pm and end at midnight. Cruise ships offer one of the best viewing platforms for stargazing because the ships can easily travel away from lights that might otherwise interfere with viewing. These cruises include a presentation by astronomers from Delta College’s planetarium that introduces poetry, legends, and lessons on celestial navigation. For anyone who has ever wondered how early explorers found their way around the Lakes, this cruise may be perfect. Again, a 3 course meal catered by Fusion 1 Café is included in the price.

For those who take late year vacations, BaySail offers two cruises that are tough to beat anywhere. These are a Windjamming cruise and a series of fall color tour cruises. The Great Lakes basin is famous for fall colors and the Appledores are perfectly equipped to take passengers up the Saginaw River where the fall colors are spectacular. Great Lakes color tour cruises include hot cider, chili, and corn bread lunches.

Autumn in Northern Michigan is a time of increasing wind and the Appledores take full advantage of it with windjamming cruises that are only offered in mid-September. If you’ve ever wanted to be a crew member on a sailing ship, consider these cruises where passengers are encouraged to lend a hand and help operate the ship.

Prices for BaySail’s cruises are competitive with most other cruise lines of this type. A 3 hour dinner cruise is priced at about $70 for adults, and that includes the catered meal. This is comparable with prices for dinner cruises on non-sail powered ships operating out of ports as far away as Chicago.

The most expensive price listed for 2009 was for the fireworks cruise and that was only $88.00 and it also included a 3 course meal.
Another consideration when comparing pricing is in the time spent onboard. The Appledore cruises generally last for 3 hours, and this is longer than some other cruise companies which may be priced a bit lower, but only offer 2 hours cruises.

All in all, the Appledores promise a wonderful Great Lakes cruise experience that can be enjoyed by the whole family. If you find yourself in Eastern Lower Michigan with a few hours to kill, these short Great Lakes cruises are an incredible opportunity to learn about the history of the region and sailing on the Great Lakes in general. BaySail’s offices are located on 5th Street in Bay City, Michigan.

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.

The Midwest U.S., will have a close encounter with history when a fleet of 20 to 25 tall ships is expected to arrive in Chicago, Illinois on August 24th to 29th to take part in the “International Parade of Sail.” Chicago is the last stop in a race from one end of the Great Lakes to the other that these ships are participating in.

A wide variety of tall ships will take part in the parade, and some are from as far away as Europe.

Known to be invited are the Amistad from New Haven, Connecticut; the Bluenose II from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia; the HMS Bounty from Greenport, New York, the S/V Denis Sullivan from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Friends Good Will from South Haven, Michigan, the Highlander Sea from Port Huron, Michigan, the U.S. Brig Niagara from Erie, Pennsylvania, the Pride of Baltimore II, from Baltimore, Maryland and the Roald Amundsen, from Germany. These are just a few of the ships that are expected to finish their Great Lakes cruises in Chicago, and they should provide a good show for everyone.

The tall ships will arrive in Chicago on August 24th and on the 25th, the festival will start. Organizers are promising international music, ship exhibits, crew challenges, arts and crafts, maritime displays, and boat building displays. Plus, nightly fireworks, and almost everybody likes fireworks. In addition, these types of festivals allow you to go on board these amazing ships for tours, lectures and other events, and there are often opportunities to take short Lakes cruises on the ships.

General admission for this event is reportedly $15 to $25 per person and discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Bus parking is available off site.

This is an amazing opportunity to step back in time and view these marvelous machines close up. Lovers of Great Lakes cruises and lovers of adventure both will want to take part.

All of this will be held at Navy Pier which provides ample parking and space for visitors. A number of other cruise providers operate from Navy Pier offering Great Lakes cruises on a year around basis. There are also several sail driven ships that make Chicago home including The Red Witch.

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.

A travel agent can arrange transportation to the departure port and back again, and also arrange for lodging and air tickets, meals and other necessities. And, while it is true that most people could handle all of the arrangements themselves, a good agent can certainly lighten the load.

The first thing to do is determine which cruise you are interested in. Some Great Lakes cruises are short day trips lasting only a few hours, others are much longer. Check with different cruise providers to get an idea of what is available and what each cruise will cost. Where are the ports of call? Will you see all of the Lakes, or only some of them? What are the Great Lakes ships like? Which cruise ship would be most comfortable and fit best within the budget?

Once you’ve chosen a cruise, you can either book it yourself directly with the cruise line or let a travel agent do it. Tell the travel agent what you have to spend and which Great Lakes cruise you are considering. Use the information that you gathered at the start to explain to the agent what you want.

With the agent’s help, you can determine how to get to the port of departure, where to stay if you arrive a day early and what to do on shore excursions. The agent can also arrange for rental cars or anything else that you may need while you wait for the ship to pick you up or after the cruise is over. A good agent can also help you select your stateroom and warn you of any unexpected expenses that may arise.

If you are only booking a short day cruise, you may want to handle the arrangements yourself. First, you will need to contact the cruise company about the cruise that you are considering so you can find out if reservations are necessary and if so how far in advance. Next, you will need to consider if the trip will require overnight lodging for one or more nights. Is the port close enough to your home so that you can drive there and back in an afternoon? If the cruise ends after 10pm, will you still feel like driving home? If lodging is required, you might ask the cruise operator for recommendations. They usually know the ports they sail from very well. You can also call the local Chamber of Commerce or Business Bureau which will be able to give you recommendations based upon its membership.

Great Lakes cruises make wonderful vacations, and day and dinner cruises are relaxing and fun events too. Fresh air, the open water, good food and entertainment, who can ask for more.

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.

There are several different varieties of cabins available on the Grande Mariner. Some open onto the outside deck and some open onto an inside corridor. Cabins are available with two lower berths or with upper and lower berths. A few cabins have both a double lower berth and a single upper berth. As this ship is smaller than the competing Clelia II and a bit more austere, the cabins are also smaller and less luxurious.

With that difference noted, there are some features of the Grande Mariner that the Clelia II cannot match. One is the bow ramp which allows passengers to simply walk off the ship without the need to worry about jetties and docks. Another is the extremely shallow draft of the ship, which allows it to enter shallow coastal waters where other ships dare not go.

There are also two launches, one of which has a glass bottom. Glass bottomed boats are somewhat of a rarity in Great Lakes tours, and they offer an excellent opportunity to explore sunken ships, rock formations and to view the numerous species of fresh water fish that inhabit the Lakes. The Grande Mariner has a large dining room on the main deck and an auditorium/lounge on the second deck that can accommodate all passengers.

This small ship cruise on The Grande Mariner embarks from Chicago with stops at Holland, Michigan, Manistee, Michigan, Mackinaw Island, Michigan, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin before returning to Chicago. There are seven different waterways that the ship passes through to reach these ports and some terrific scenery.

The published prices for the 2010 Grande Mariner Lake Michigan Getaway cruise run between $1800 and $2200 depending on the cabin choice. There is an additional port charge of $100 that is also shown. Cruise dates begin June and end in late July. This could be the perfect Great Lakes cruise and one of only a few on Lake Michigan. On a small ship cruise like this, there is always the chance for adventure in the small and large port cities where the ship calls and as Great Lakes cruises go, this one offers as nice a selection of ports as any other.

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.

Travel Dynamics International hopes to change that by introducing the Clelia II, a 50 suite, 100 passenger liner that was completely refitted in 2008 and is currently sailing the Lakes on some of her first trips since refitting. Part of the refitting included many safety items, like a fleet of zodiacs and state-of-the art navigational and communications equipment. Like all ships plying the Lakes, the Clelia II meets stringent U.S. Coast Guard requirements for reliability and passenger safety. The ship has also been equipped with fin stabilizers and an ice strengthened hull which allows it to offer cruises earlier and later in the season than some others.

The company describes the ships’ public areas as “Decorated with rich fabrics, handsome wood, polished brass, rare antiquities and fine works of art…” This definitely puts the Clelia II well within the class of “luxury” accommodations.

The ship has a library with internet access, 2 lounges with audio-video facilities, beauty salon, gym/spa, boutique, hospital, elevator, dining room, 2 sun decks, Jacuzzi, and a swimming platform. And perhaps best of all, everything is new. It’s like the difference between staying in a luxury hotel and a new luxury hotel and doing it while on a Great Lakes cruise.

The cabins of the Clelia II are reported to be 215 square feet and larger, and each one is appointed with a number of luxury features like satellite TV with DVD/CD player, telephone, refrigerator, air conditioning, mini-bar and a marble bathroom with a teak floor, terry robes and slippers, fresh flowers, and a fruit basket. The cabins each have a sitting area or separate living room and a bedroom with twin or queen sized beds. The ship also offers 24 hour room service.

The Clelia II’s 100 passengers are served by a staff of 60, making the ratio of staff to passengers better than most luxury hotels. The men and women who staff these ships are able seamen, and among the best available on any Great Lakes cruise. This ship truly offers a wonderful opportunity to tour the Great Lakes from the deck of a luxury cruise liner.

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.

The port at Manistee began in the 1840s when Europeans first arrived and began logging operations. Michigan in general supplied a large amount of lumber to neighboring states and a lot of Michigan lumber wound up in Ohio after the great fire. Manistee had a hand in producing and shipping that lumber and the port at Manistee was a major employment center.

Today, there are 57 buildings in Manistee that are considered historically valuable and are part of the tour.

Manistee also is the home of the Lake Bluff Audubon Center. The center is located on 76 acres that fronts on Lake Michigan and is set up as an arboreum with specimens of many different trees and also boasts two State Champions, a Sycamore Maple and a Giant Sequoia.

There are a number of restaurants available in Manistee and the downtown port area has a large number of shops available.

This would be a good place to have a comfortable pair of walking shoes as there is a great number of things worth seeing in this Lake Michigan port city. Several Great Lakes Cruise lines make calls at Manistee, but this is not just another port for Great Lakes cruises. Manistee is a city worth visiting anytime you are in Michigan.

Many couples have chosen to take a cruise for their first alone time after the wedding. Great Lakes cruises make a very viable option for such a cruise vacation. Great Lakes cruises come in a large number of flexible formats that can run from a few hours to more than a week. These can be intimate dinner cruises or luxury vacations.

Because the Great Lakes are surrounded by Canada and the United States, most people perceive them to be much safer than cruises that go overseas. You are always close to shore and generally in the ports of call you stop at everyone will speak English and accept U.S. or Canadian currency.

On a Great Lakes cruise, the honeymoon couple can be away from all of the stresses of life and yet still close to home. Far enough away that friends and family can’t reach them, yet no so far that they are completely out of reach in an emergency.

How about a tall ship cruise for a honeymoon? There are several options available on the Great Lakes, from short dinner or wine tasting trips that last a couple of hours to longer trips that may last a couple of days.

Or, maybe the choice is a luxury cruise on one of the luxury mini-yachts that cruise the Great Lakes carrying passengers on days and sometimes weeks long trips.

Without a doubt, anyone planning a honeymoon cruise should consider a Great Lakes cruise. While the ports of call aren’t as exotic as some in the Carribean or Hawaii, there also isn’t a long ocean transit to arrive at those ports. And, the Great Lakes provide some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. From rocky caves, to sandy beaches, to massive locks designed to pass ships, to the star touching skylines of cities like Toronto, Detroit and Chicago. A Great Lakes cruise can provide a honeymoon to dream over.

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.

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.