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.

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.

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 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.

In the mid-1990′s, that began to change and there are now several companies plying the waters of the Great Lakes with passenger craft some of which are capable of carrying up to 300 or 400 passengers.

One of the newest of this fleet of cruise ships is the Pearl Mist. This fantastic yacht will have 108 cabins, each with it’s own private balcony. According to the cruise lines website, the cabins range in size from 320 sf to double that size. There are elevators to all six decks, a spa and internet access throughout the ship. Each suite has a large, opening picture window and sliding glass doors to the private verandas.

Of course, the Pearl Mist also has the latest in technology, safety enhancements and stabilization.

The Pearl Mist is operated by Pearl Seas Cruises which is offering several cruises on the Great Lakes in 2009. These include tours of the St Lawrence Seaway and a Toronto to Chicago run.

Another cruise ship, the Clelia II operated by Travel Dynamics International has been completely refitted. Smaller than the Pearl Mist, the Clelia II is a 50 suite, 100 passenger liner. Because the Clelia II is smaller than the Pearl Mist the cabins are somewhat smaller too,  and the cabins are each reported to be 215 square feet. Each cabin has a sitting area or separate living room and twin or queen sized beds, satellite TV with DVD/CD player, telephone, refrigerator, marble bathroom with teak floor and 24 hour room service.

The ship itself has a library, 2 lounges with audiovisual facilites, a gym/spa, beauty salon, boutique, hospital, elevator to all decks, dining room, 2 sun decks, jacuzzi and a swimming platform. The ship is also outfitted with an ice strengthened hull and a fleet of zodiacs.

The Clelia II carries 100 passengers and has a staff of 60.

These two fine cruise ships are much like floating luxury hotels, although with a staff of 6 for every 10 guests, they may have more personnel than most hotels, even some of the most luxurious.

Well,  Lakes cruises offer a whole different way to look at the Great Lakes. Imagine arriving in a different port everyday. A different place to shop, a different place to golf. And you never have worries about getting a hotel room, you bring it right with you along with your very own restaurant.

Cruises offer the budget conscious an opportunity to save. With a cruise, you know in advance what your cost will be. There are no unexpected car repairs to pay for on the road, no worries about finding parking or getting lost on the way through a strange place. Best of all, there are no traffic jams, none of those “orange cone zone” areas that north country road crews are famous for. Just the combined delays from waiting in queue for traffic to move at several of these stops can eat up a major portion of your trip. With a cruise, you leave all that behind when you board ship. No worries about reservations, meals or itinerary. It is all handled for you.

Why cruise the Great Lakes? First, the ships that ply the Great Lakes are smaller than their seagoing cousins and usually carry less than 100 passengers. So, you often have the chance to get to know the crew by name. Some, like the cruise ship Clelia II are like living in a luxury hotel that magically moves from town to town and carries you to the best attractions the area has to offer. Others, like the tall ship Manitou provide a link to the past. Second, lakes cruises are often less pricey than their ocean going kin. This is generally due to the shorter cruise times.

All told, there are dozens of companies offering some form of Lakes cruise. These range from simple dinner cruises around one of the bays to major, week long excursions. Don’t think that a lakes cruise will always be a simple little trip on a simple little boat, either. Some of these trips cover as much distance as a trip across the Atlantic and ships like the Clelia II are state of the art.

When you consider a luxury cruise for your vacation, consider one on the Great Lakes. The offerings are wide and the trips fantastic, whether you are looking for an outright luxury cruise or a simple day cruise around the harbor.

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.

The golf cruise begins with 18 holes at Niagara falls at the Grand Niagra Resort. From there the Great Lakes cruise liner moves on to make stops for courses at Windsor, Port Elgin, Little Current and Houghton.

The outing lasts for eight days and covers courses from one end of the Great Lakes to the other. These are some of the most scenic and spectacular courses the region has to offer. All of these golf courses offer challenges to the advanced golfer and yet are easy enough for the novice.

They also offer spectacular views and marvelous scenery, as does this Great Lakes cruise in general which follows along some of the most beautiful coastline in the U.S. and Canada.

A problem that many golfers have is a spouse who doesn’t golf. A Great Lakes golf cruise might be just right for such couples. At each stop of this Great Lakes cruise, the golfers are shuttled off for the courses while the non golfing passengers are offered tours of the scenic and historic sites the areas have to offer. These tours run from a powwow on Little Manitoulin Island, to museums, arts and crafts shops, and scenic tours. There is enough variety available in this Great Lakes cruise package for it to qualify as both a golf cruise and a luxury cruise.

This Great Lakes cruise also includes a stop at historic Mackinac Island, where guests will have time to tour the island. Sorry, no motorcars allowed on this island that still maintains many of its Victorian roots, so tours here will be by bicycle, foot, horseback or horse drawn carriage.

The Great Lakes cruise ship will pass by the Mackinac Bridge, which is one of the longest bridges in the world and the longest two-tower suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, and from there will move on to the Soo locks, the busiest locks in the world.

The liner that makes this Great Lakes cruise is the Celia II and she is being newly launched in 2009 after extensive renovation. The staterooms are spacious, and on a small boat like this, that means a limited number of staterooms. In fact, there are only 50 and the ship can only handle 100 passengers. So, make reservations early for this Great Lakes cruise.

Lake Michigan is the sixth largest lake in the world and the third largest of the Great Lakes. It separates Michigan from Wisconsin and has long been a trade route between the two states.

Imagine touring the beautiful shoreline of this vast freshwater lake from the deck of a luxury cruise liner the size of a small yacht. There is a cruise package available that lets passengers do just that.

This Great Lakes cruise begins in Chicago, at the heavily inhabited south end of Lake Michigan and then proceeds up the shore of Western Michigan making stops at Holland and Manistee. Then it is on to explore Mackinac Island and after that, the Great Lakes cruise liner heads for Wisconsin, with stops in Sturgeon Bay, Milwaukee and eventually back to Chicago.

Along the way this Lake Michigan cruise passes some of the most beautiful shoreline in the world, and the ports of call each offer something special too. Victorian Manistee, Holland with it’s Dutch heritage and tulip farming, Mackinac Island filled with horse-drawn carriages.

This Great Lakes cruise is generally available only in June and July, with trips beginning early in the month of June and ending early in the month of August. These two months are usually the warmest time of the year in Michigan and Wisconsin, and that means a truly beautiful trip. The shores will be green and the sunsets brilliant.

This is a 6-night luxury cruise, so it will fill a large portion of most vacations, and yet is shorter and therefore much less expensive than some of the longer Great Lakes cruises that run the entire length of the Great Lakes from Niagara Falls to Duluth. If your budget is a bit smaller, this luxury cruise might be right up your alley. Great Lakes cruises are often less expensive that ocean cruises and still provide you with plenty of fun, a fair amount of pampering and a good bit of luxury.

This is one of a very few luxury cruises available on Lake Michigan and as Great Lakes cruises go, this one is mid-length, but still offers more of a luxury cruise experience than could generally be expected on one of the shorter day or weekend cruises.