The Great Lakes – Montreal to Chicago

14 Days

Step aboard our stylish 202-guest ship in Montreal for our exclusive Small Ship Journey down the storied St. Lawrence Seaway and across all five of the Great Lakes. Enriched by a complete program of shore excursions showcasing the history, beauty and rich maritime heritage of the region, our all- inclusive cruise is enhanced by elegant shipboard dining, an Open Bar and engaging shipboard experts.

Our Distinctive A+R Style • Delight in the beauty of the 1000 Islands, as we navigate through this enchanting archipelago of 1,800 forested islands, tranquil bays and remote islets. • Cruise through the Great Niagara Gorge to feel the spray and mighty roar of Horseshoe Falls. • Delve into fascinating chapters of music history at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, designed by I.M. Pei, and visit the world-class Cleveland Museum of Art. • Explore three centuries of American history and innovation at The Henry Ford Museum. • Sail into beautiful Georgian Bay and step ashore on Manitoulin Island to learn the ways of the Ojibwe Tribe. • Immerse in the Victorian-era ambiance of Mackinac Island as you explore by horse-drawn carriage and visit historic Fort Mackinac. • With pre and post-cruise stays at our deluxe hotels in Montreal and Chicago; 11 nights in your choice of outside stateroom; Open Bar; 34 meals with free-flowing wine at lunch and dinner; a complete program of shore excursions; airport transfers; and all shipboard gratuities.

All-Inclusive Cruising + More

+ Pre and post-cruise stays at our deluxe hotels in Montreal and Chicago + Airport transfers + All shipboard gratuities + Free onboard WiFi + Open Bar throughout your cruise + Fine onboard dining with free-flowing wine + All shore tours and 2 Premium Excursions + Enriching onboard talks with our engaging Great Lakes experts

Day 1 – Welcome to Montreal, Canada On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met and chauffeured to our deluxe hotel for your pre-cruise stay in the heart of Montreal. The balance of this day and evening are yours to relax and enjoy as you wish here in this sophisticated city.

Day 2 – Enjoy Montreal + Embark the mv Victory I After breakfast, this morning is free to simply relax or to explore Montreal at your own pace. Built in 1829, the iconic Notre Dame Basilica in the heart of historic Old Montreal is just one of the city sights that can easily be reached on foot from our hotel.

Later this afternoon, we’ll take you to the pier where the elegant mv Victory I awaits. Settle in to your outside stateroom and then join your fellow travelers for dinner accompanied by complimentary free- flowing wines, cocktails and beverages. Our ship will be docked until midnight within walking distance of Old Montreal, so you can easily go ashore later his evening to experience a bit of the city’s nighttime magic at your own pace. Meals B+D

Day 3 – Cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway Enjoy this delightful day of cruising as the mv Victory I navigates the picturesque St. Lawrence Seaway. As the day unfolds, you can join our shipboard experts for an enriching talk or gather with your fellow passengers for congenial conversation. Fine dining in two distinct venues and our Open Bar enhance this day. Meals B+L+D

Day 4 – Ashore in Historic Brockville, Ontario + Cruising the 1000 Islands This morning finds our ship docked in the charming riverfront town of Brockville. Joined by expert local guides, our city tour includes the historic Brockville Railway Tunnel; built in 1854, it’s the oldest railway tunnel in Canada. After sightseeing, you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace through the downtown district, where historic buildings are now home to inviting shops and cafes. Return to ship for lunch and enjoy the afternoon as we navigate through the 1000 Islands, an enchanting archipelago of 1,800 forested islands, tranquil bays and remote islets. Once patrolled by Prohibition- era bootleggers, today it’s a breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful haven between northern New York and Ontario. Meals B+L+D

Day 5 – Thrill to Niagara Falls Delight in today's Premium Excursion into the lovely vineyard landscapes of the Niagara Peninsula. A thrilling Hornblower Cruise will take you through the Great Niagara Gorge and past Bridal Veil Falls into the very heart of Horseshoe Falls - where the mighty spray and thundering roar of Niagara will virtually envelope you! Then sit down to lunch atop the Skylon Tower - 775 feet above Niagara Falls! From here, you’ll have breathtaking aerial views of all three of Niagara's Canadian and American cascades. And on a clear day, the view stretches for 80 miles to encompass the city skylines of Buffalo and Toronto. Before returning to ship, you’ll have time to explore the galleries and boutiques in the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Meals B+L+D

Day 6 – Fine Art + Rock & Roll Today's excursion begins at the Cleveland Museum of Art. With more than 61,000 works spanning 6,000 years, it's a fascinating and broad look at human artistic achievement - from ancient Greek sculptors and Monet's soothing Water Lilies to Andy Warhol's vibrant and colorful take on Marilyn Monroe. At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, set in a striking lakefront structure designed by the renowned architect I. M. Pei, you'll discover more than just a collection of Rock & Roll memorabilia. Indeed, its well-curated and thoughtfully presented exhibits trace the evolution of this musical genre and explore its cultural impact upon generations of Americans. Among the items in the collection are Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche, Michael Jackson's famous glove, and scribbled lyrics that became 20th-century classics! Meals B+L+D

Day 7 – Henry Ford Museum + Greenfield Village A+R guests enjoy today’s Premium Excursion to the Henry Ford Museum. More than just a showcase of the auto industry, this museum explores 300 years of history and innovation. Among the highlights are the limousine that transported John F. Kennedy through Dallas on November 22, 1963, the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in 1955, and even an artfully deconstructed, amazingly displayed Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.

You’ll also tour Greenfield Village; encompassing 80 acres of interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits, the seven historic districts that make up Greenfield Village offer an inspiring look into American ingenuity and resourcefulness, showing how we've lived, worked and played over the past 300 years. Meals B+L+D

Day 8 – Cruising Lake Huron Delight in another day of cruising as we navigate northward across Lake Huron. Take in the expansive views and the invigorating fresh air from the Sun Deck, enjoy congenial conversation in the Compass Lounge, or join an engaging talk with our engaging Great Lakes experts. Elegant dining in two distinct venues – the Coastal Dining Room and the casual Grill - and our Open Bar enhance your day at sea. Meals B+L+D

Day 9 – Ashore on Manitoulin Island, Ontario Sail into beautiful Georgian Bay and step ashore on Manitoulin Island to visit the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation. With its art galleries and state-of-the-art exhibits, this heritage museum is a great place to learn about the region's First Nations people. You can even participate in a smudging ceremony - an ancient ritual that uses smoke from cedar, sage, sweet grass and other plants regarded for their healing powers. A drum and dance performance offers further insight into Ojibwe culture.

You’ll also make a stop at the Immaculate Conception Church. With its unique in-the-round architectural style that evokes a teepee and the circle of life, this church is the spiritual focal point of the local community and brings together the beliefs and customs of the native Ojibwe culture and the Catholic Church. Meals B+L+D

Day 10 – The Soo Locks + Sault Ste. Marie You might wish to arise early this morning as the mv Victory I transits through the historic Soo Locks where freighters, barges and tugboats traverse the 21-foot drop of the St. Mary’s River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The first lock here was built in 1855 and the canal was navigated by 27 vessels during its first year of operation. Today, more than 10,000 ships hauling 86 million tons of cargo pass through these historic parallel locks each year, even though they’re closed during the winter when ice shuts down shipping on the upper Great Lakes!

Stepping off here in Sault Ste. Marie, you can join your fellow passengers for flexible Hop-on Hop-off touring. Exploring at your own pace, you’ll be able to visit a number of the town’s highlights including the Valley Camp Museum. Here in the enormous hold of a cargo ship that plied the Great Lakes from 1917 through 1966, you’ll find fascinating exhibits that trace the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes. Other sightseeing stops afford the chance to visit the River of History Museum, to see the historic homes of Water Street, and to marvel at the Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, one of the oldest churches in the United States. Meals B+L+D

Day 11 – Mackinac Island with Lunch at the Grand Hotel With no cars allowed on the island, your horse-drawn carriage tour is a great way to experience the Victorian ambience of this National Historic Landmark. Learn about the island's history and see spectacular turn-of-the-century summer homes built by early captains of American industry. High atop a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, your tour of Fort Mackinac delves into its strategic importance during the War of 1812.

Your sightseeing tour ends at the Grand Hotel, famed for its colonnaded verandah. Opened in 1887, it’s still the longest front porch in the world. As you take in the breathtaking views from this hilltop setting and walk through the Grand’s elegant interior spaces, you may recognize them from Somewhere in Time, the 1980 film starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour that was filmed here. Sit down to the hotel’s renowned Grand Luncheon Buffet and then return to ship as our cruise continues. Meals B+L+D

Day 12 – Ashore in Muskegon, Michigan Flexible Hop-on Hop-Off sightseeing is the perfect way to explore this vibrant lakeside town at your own pace. Right in the heart of downtown, the Muskegon Heritage Museum offers a look into the region’s economic development and historic architecture. Aboard the USS LST 393, you’ll find informative exhibits that tell the story of the ship’s former days as a World War II vessel and the role it played during the Normandy landings in 1944. With a number of stops along the route, you can also step off to visit the Muskegon Museum of Art and the Elgin Fire Barn No. 5 Museum, set in an historic 1903 landmark that originally housed horses and a firefighting carriage. Back onboard, take some time to relax and refresh before sitting down to your final shipboard meal featuring 5 gourmet courses accompanied by free-flowing wine, cocktails and beverages. Meals B+L+D

Day 13 – Disembark + Overnight in Chicago After breakfast and disembarkation, A+R guests will be transferred to our deluxe hotel in downtown Chicago to enjoy their post-cruise stay. Situated on Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park, you’ll find many of the city’s best museums, shops and galleries just out your front door. Meals B

Day 14 – Depart Chicago After breakfast, we’ll take you to the airport for your homeward flight. Meals B