Deluxe Kabine Deck 3
10% Ponant Bonus
19 m²
2
Auf dieser Kreuzfahrt ist die Bordsprache ausschließlich Englisch.
Diese Kreuzfahrt gehört zu einer besonderen Auswahl von PONANT Reisen, die speziell für englischsprachige Gäste konzipiert wurden. Neben den gewohnten Elementen einer PONANT Reise, umfassen die aufgeführten Preise für diese Kreuzfahrten Transfers zum und vom Schiff, Vorträge und Diskussionen an Bord mit Weltklasse-Experten, und einen Landausflug oder eine Aktivität in jedem Hafen, bei denen die Gäste die Sehenswürdigkeiten und vieles mehr entdecken und in die unbekannte Kultur eintauchen können.
Kommen Sie an Bord der Le Dumont-d'Urville zu einer 8-tägigen Kreuzfahrt mit PONANT und entdecken Sie die Großen Seen inmitten des farbenprächtigen Indian Summers.
Die Reise beginnt in der weltoffenen und dynamischen Stadt Toronto, Ontario, am Ufer des Lake Ontarios. Die größte Stadt Kanadas begeistert mit Museen, Parks und Gärten.
Dann fährt die Le Dumont-d'Urville durch den Kanal, der den Lake Ontario mit dem Lake Erie verbindet. Während des Aufenthalts in Port Colborne können Sie die beeindruckenden Niagarafälle sehen. Diese drei mächtigen Wasserfälle sind weltberühmt und bieten ein außergewöhnliches Naturschauspiel.
Der Lake Huron schmückt sich in seinem nördlichen Teil mit unzähligen Inseln, deren weiße, mit Nadelbäumen bedeckte Felsen in das saphirfarbene Wasser des Sees eintauchen. Hier entdecken Sie die hübsche Stadt Parry Sound im Herzen des wunderschönen UNESCO-Biosphärenreservats Georgian Bay und das malerische Städtchen Little Current, Tor zur weltweit größten Süßwasserinsel Manitoulin Island.
Von Sault Ste. Marie aus haben Sie die Möglichkeit zur Durchquerung der Schleusenanlage Soo Locks, einem technischen Meisterwerk, und zu einem Abstecher in den Oberen See, bevor es weiter geht nach Mackinac Island zu einer Erkundung der viktorianischen Vergangenheit der Insel mit der Pferdekutsche.
Die Reise endet mit einer Fahrt durch den Lake Michigan, einem wahren Binnenmeer, auf den Spuren der amerikanischen Ureinwohner, der ersten Siedler und Trapper. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, der „Brauereistadt" der Vereinigten Staaten, gehen Sie von Bord.
Ref : TM1945US - EU091023
Rein englischsprachige Reise mit direktem Austausch mit den Experten an Bord, Transfers vor und nach der Kreuzfahrt und einem inbegriffenen Landausflug oder einer Aktivität an jedem Hafen Spannende...
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Für mehr Sicherheit wählt PONANT Flüge aus und kümmert sich um Ihre Transfers für Ihre Reise sowie um Landbesuche vor und nach dem Ausschiffen.
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Frederick Stonehouse
Frederick Stonehouse is the author of over thirty books on maritime history, many focusing on the Great Lakes, including the best selling The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. He has been a consultant for both the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada and has been an "on-air" expert for National Geographic and History Channel as well as many regional media productions.
Awards include the 2006 Association for Great Lakes Maritime History Award for Historic Interpretation, Historical Society of Detroit’s 2007 Historian of the Year, 2017 Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society C. Patrick Labadie Special Acknowledgement Award, Northern Michigan University 2014 Distinguished Alumna Award, 2018 “Governor’s Special Tribute” (Michigan), and 2019 Historical Society of Michigan Follo Award.
His knowledge of sailing our itinerary as a Coast Guard licensed mariner and academic credentials provide a unique perspective for our voyage. Forty years of Great Lakes shipwreck diving and searching adds a practical viewpoint of Great Lakes maritime history. Several of his books relate directly to waters we sail and ports visited.
Fred teaches Great Lakes maritime history at Northern Michigan University and is an active consultant for numerous maritime projects and programs. He is past President of the National Board of Directors of the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association and past Vice Chair (Policy) of the Michigan Port Collaborative. Fred makes his home in Marquette, Michigan.
Language spoken: English
James Zimbelman
James R. Zimbelman is Senior Geologist Emeritus, Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Jim has published more than 110 peer-reviewed manuscripts, geologic maps, and book chapters. He is the lead author of The Volcanoes of Mars (Elsevier, 2021) and he co-authored Dune Worlds: How windblown sand shapes planetary surfaces (Springer, 2014). He is the 2020 G. K. Gilbert Award winner from the Geological Society of America, the 2013 Ronald Greeley Distinguished Service Award winner from the Planetary Geology Division of GSA, and the 1995 Professional Achievement Award winner from Northwest Nazarene University. His research interests include analysis of high-resolution imaging data of Mars, studies of long lava flows on planetary surfaces, and planetary sand transport processes. From 2016 to 2020, he was Lead Curator for the new “Exploring the Planets” gallery at NASM (scheduled to open in 2022). He has been Study Leader on numerous Smithsonian Journeys trips, including five trips to Iceland, and two more NASA-supported research trips to Iceland. He retired in September of 2020.
Jim holds a B.A. in Physics and Mathematics (1976) from Northwest Nazarene University, an M.S. in Geophysics and Space Physics (1978) from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in Geology (1984) from Arizona State University.
Language spoken: English
Vorbehaltlich des Widerrufs im Falle von höherer Gewalt
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
For men:
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
For men:
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
HEALTH CARE:
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT Aktivitäten
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys ist das Reiseprogramm der Smithsonian Institution, eine bedeutende US-amerikanische Forschungs- und Bildungseinrichtung, das aus 21 Museen, dem National Zoological Park, Bildungszentren, Forschungseinrichtungen, Kulturzentren und Bibliotheken besteht. Die Kreuzfahrten in gemeinsamer Kooperation stützen sich auf die Ressourcen von Smithsonian, die auf eine 175-jährige Geschichte zurückblicken, und bieten bemerkenswerte Experten und Erfahrungen. Diese Reisen beziehen insbesonders die lokalen Kulturen mit ein und tauchen tiefer in die Geschichte, Küche, Sprache, Umwelt und Tierwelt eines Reiseziels ein. Seit mehr als 50 Jahren ist Smithsonian Journeys in der Kultur verwurzelt und konzentriert sich auf das Eintauchen und Entdecken von Kulturen - mit dem Ziel, Gäste zu inspirieren und zu einem tieferen Verständnis der Orte beizutragen.
Vorbehaltlich des Widerrufs im Falle von höherer Gewalt
Einschiffung 09.10.2023 von 16:00 bis 17:00
Abfahrt 09.10.2023 um 18:00
Toronto, Kanadas größte Stadt und Hauptstadt der Provinz Ontario, fasziniert durch seine unglaubliche Vielfalt ebenso wie durch seine gigantische Größe. Besuchen Sie den CN Tower, den höchsten Turm der westlichen Halbkugel, sowie den St. Lawrence Market, dessen Stände den multikulturellen Reichtum der Millionenstadt widerspiegeln. Nicht weit davon entfernt lockt das historische Stadtviertel um die Brennerei herum mit dem romantischen Charme seiner gepflasterten Straßen und seinen unzähligen kleinen Restaurants, Cafés, Boutiquen, Theater und Kunstgalerien. Zu den Höhepunkten dieses Zwischenstopps zählt auch das Royal Ontario Museum mit seinen beeindruckenden Sammlungen zur Natur- und Kulturgeschichte der Welt.
Ankunft 10.10.2023 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 10.10.2023 mittags
Die kleine Hafenstadt Port Colborne im Süden der Provinz Ontario an der Mündung des Welland Kanals birgt eine Berühmtheit: Die achte Schleuse des Kanals ist mit 420 Metern eine der längsten Schleusen der Welt. Sie verfügt über eine Aussichtsbrücke und markiert den letzten Durchgangspunkt vor dem Eriesee. Neben der Entdeckung dieses beeindruckenden Wasserbauwerks bietet Ihnen dieser Zwischenstopp einen einmaligen Ausgangspunkt für den Besuch der berühmten Niagarafälle, die für ihre spektakuläre Schönheit weltbekannt sind. Diese Naturwunder am gleichnamigen Fluss, der in der Sprache der amerikanischen Ureinwohner „Donner des Wassers“ bedeutet, zählen zu den mächtigsten Wasserfällen der Welt.
Ankunft 10.10.2023
Abfahrt 10.10.2023
Der südlich des Huronsees liegende und durch den Welland-Kanal mit dem Ontariosee verbundene Eriesee wurde nach einem der indianischen Stämme, die vor der Ankunft der Franzosen im 17. Jahrhundert an seinen Ufern lebten, benannt und zeichnet sich durch sein einzigartiges Ökosystem aus. Seine flachen und fischreichen Gewässer machen ihn zu einem beliebten Angelrevier, während seine Ufer, an denen viele Zugvögel Halt machen, Fotografen und Vogelbeobachter anziehen.
Ankunft 11.10.2023
Abfahrt 11.10.2023
Bei Ihrer Fahrt auf dem Detroit River, einer wichtigen Handelsstraße, die den Lake Erie und den Lake St. Clair mit dem Lake Huron verbindet, kommen Sie an der größten Stadt Michigans vorbei. Genießen Sie den Panoramablick auf die Wolkenkratzer der alten Motor City, Wiege der Automobilindustrie, des Fordismus und der Motown-Musik, die hier im 20. Jahrhundert geboren wurden. Außerdem können Sie die Ambassador Bridge bewundern, die über den Fluss nach Windsor am kanadischen Ufer führt. Diese stählerne Hängebrücke ist mehr als zwei Kilometer lang und wurde 1929 gebaut. Allein über diese Brücke werden 25 % des Handels zwischen den USA und Kanada abgewickelt.
Ankunft 11.10.2023
Abfahrt 11.10.2023
Der St. Clair River, der vom Huronsee zum St. Clair-See fließt, bildet eine natürliche Trennlinie zwischen den Vereinigten Staaten und Kanada und ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Wasserwege der Großen Seen. Im 18. Jahrhundert wurde er von den französischen Siedlern in Nordamerika für den Pelzhandel genutzt, die sich in kleinen Kanus fortbewegten, um mit den Indianern zu handeln. Später transportierten Massengutfrachter auf dem Fluss Holz, Eisenerz und Kupfer aus der Region der Großen Seen zu den Städten des „Rust Belts“.
Ankunft 12.10.2023
Abfahrt 12.10.2023
Der Huronsee ist einer der fünf amerikanischen Großen Seen und einer der größten Süßwasserseen der Welt. Er bildet die natürliche Grenze zwischen dem amerikanischen Staat Michigan und der kanadischen Provinz Ontario. Er besteht aus dem Hauptsee, der Saginaw-Bucht, dem Nordkanal und der Georgsbucht und beherbergt etwa 30.000 Inseln. Den Besucher besticht er mit einer Vielzahl von Küstenlandschaften und einzigartigen Ausblicken. Vom Schiff aus können Sie die wilde Schönheit der bewaldeten und zuweilen steilen Küste der Insel Manitoulin oder die spektakulären Klippen der Bruce-Halbinsel bewundern.
Ankunft 12.10.2023 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 12.10.2023 mittags
Im Herzen eines von der UNESCO als Biosphärenreservat eingestuften Gebietes östlich der Georgsbucht liegt die charmante Stadt Parry Sound in einer einzigartigen natürlichen Umgebung. Die Stadt und ihre Umgebung sind ein beliebtes Urlaubsziel für die Bewohner der Provinz und vermitteln einen Überblick über das, was die Region der Großen Seen zu bieten hat: vom Wind gepeitschte Nadelwälder, die charakteristischen felsigen Ufer des Kanadischen Schilds, feine Sandstrände, klares und ruhiges Wasser, dessen wunderschöne Lichtreflexe sich je nach Tageszeit und Helligkeit ständig verändern … Das Paradies für Fauna und Flora wird Natur- und Fotoliebhaber begeistern.
Ankunft 13.10.2023 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 13.10.2023 am Nachmittag
Von der kleinen Hafenstadt Little Current am Nordkanal des Huronsees aus erreichen Sie Manitoulin Island, die größte Binnenseeinsel der Welt. Die 1913 erbaute Drehbrücke, das Wahrzeichen der Stadt, ist die einzige Landverbindung mit der Insel, einem friedlichen Flecken Erde, dessen Name im heimischen Dialekt „Insel der Geister“ bedeutet. Die Insel ist eine Oase des Friedens, bedeckt von Wildnis und einigen Dörfern, ideal für Aktivitäten im Freien wie Reiten und Wandern.
Ankunft 14.10.2023 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 14.10.2023 am späten Nachmittag
Sault Ste. Marie, eine der ältesten Städte der Vereinigten Staaten, liegt am östlichen Ende der oberen Halbinsel des amerikanischen Bundesstaates Michigan. Die von der gleichnamigen kanadischen Stadt durch den St. Marys River getrennte Stadt ist bekannt für ihre Schleusen, die Sault Locks, die es Schiffen ermöglichen, den einige Meter betragenden Höhenunterschied zwischen dem Oberen See und den tiefer liegenden Großen Seen zu überwinden. Diese vor mehr als 160 Jahren gebauten Schleusen gelten aufgrund ihres Verkehrsaufkommens als die bedeutendsten der Welt. Besuchen Sie auch das Valley Camp Museum, wo Sie das Innere eines ehemaligen Massengutfrachters entdecken können, der über 50 Jahre auf den Großen Seen gefahren ist.
Ankunft 15.10.2023 am frühen Vormittag
Abfahrt 15.10.2023 mittags
In der Nähe des Ufers des Huronsees in Michigan verheißt Mackinac Island eine wahre Zeitreise. Die ursprünglich von Indianern, dann von französischen und britischen Siedlern bewohnte kleine Insel von nur wenigen Quadratkilometern bewahrt mit ihren Gebäuden im viktorianischen Stil und ihren eleganten Kutschen noch immer ihre Atmosphäre von einst. Das Fort Mackinac auf den Felsen der Insel erinnert an die Konflikte, die die Geschichte dieses strategischen Ortes geprägt haben, der einst ein wichtiges Zentrum für den Pelzhandel war. Neben dieser Kulisse aus der Vergangenheit bietet die Insel schöne feinsandige Strände und beherbergt einen der ältesten Nationalparks der Vereinigten Staaten.
Ankunft 15.10.2023
Abfahrt 15.10.2023
Sie kreuzen auf dem größten Süßwassersee der USA, der dem Bundesstaat Michigan seinen Namen gegeben hat, einem der vier Staaten, die an den 500 km langen und 200 km breiten Lake Michigan angrenzen. Die ersten Siedler ließen sich gegen Ende des 17. Jahrhunderts im Süden nieder, am aktuellen Standort der Großstadt Chicago. Die Küsten, die sich über 2.600 km erstrecken, sind von wilden Waldlandschaften in schillernden Farben, Felsen, goldenen Sandstränden und endlosen Dünen gesäumt. Im Norden ragen wunderschöne, vom Wind gepeitschte Inseln aus dem smaragdgrünen Wasser. Die 8 km lange Mackinac Bridge, die über die Wasserstraße zwischen dem Lake Michigan und dem Lake Huron führt, gehört zu den längsten Hängebrücken der Welt.
Ankunft 16.10.2023 am frühen Vormittag
Ausschiffung 16.10.2023 um 07:00
Milwaukee, die am Ufer des Michigansees liegende größte Stadt des Bundesstaates Wisconsin, verbindet auf harmonische Weise Tradition und Moderne. Die ehemalige Industriestadt, die wegen ihrer ehemaligen, weltweit bekannten Brauereien als Brew City (Bierstadt) bekannt ist, erlebt eine Renaissance. Im Stadtzentrum sind die Lagerhallen Restaurants, Bars, Theatern und Kunstgalerien gewichen. Dennoch bewahrt das Stadtviertel die Spuren seiner Industriegeschichte. Weiter südlich bietet Chicago, das Wirtschaftszentrum des Mittleren Westens, eine interessante Mischung aus Natur- und Stadtlandschaften: Riesige Wolkenkratzer, eine vielfältige Architektur, zahlreiche Parks und wunderschöne Strände machen die Stadt zu einem beliebten Reiseziel.
Niagara Falls — actually a group of three waterfalls on the Niagara River between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario — has enthralled visitors with their beauty and power for generations. Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the border, is the largest of the three and is the most powerful waterfall in North America. The falls are also among the most romantic, photographed, and painted landscapes in the world, attracting the attention of artists from the Hudson River School to modern filmmakers, and becoming a favorite destination for honeymooners ever since Aaron Burr's daughter vacationed here in 1801 with her new husband.
From the pier in Port Colborne, travel by motorcoach through the fertile agricultural valley of the Niagara River. You will pass through Chippawa, site of an important battle in the War of 1812, before driving along the rim of Horseshoe Falls as you make your way to Hornblower Landing. Here you board a specially designed vessel for an exciting 20-minute excursion that brings you within feet of Horseshoe Falls and its misty spray.
Inbegriffen
Georgian Bay is home to the largest freshwater archipelago in the world. Known locally as ‘The Thirty Thousand Islands', the geology of the archipelago is a complex intertwining of bays, inlets, sounds, islands and shoals, lying along the southern edge of the Precambrian Canadian Shield. The topography supports a rich variety of forests, wetlands, and rocky habitats, supporting an abundant biodiversity.
This excursion consists of a cruise through the heart of this marvelous natural treasure aboard the Island Queen, 132-foot cruise ship, specially designed to operate in these waters. The ship features comfortable seating and large viewing windows, spacious outside observation decks, wheelchair accessible washrooms, a snack bar, and a bar. Passengers are free to move about during the cruise.
In the course of the cruise, your experienced captain will bring the ship close to some of the islands so you can appreciate how remarkably varied they are — some boasting lush forests, others little more than barren rock. As the ship meanders past granite shoals and into narrow channels you will discover why this unique ecosystem has earned a UNESCO designation as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Inbegriffen
Located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Killbear Provincial Park is home to a vast variety of landscapes, ranging from rocky outcroppings to soft sandy beaches and thick green forests. It is also home to a rich diversity of shoreline ecosystems, created by the fluctuating water levels of the Great Lakes.
On a one and a half hour walking tour through the park, learn about Killbear's gneiss rock (not granite), once buried deep under a mountain range that rivalled the Himalayas in size. Also learn to read the signs of glacial scouring on the rock, as you explore the park and its mix of beaches, rugged shoreline, windswept pines and views of the 'The Thirty Thousand Islands', the world's largest freshwater archipelago.
Continue to the Discovery Center for splendid views of Georgian Bay and for its exhibits explaining local flora and fauna, as well as the history and geology of the area. The center has adopted a live Massasauga rattlesnake and an Eastern fox-snake, both classed as species at risk, as the unofficial mascots of Killbear. You are free to explore the Visitor Center on your own.
Inbegriffen
A 30-minute drive from the pier brings you to the village of Kagawong, where you will meet your kayaking instructors for a safety briefing and an orientation to Lake Kagawong and the Kagawong River, which connects the lake to the North Channel of Lake Huron.
You will be kayaking on the upper part of the Kagawong River, which flows in a northerly direction out of the Lake and passes under a highway bridge just above Bridal Veil Falls. Here the water is calm, the current is gentle, and the wetlands on either side of the river provide cover from prevailing westerly winds. The water is no more than 5 feet deep. While paddling on these clean, cool waters, you might see beaver, muskrat and waterfowl migrating from the Canadian Arctic to warmer winter climates in the south.
At the conclusion of the kayaking experience, you will walk the riverside trail to the viewing platform for Bridal Veil Falls. Not only will you have a great view on the falls, but since your visit is in late September, you may well witness a salmon run of thousands of fish.
On the way back to Little Current, you will stop at Chocolate Works, a family-owned business, where you can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or coffee and reward your kayaking efforts with a taste of small batch Manitoulin Chocolate.
Inbegriffen
Manitoulin Island is the world’s largest freshwater island and home to the thriving Native American community of the M’Chigeeng First Nation. This excursion provides an introduction to this community and to the traditions they celebrate.
Your exploration begins after a brief drive that brings you to the Immaculate Conception Church, a spiritual focal point that incorporates beliefs and customs from both the native Ojibwe culture and the Catholic Church. Across the street from the church is the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, established in 1974 in an effort to maintain the Ojibwe language and cultural heritage. Tour this museum and art gallery, tradtional healing lodge and browse the gift shop where you can observe traditional crafts like bead working and the art of making dreamcatchers.
Following a smudging ceremony (cleansing and healing ritual), your visit culminates with a traditional ceremony of dance, drumming, and song. Called “Pow-Wow” by the Native American people, it is a way for them to honor their culture and heritage, as well as a secular tradition helping to gather people from different countries together.
The excursion concludes with a 30-minute return drive to Little Current, where you are invited to stroll the beautiful waterfront boardwalk and visit the quaint downtown shops.
Inbegriffen
The Cup and Saucer Trail, so-named because of the shape of its rock foundation, is located about 16 miles from the port of Little Current. It offers panoramic views from 230-foot-high lookout points spread along the trail. The property is managed by the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, a non-profit corporation whose mission is to preserve the natural beauty and resources of the Ontario Niagara Escarpment.
Board your coach at the pier for a scenic 20-minute drive to the foot of the trail. The hike takes about one hour to reach the summit and another hour to hike back down to the parking lot. At 1,160 feet, the Cup and Saucer is the highest point on Manitoulin Island, and the views of the forests and lakes below are simply incredible. Your visit in late September should coincide with the beginning of autumn colors.
On your return to the base of the trail, you will be treated to a selection of Canadian wines, beers, and cheeses, along with locally smoked rainbow trout and whitefish — all elegantly served in glassware on white linen tablecloths.
Inbegriffen
A short drive from the pier is the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, where you must disembark the coach with your passport to clear immigration. Once formalities are completed, reboard your coach for a 90-minute scenic drive to Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
On arrival, follow your guide to the Upper Falls, where a paved walkway provides accessible viewing opportunities of the 50-foot-tall, 200-foot-wide waterfall. If you are adventurous, you may walk 94 steps down (and up again) for a truly up-close experience at the brink of the falls.
Before lunch at the local pub, walk along a paved path that meanders through a forest of sugar maple, beech, and hemlock trees, where you may see chipmunks, red squirrels, and white-tailed deer, not to mention black-capped chickadees, owls, woodpeckers, and other birds.
A short drive will bring you to the Lower Falls, which are easily viewed from a paved walkway. A half-mile long boardwalk leads through thick forest, ending up at a viewing platform where you are close enough to feel the mist from the waterfall.
Your next visit is at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on the shores of Lake Superior at Whitefish Bay. Visit the lightkeeper's quarters at historic Whitefish Point, site of the original U.S. Coast Guard Crews Quarters, constructed in 1923 for the Whitefish Point Lifeboat Rescue Station. Those who wish can climb the lighthouse tower. Or you may stroll along the shoreline, where First Nation Ojibwe and French explorers gathered nearly 400 years ago. The Edmund Fitzgerald was one of the largest freighters sailing the Great Lakes when it sunk during a fierce storm in November 1975. All 29 crew were lost. The ship’s bell has been retrieved and is on display at the museum.
Inbegriffen
A short drive from the pier is the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, where you must disembark the coach with your passport to clear immigration. Once formalities are completed, re-board your coach for the drive to the Sault Lock Viewing Station and Visitor Center. Here you will experience the engineering marvel that is the Soo Locks through numerous exhibits that chronicle their construction.
Then visit the Valley Camp Museum Ship, an actual lake freighter that served on the Great Lakes for almost 50 years. As a museum, the SS Valley Camp is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You will have the opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of the ship and discover that its massive cargo holds contain 20,000 square feet of exhibits, displaying hundreds of artifacts, paintings, and other items related to the rich maritime history of Lake Superior, including two lifeboats from the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
After this visit, return to the port for lunch onboard your ship.
In the afternoon you will board your chartered SOO Locks boat. Cruise along the St. Mary’s River until you reach the Soo Locks, where your boat is raised 21 feet to enable it to enter Lake Superior. Leaving the locks, you pass under the International Bridge and Railroad Bridge and cross into Canadian waters to see Canada’s largest steel plant in operation today. Heading back to U.S. waters, you will return to the lower harbor via the historic Canadian Lock, and sail past St. Mary’s rapids to Sault Ste. Marie.
When you disembark your cruise, you can walk back to your ship.
Inbegriffen
Your tour of Mackinac Island offers an overview of the historical and cultural significance of this small island in the straits separating Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, including the living museum at Fort Mackinac and the iconic Grand Hotel.
Disembarking your tenders at the main dock, you will board horse-drawn carriages for a narrated tour of the island, including a drive past the Grand Hotel. Constructed in the late 19th century, the Hotel has played host to, among many others, five U.S. presidents, inventor Thomas Edison, and author Mark Twain. Continuing your tour, you pause at Arch Rock, one of the most photographed spots on the island, to enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Huron. At Surrey Hill, you will have a rest break and switch to 3 horse hitch carriages before proceeding to historic Fort Mackinac.
Fort Mackinac was the site of an important battle during the War of 1812, and throughout the 19th-century, it remained an army outpost housing soldiers and their families. It is now a living museum with exhibits and live re-enactments that illustrate what life was like for the women, men, and children who lived here — from military training and battles to medical treatments to the challenges of family life.
At end of the tour, you may either ride or walk down the hill to the waterfront, where you will have some time at leisure to explore the shops, and perhaps sample some of the world-famous Mackinac Island Fudge.
Inbegriffen
PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys have organised the following included programme for you, which starts the day of embarkation.
Included features:
Not included:
Notes:
Unsere Zusatzleistungen
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and well worth a full day of exploration. Take advantage of a specially designed program to get acquainted with this vibrant, multicultural city on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Day 1 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Arrive at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the Fairmont Royal York hotel. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and to offer suggestions for dining and independent exploration. Join fellow travelers this evening for a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner is on your own.
Day 2 – Toronto | Embark
Following breakfast and check-out from the hotel, embark on a full day tour of Toronto aboard a comfortable coach, whose guide and driver will lead you to some of the highlights of this fascinating city. See the central business district and emblematic CN Tower, visit trendy Yorkville, with its boutiques and chic cafés, and drive along Queen’s Quay to see the redeveloped waterfront. Journey into the Don River Valley and visit the Evergreen Brick Works. Once home to the Don Valley Brick Works factory, the site has been restored and transformed into an award-winning community environmental center and green technology showcase. Following some time at leisure and an independent lunch, continue your panoramic tour with visits to Berczy Park and the Distillery District, an intriguing group of shops, coffee shops, and art studios on cobblestone pedestrian ways that wind among 19th-century buildings that were once a distillery. Your exploration of Toronto comes to an end in late afternoon, when you transfer to the pier and embark your ship.
Your hotel:
The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto’s landmark hotel, is located in the heart of Old Toronto. Recently revitalized, the Fairmont offers all of the facilities and services one would expect from a luxury hotel in a world-class city, including two restaurants and access to a health club, spa, and pool.
Your program includes:
Your program does not include:
Please note:
Hotel contact information:
The Fairmont Royal York
100 Front St W
Toronto, Canada
M5J 1E3
Telephone: +1 416 368 2511
Gesamtpreis inkl. Steuern- und Gebühren : 750 €
Niagara Falls — actually a group of three waterfalls on the Niagara River between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario — has enthralled visitors with their beauty and power for generations. Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the border, is the largest of the three and is the most powerful waterfall in North America. The falls are also among the most romantic, photographed, and painted landscapes in the world, attracting the attention of artists from the Hudson River School to modern filmmakers, and becoming a favorite destination for honeymooners ever since Aaron Burr's daughter vacationed here in 1801 with her new husband.
From the pier in Port Colborne, travel by motorcoach through the fertile agricultural valley of the Niagara River. You will pass through Chippawa, site of an important battle in the War of 1812, before driving along the rim of Horseshoe Falls as you make your way to Hornblower Landing. Here you board a specially designed vessel for an exciting 20-minute excursion that brings you within feet of Horseshoe Falls and its misty spray.
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Georgian Bay is home to the largest freshwater archipelago in the world. Known locally as ‘The Thirty Thousand Islands', the geology of the archipelago is a complex intertwining of bays, inlets, sounds, islands and shoals, lying along the southern edge of the Precambrian Canadian Shield. The topography supports a rich variety of forests, wetlands, and rocky habitats, supporting an abundant biodiversity.
This excursion consists of a cruise through the heart of this marvelous natural treasure aboard the Island Queen, 132-foot cruise ship, specially designed to operate in these waters. The ship features comfortable seating and large viewing windows, spacious outside observation decks, wheelchair accessible washrooms, a snack bar, and a bar. Passengers are free to move about during the cruise.
In the course of the cruise, your experienced captain will bring the ship close to some of the islands so you can appreciate how remarkably varied they are — some boasting lush forests, others little more than barren rock. As the ship meanders past granite shoals and into narrow channels you will discover why this unique ecosystem has earned a UNESCO designation as a World Biosphere Reserve.
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Located on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Killbear Provincial Park is home to a vast variety of landscapes, ranging from rocky outcroppings to soft sandy beaches and thick green forests. It is also home to a rich diversity of shoreline ecosystems, created by the fluctuating water levels of the Great Lakes.
On a one and a half hour walking tour through the park, learn about Killbear's gneiss rock (not granite), once buried deep under a mountain range that rivalled the Himalayas in size. Also learn to read the signs of glacial scouring on the rock, as you explore the park and its mix of beaches, rugged shoreline, windswept pines and views of the 'The Thirty Thousand Islands', the world's largest freshwater archipelago.
Continue to the Discovery Center for splendid views of Georgian Bay and for its exhibits explaining local flora and fauna, as well as the history and geology of the area. The center has adopted a live Massasauga rattlesnake and an Eastern fox-snake, both classed as species at risk, as the unofficial mascots of Killbear. You are free to explore the Visitor Center on your own.
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A 30-minute drive from the pier brings you to the village of Kagawong, where you will meet your kayaking instructors for a safety briefing and an orientation to Lake Kagawong and the Kagawong River, which connects the lake to the North Channel of Lake Huron.
You will be kayaking on the upper part of the Kagawong River, which flows in a northerly direction out of the Lake and passes under a highway bridge just above Bridal Veil Falls. Here the water is calm, the current is gentle, and the wetlands on either side of the river provide cover from prevailing westerly winds. The water is no more than 5 feet deep. While paddling on these clean, cool waters, you might see beaver, muskrat and waterfowl migrating from the Canadian Arctic to warmer winter climates in the south.
At the conclusion of the kayaking experience, you will walk the riverside trail to the viewing platform for Bridal Veil Falls. Not only will you have a great view on the falls, but since your visit is in late September, you may well witness a salmon run of thousands of fish.
On the way back to Little Current, you will stop at Chocolate Works, a family-owned business, where you can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or coffee and reward your kayaking efforts with a taste of small batch Manitoulin Chocolate.
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Manitoulin Island is the world’s largest freshwater island and home to the thriving Native American community of the M’Chigeeng First Nation. This excursion provides an introduction to this community and to the traditions they celebrate.
Your exploration begins after a brief drive that brings you to the Immaculate Conception Church, a spiritual focal point that incorporates beliefs and customs from both the native Ojibwe culture and the Catholic Church. Across the street from the church is the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, established in 1974 in an effort to maintain the Ojibwe language and cultural heritage. Tour this museum and art gallery, tradtional healing lodge and browse the gift shop where you can observe traditional crafts like bead working and the art of making dreamcatchers.
Following a smudging ceremony (cleansing and healing ritual), your visit culminates with a traditional ceremony of dance, drumming, and song. Called “Pow-Wow” by the Native American people, it is a way for them to honor their culture and heritage, as well as a secular tradition helping to gather people from different countries together.
The excursion concludes with a 30-minute return drive to Little Current, where you are invited to stroll the beautiful waterfront boardwalk and visit the quaint downtown shops.
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The Cup and Saucer Trail, so-named because of the shape of its rock foundation, is located about 16 miles from the port of Little Current. It offers panoramic views from 230-foot-high lookout points spread along the trail. The property is managed by the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, a non-profit corporation whose mission is to preserve the natural beauty and resources of the Ontario Niagara Escarpment.
Board your coach at the pier for a scenic 20-minute drive to the foot of the trail. The hike takes about one hour to reach the summit and another hour to hike back down to the parking lot. At 1,160 feet, the Cup and Saucer is the highest point on Manitoulin Island, and the views of the forests and lakes below are simply incredible. Your visit in late September should coincide with the beginning of autumn colors.
On your return to the base of the trail, you will be treated to a selection of Canadian wines, beers, and cheeses, along with locally smoked rainbow trout and whitefish — all elegantly served in glassware on white linen tablecloths.
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A short drive from the pier is the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, where you must disembark the coach with your passport to clear immigration. Once formalities are completed, reboard your coach for a 90-minute scenic drive to Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
On arrival, follow your guide to the Upper Falls, where a paved walkway provides accessible viewing opportunities of the 50-foot-tall, 200-foot-wide waterfall. If you are adventurous, you may walk 94 steps down (and up again) for a truly up-close experience at the brink of the falls.
Before lunch at the local pub, walk along a paved path that meanders through a forest of sugar maple, beech, and hemlock trees, where you may see chipmunks, red squirrels, and white-tailed deer, not to mention black-capped chickadees, owls, woodpeckers, and other birds.
A short drive will bring you to the Lower Falls, which are easily viewed from a paved walkway. A half-mile long boardwalk leads through thick forest, ending up at a viewing platform where you are close enough to feel the mist from the waterfall.
Your next visit is at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on the shores of Lake Superior at Whitefish Bay. Visit the lightkeeper's quarters at historic Whitefish Point, site of the original U.S. Coast Guard Crews Quarters, constructed in 1923 for the Whitefish Point Lifeboat Rescue Station. Those who wish can climb the lighthouse tower. Or you may stroll along the shoreline, where First Nation Ojibwe and French explorers gathered nearly 400 years ago. The Edmund Fitzgerald was one of the largest freighters sailing the Great Lakes when it sunk during a fierce storm in November 1975. All 29 crew were lost. The ship’s bell has been retrieved and is on display at the museum.
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A short drive from the pier is the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, where you must disembark the coach with your passport to clear immigration. Once formalities are completed, re-board your coach for the drive to the Sault Lock Viewing Station and Visitor Center. Here you will experience the engineering marvel that is the Soo Locks through numerous exhibits that chronicle their construction.
Then visit the Valley Camp Museum Ship, an actual lake freighter that served on the Great Lakes for almost 50 years. As a museum, the SS Valley Camp is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You will have the opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of the ship and discover that its massive cargo holds contain 20,000 square feet of exhibits, displaying hundreds of artifacts, paintings, and other items related to the rich maritime history of Lake Superior, including two lifeboats from the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
After this visit, return to the port for lunch onboard your ship.
In the afternoon you will board your chartered SOO Locks boat. Cruise along the St. Mary’s River until you reach the Soo Locks, where your boat is raised 21 feet to enable it to enter Lake Superior. Leaving the locks, you pass under the International Bridge and Railroad Bridge and cross into Canadian waters to see Canada’s largest steel plant in operation today. Heading back to U.S. waters, you will return to the lower harbor via the historic Canadian Lock, and sail past St. Mary’s rapids to Sault Ste. Marie.
When you disembark your cruise, you can walk back to your ship.
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Your tour of Mackinac Island offers an overview of the historical and cultural significance of this small island in the straits separating Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, including the living museum at Fort Mackinac and the iconic Grand Hotel.
Disembarking your tenders at the main dock, you will board horse-drawn carriages for a narrated tour of the island, including a drive past the Grand Hotel. Constructed in the late 19th century, the Hotel has played host to, among many others, five U.S. presidents, inventor Thomas Edison, and author Mark Twain. Continuing your tour, you pause at Arch Rock, one of the most photographed spots on the island, to enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Huron. At Surrey Hill, you will have a rest break and switch to 3 horse hitch carriages before proceeding to historic Fort Mackinac.
Fort Mackinac was the site of an important battle during the War of 1812, and throughout the 19th-century, it remained an army outpost housing soldiers and their families. It is now a living museum with exhibits and live re-enactments that illustrate what life was like for the women, men, and children who lived here — from military training and battles to medical treatments to the challenges of family life.
At end of the tour, you may either ride or walk down the hill to the waterfront, where you will have some time at leisure to explore the shops, and perhaps sample some of the world-famous Mackinac Island Fudge.
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