Viking Great Lakes Cruise Explores the Wonder of the Great Lakes

Even a native Chicagoan who has lived her entire life within a few miles of Lake Michigan is wowed by the wonder of a Great Lakes cruise aboard the Viking Polaris, an expedition cruise that also cruises to Antarctica. 

Highlights

• The expedition cruise combines opportunities for “citizen scientists” with up-close exploration of some of the Great Lakes’ most unspoiled islands.
• Viking’s Nordic design, premier service and educational offerings make this a luxury cruise.
• The Great Lakes Treasures itinerary includes visits to remote Georgian Bay islands, small Wisconsin towns and the great city of Chicago.

Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted.

As a lifelong Chicagoan who has never lived more than 10 miles away from Lake Michigan, I know the wonder and power of the Great Lakes. But it wasn’t until I climbed aboard the Viking Polaris for my first-ever Great Lakes cruise that I realized most people are unaware of the majesty of the lakes that hold 20 percent of all of the fresh water on Earth.

It seemed like everyone I talked with on the cruise, even the Americans, had the same reaction: I feel like I’m on the ocean. I never knew the Great Lakes were so big!

After eight days of exploration, historic and scientific lectures and thrilling expedition experiences, even I came away in awe of the Great Lakes.

At a Glance: Why Viking’s Great Lakes Treasures Cruise Stands Out

1. A Unique Itinerary

Our May 2026 cruise started in Milwaukee, headed north to the car-free Mackinac Island, included several remote islands in Georgian Bay, stopped at the Soo Locks in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and in a down-on-its-luck town in Wisconsin, and made Viking’s first-ever stop in my hometown, Chicago.

Unlike river cruises in Europe or Alaskan cruises in the US, which mostly stop at the same ports, regardless of the cruise line, the Great Lake Treasures cruise offers a glimpse of places most travelers would never see.

2. The Scenery Is Spectacular

Despite some unseasonably cold and rainy weather, we saw incredible rock formations and pristine wilderness. We did not, however, see much wildlife. That’s simply a chance you take on a nature experience. Sometimes the animals show up; sometimes they don’t.

3. Viking Turns the Region Into a Living History Lesson

One of Viking’s greatest strengths is its destination-focused educational approach.

Through onboard lectures, local guides and thoughtfully curated excursions, the cruise provides a deeper understanding of the Great Lakes’ history, geography, geology and meteorology.

From the engineering marvel of the Soo Locks to stories of Indigenous communities and maritime commerce, the nightly lectures add context and meaning and the Ph.D.-level tour guides offer expert insight into the flora and fauna.

4. The Ship is Part Science Experiment, Part Tourism Experience

I am not a science nerd, but I loved pretending to be one on the ship. There were myriad opportunities to do just that:

• We helped launch a weather balloon one morning.
• We took photos of the bottom side of the clouds and uploaded them to NASA via an app while a NASA satellite took photos of the tops of those clouds.
• We learned about the water samples the ship had been collecting once each minute during its journey from Antarctica north alongside South America, through the Panama Canal, across the Gulf, around Florida, up the East Coast of America, through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes and, finally, to Milwaukee.

Why the Great Lakes Are a Different Cruise Experience

I’ve cruised A LOT – European river cruises, Caribbean cruises, Alaska cruises, Panama Canal cruises. They all have a few things in common: big, polished ports often lined with diamond stores and locals hawking their wares. 

But this cruise is different. For one thing, there aren’t many actual ports. Half of the stops feature the ship anchoring offshore with zodiaks to take us to the kayaks we would paddle around the islands. Even visiting Chicago meant anchoring outside the breakwall around Navy Pier and taking a tender to the Pier.

In the small towns of Algoma, Wisconsin, and Killarney, Ontario, Canada, we were greeted by town residents who seemed genuinely pleased to see us – a far cry from the reactions I’ve seen from some anti-tourism Europeans.

A Word about the Bugs

There’s another, less wonderful, difference in a Great Lakes cruise, particularly during the spring: bugs.

In Algoma, Wisconsin, it was mayflies. Also called Midges, these small black bugs don’t bite, but they swarm. At points, it was difficult to see out the windows because they were covered with the bugs. And walking laps on the outdoor deck was exceedingly unpleasant.

In Chicago, it was vicious, biting black flies. For years, I owned a sailboat that was moored on Lake Michigan and we sailed regularly off the coast of Chicago. The flies are a common summertime malady.

But, since my May cruise was Viking’s first stop in Chicago, the ship’s crew seemed truly unprepared for dealing with them. I’m hoping that the cruise line is developing a line of Viking-designed fly swatters that will be available in every stateroom, along with the Viking-branded binoculars and other expedition essentials.

Viking: Luxury and Knowledge Without the Crowds

Viking’s expedition-style ships on the Great Lakes offer all of the amenities the line is known for:

• Large, comfortable staterooms
• Elegant Scandinavian design
• One included shore excursion in each port
• Excellent destination-focused programming
• Top-tier service
• No casinos, waterslides or crowded pool decks
• Education and excursions led by Ph.D.-level guides

Who Will Love Viking’s Great Lakes Treasures Cruise?

This cruise is ideal for travelers who:

• Enjoy history, culture and educational travel
• Prefer smaller ships 
• Appreciate Viking’s adults-only atmosphere
• Want top-tier service and great food in an all-inclusive cruise

Tips for Viking’s Great Lakes Treasures Cruise

• Bring layers. My mid-May sailing was unseasonably cold and I wore every bit of clothing I brought to stay warm on the speedy Special Operations Boat excursions.
• Bring a fly swatter. You’ll appreciate it when the boat docks in Chicago and the nasty, biting black flies swarm the ship.
• Bring motion sickness meds if you need them. I don’t get seasick and I’ve spent my adult life sailing on Lake Michigan, so I know it can be rough. But several passengers seemed surprised to learn that sailing on the Great Lakes can be just as bumpy as sailing on the ocean.
• Don’t expect a balcony on your stateroom. This excursion ship is purpose-built to sail to Antarctica, so the outdoor spaces are limited.
• Consider booking your return flight from Chicago and disembarking the ship a day early. I did not do this since we drove to Milwaukee and left a car parked there. But several of my fellow passengers did. They said it gave them many more flight options than flying home from Milwaukee. All you’ll miss is one night sleeping on the ship.

Frequently Asked Questions