11-night Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto Cruise/Land Package

September 8, 2025

Tauck - Cruise Division: Le Champlain for Tauck

Chicago/Toronto

Vacation Offer ID 1542656

Reference this number when contacting our travel specialist.

From $10,790

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Overview

Ship Info

Activities & Services

Staterooms

Deckplans

Cruise Inclusions

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

View the distinctive architectural styles of the Chicago skyline on an informative river cruise in Chicago, hearing the stories behind iconic works by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan and others

Enjoy an early morning, private opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

Gratuities to Tauck Directors, ship staff and local guides
Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $4,500
Two nights in Chicago at your choice of Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park or Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
Two nights in Toronto at your choice of Fairmont Royal York or Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
Seven nights aboard a Ponant small ship cruising Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan
Architectural cruise & choice of Chicago Art Institute visit or Millennium Park Walking Tour in Chicago
Private off-road adventure at Lake Michigan dunes
On Mackinac Island, choice of horse-drawn carriage or bicycle tour & lunch at the Grand Hotel
In Detroit, choice of city landmarks tour including the Motown Museum, or tour of The Henry Ford & Greenfield Village in Dearborn
Choice of visits to Royal Ontario Museum or Ontario Art Gallery in Toronto
Private boat excursion to Niagara Falls
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available throughout the day aboard ship, including house wines & spirits; premium spirits and wines are available at extra cost
28 meals on land and sea; applicable fuel charges, service charges, porterage and taxes

Available Add-Ons

Optional roundtrip airfare from your city Pre or post cruise hotel stay

Destination Guide
Suggested Shore Excursions

Destination	Arrival	Departure
Chicago Chicago 09/08/2025 A transfer is included from Chicago O'Hare Airport or Chicago Union Station to your choice of two luxury hotels in the heart of downtown: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park or Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Settle in and join us tonight at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park for a welcome reception followed by dinner, featuring a live band playing music from Chicago through the decades.	09/08/2025	09/08/2025
Chicago Chicago 09/09/2025 In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire burned a swath through the city center, erasing thousands of buildings and leaving more than 100,000 people homeless. But the catastrophe left space for new generations of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, and Mies van der Rohe to fire up their creativity, fueled by the city's fabulous industrial wealth. Upon arriving in Milwaukee this morning, travel by land to America's "Second City" to get a dazzling, informative look at their legacy today on an architectural sightseeing cruise along the Chicago River, with a docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Learn about Chicago's role in the development of skyscrapers, as you absorb the eclectic styles and histories of its landmark buildings, like the Tribune Tower, the Willis Tower, and the Wrigley Building, and the stories of the architects who built them. Get a taste of the city's famous stuffed, deep-dish pizza at legendary Giordano's Pizzeria. Check in to your choice of downtown hotels: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, or Four Seasons Hotel Chicago; settle in, and enjoy the evening as you please.	09/09/2025	09/09/2025
Chicago Chicago 09/10/2025 Your morning welcomes you to the wonders of Chicago on a walking tour of Millennium Park (at a leisurely or active pace... you choose), inside the Loop, the central business district; built to welcome the 21st century, the park has become the city's centerpiece with imaginative features like the bandshell Pritzker Pavilion, the Cloud Gate, a reflective sculpture, the Crown Fountain, an interactive video sculpture, and the Lurie Garden atop the world's largest green roof. Spend the rest of the day exploring Chicago on your own.	09/10/2025	09/10/2025
Cruise Starts (Embarkation) Cruise Starts (Embarkation) 09/10/2025 In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire burned a swath through the city center, erasing thousands of buildings and leaving more than 100,000 people homeless. But the catastrophe left space for new generations of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, and Mies van der Rohe to fire up their creativity, fueled by the city's fabulous industrial wealth. Upon arriving in Milwaukee this morning, travel by land to America's "Second City" to get a dazzling, informative look at their legacy today on an architectural sightseeing cruise along the Chicago River, with a docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Learn about Chicago's role in the development of skyscrapers, as you absorb the eclectic styles and histories of its landmark buildings, like the Tribune Tower, the Willis Tower, and the Wrigley Building, and the stories of the architects who built them. Get a taste of the city's famous stuffed, deep-dish pizza at legendary Giordano's Pizzeria. Check in to your choice of downtown hotels: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, or Four Seasons Hotel Chicago; settle in, and enjoy the evening as you please.	09/10/2025	09/10/2025
Chicago Chicago 09/10/2025 In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire burned a swath through the city center, erasing thousands of buildings and leaving more than 100,000 people homeless. But the catastrophe left space for new generations of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, and Mies van der Rohe to fire up their creativity, fueled by the city's fabulous industrial wealth. Upon arriving in Milwaukee this morning, travel by land to America's "Second City" to get a dazzling, informative look at their legacy today on an architectural sightseeing cruise along the Chicago River, with a docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Learn about Chicago's role in the development of skyscrapers, as you absorb the eclectic styles and histories of its landmark buildings, like the Tribune Tower, the Willis Tower, and the Wrigley Building, and the stories of the architects who built them. Get a taste of the city's famous stuffed, deep-dish pizza at legendary Giordano's Pizzeria. Check in to your choice of downtown hotels: Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, or Four Seasons Hotel Chicago; settle in, and enjoy the evening as you please.	09/10/2025	09/10/2025
Muskegon Muskegon 09/11/2025 Head out from Muskegon with your choice of activities. Discover Holland, an enclave of Dutch culture, complete with dikes, canals, tulip gardens, and Dutch architecture, settled by Dutch immigrants in the 19th century. Its array of downtown shops even includes a wooden shoe factory. Visit Windmill Island Gardens, which feature a working 250-year-old windmill brought from the Netherlands; the historical district, and the scenic Hope College campus, established in 1851 by the Dutch Calvinists who built the town; Holland is on the National Register of Historic Places. Or travel to nearby Saugatuck to experience the giant sand dunes that line the shores of Lake Michigan; dunes as high as 200 feet rise along an area of woods and beachfront on privately owned land, where you can ride through the scenic, wind-carved landscape in a modified Jeep vehicle on a fast-paced, exciting ride with an experienced guide*, and learn about its natural history and ecology. Return to the ship and sail for Mackinac Island.	09/11/2025	09/11/2025
Mackinac Island Mackinac Island 09/12/2025 Mackinac Island has been a popular retreat since the 19th century when wealthy industrialists built imposing summer cottages here. The island restricts the use of motor vehicles; except in emergencies, the only way to get around is by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage. It also maintains its period look so well that it feels like a small town serenely lost in time. Take your choice of a carriage ride or a bicycle tour around the island, past impeccable Victorian mansions, the picture-postcard main street of quaint shops and confectioners, out to the fringes of forest, marshes and beaches, and Fort Mackinac, a 19th century military outpost. Lunch is at the palatial Grand Hotel that boasts the longest porch in the world (660 feet); since 1887, the hotel has entertained presidents and their wives; Mark Twain was a frequent guest, as was Thomas Edison... who gave the first demonstration of his phonograph on the porch. Don't leave without sampling the Mackinac Fudge!	09/12/2025	09/12/2025
Lake Huron Lake Huron 09/13/2025 Spend the day sailing Lake Huron down the scenic east coast of Michigan toward Detroit. The eastern shore is called the Sunrise Coast, a long parade of beaches, sand dunes, inlets, small towns, and as many as 30 lighthouses. The vast freshwater lake also encompasses 30,000 islands. Enjoy the amenities aboard ship, which include an infinity pool with counter-current swimming system and transparent wall, fitness center, spa, sun deck, and panoramic lounge.	09/13/2025	09/13/2025
Detroit Detroit 09/14/2025 In and around Detroit you have a choice of activities. Get a guided tour of the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village – a.k.a. The Henry Ford – in Dearborn... an amazing, award-winning, state-of-the-art museum with interactive exhibits dedicated to innovation, not just in machines, but in trailblazers who shaped the world we live in. In 9 acres of exhibition space you can step aboard the bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat; make yourself at home in Buckminster Fuller's autonomous Dymaxion House; discover the science behind Pixar animation and motors that moved the nation; see the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop; Thomas Edison's laboratory, Igor Sikorsky's prototype helicopter, the house Henry Ford was born in, and the courthouse where Lincoln practiced law. Attached to the complex is Greenfield Village, a living museum with costumed interpreters, historic structures, and working steam locomotives. Alternatively, take a guided sightseeing tour of Detroit's famous landmarks, including the Motown Museum, a pair of modest houses where the record company was born in 1959; the Guardian Building, an art deco masterpiece; an eclectic art alley called the Belt; and the award-winning Campus Martius Park, "crossroads of downtown Detroit." Return to the ship for lunch; tonight, sail for Toronto.	09/14/2025	09/14/2025
Cleveland Cleveland 09/15/2025 Spend a day in Cleveland, Ohio, including an early opening visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Created by combining different elements of jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel and country music, rock and roll has transformed the musical world since its origins in the mid 1950s and helped create some of the biggest acts and musical innovators the world as ever seen including; The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grateful Dead, Prince, Nirvana, The Foo Fighters and so many more. Explore the halls of this historic and culturally-defining building and learn about the many inductees forever immortalized. Explore the many sights that Cleveland has to offer this afternoon on a sightseeing tour across the city, driving through the theatre district and the Westside Market before stopping for a stroll at The Arcade on Euclid Ave followed by a visit to a local craft brewery for a taste of their hoppy delights. Dinner will be served onboard your ship. Tonight, set sail for the Welland Canal.	09/15/2025	09/15/2025
Welland Canal Welland Canal 09/16/2025 Sail Lake Erie to Port Colborne, then enter the Welland Canal, which links Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The 27-mile canal is a marvel of engineering which allows ships to bypass the Niagara River and Niagara Falls. Through a series of eight locks, your ship rises to a level high enough to cross over the Niagara Escarpment, sometimes called the Backbone of North America, a passage that takes about 11 hours. An onboard lecture on the canal and its history will be provided by a local expert on the locks. After passing through the cities of Welland, Thorold, and St. Catherines, the ship emerges into Lake Ontario at Port Weller.	09/16/2025	09/16/2025
Toronto Toronto 09/17/2025 Disembark in Toronto and take your choice of sightseeing excursions in Ontario's remarkable capital today. A visit to the Royal Ontario Museum offers you the world under one roof, with 40 galleries and a collection of 6 million artifacts of art, culture, and natural history, from dinosaur fossils to African art, Egyptian treasures, South Asian culture, meteorites, giant totem poles, and Canadian history. Or visit the Ontario Art Gallery, housing 90,000 works of art from the first century to the present, including major works by Rodin, Picasso, Goya, Tintoretto, Degas, Rothko, and many more; not limited to paintings and sculpture, its collection includes historic objects, architecture, ship models, medieval illuminations, and video art. Enjoy free time to explore Toronto on your own before checking in to your choice of downtown hotels, Fairmont Royal York or the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, and the evening is yours. The city is hip, vibrant, and some of its best restaurants and nightlife are close by.	09/17/2025	09/17/2025
Cruise Ends (Debarkation)	09/17/2025	09/17/2025
Niagara Falls, ON Niagara Falls, ON 09/18/2025 No visit to Canada is complete without a visit to Niagara Falls. Drive to Falls early this morning, where you'll have the opportunity to see the awesome power of the falls up close by boat (rain pancho provided). The falls on the border between the US and Canada – Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls – pour 6 million cubic feet of water over their crests every minute, cascading down 170 feet and churning clouds of mist with a roar that can be heard for miles, a stirring experience you'll never forget. Then a tour, tasting, and lunch await you in Niagara on the Lake at a winery. Return to your hotel and join us this evening for a farewell reception followed by dinner.	09/18/2025	09/18/2025
Toronto Toronto 09/19/2025 Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Fairmont Royal York or the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto to Toronto Pearson International Airport or Toronto's Union Station. Allow three hours for check-in.	09/19/2025	09/19/2025

Tauck - Cruise Division: Le Champlain for Tauck

A built-in hydraulic platform with adjustable heights that allow for easy access to the sea for swimming, water sports, and embarkation/disembarkation for on-shore excursions. Ponant's new Explorer Series yachts distinguish themselves by their sophisticated styling, innovative "green" technology, and attentive service while offering a refined, small-ship cruising experience.

Ship Statistics

Registry: France
Built Year: 2018
Gross Tonnage: 9,900 gross tons
Beam: 59 ft (18 m)
Maximum Speed: 12.5 knots

Ship Length: 430 ft (131.1 m)
Passenger Capacity: 184
Number of Crew: 110
Crew Nationality: French / International
Number of Decks: 6

Dining

Bars & Lounges

Balcony

Deluxe Cabin - Deck 3 (DEL) $10,790

Category: DEL

Size: 19 sq. m. (204 sq. ft.) Private Balcony: Yes Beds: Queen (180 cm x 200 cm) or 2 twins (90 cm x 200 cm).
Stateroom Amenities: Individually controlled air conditioning, closet, flat screen satellite TV, video on demand, satellite direct-line telephone, iPod player, 110/220 volt outlets, electronic safe, minibar, alarm clock, WiFi internet access.

Prestige Stateroom (PR4) $11,490

Category: PR4

Prestige Stateroom (PR5) $11,790

Category: PR5

Prestige Stateroom (PR6) $11,990

Category: PR6

Suite

Deluxe Suite (DS4) $13,790

Category: DS4

Size: 27.5 sq. m. (296 sq. ft.) Private Balcony: Yes Beds: Queen (180 cm x 200 cm) or 2 twins (90 cm x 200 cm).
Stateroom Amenities: Individually controlled air conditioning, separate living & sleeping areas, closet, flat screen satellite TV, video on demand, satellite direct-line telephone, iPod player, 110/220 volt outlets, electronic safe, minibar, alarm clock, WiFi internet access.

Prestige Suite - Deck 5 (PS5) $16,790

Category: PS5

Size: 38 sq. m. (409 sq. ft.) Private Balcony: Yes Beds: One fixed Queen (180 cm x 200 cm) and a Queen or 2 twins (90 cm x 200 cm.
Stateroom Amenities: Individually controlled air conditioning, separate living & sleeping areas, closet, flat screen satellite TV, video on demand, satellite direct-line telephone, iPod player, 110/220 volt outlets, electronic safe, minibar, alarm clock, WiFi internet access.

Prestige Suite - Deck 6 (PS6) $17,290

Category: PS6

Privilege Suite (PV6) $17,790

Category: PV6

Size: 32 sq. m. (344 sq. ft.) Private Balcony: Yes Beds: One fixed Queen (180 cm x 200 cm) and a Queen or 2 twins (90 cm x 200 cm).
Stateroom Amenities: Individually controlled air conditioning, separate living & sleeping areas, closet, flat screen satellite TV, video on demand, satellite direct-line telephone, iPod player, 110/220 volt outlets, electronic safe, minibar, alarm clock, WiFi internet access.

Grand Deluxe Suite (GD6) $19,290

Category: GD6

Size: 45 sq. m. (484 sq. ft.) Private Balcony: Yes Beds: Queen (180 cm x 200 cm) and 2 twins (90 cm x 200 cm).
Stateroom Amenities: Individually controlled air conditioning, separate living & sleeping areas, closet, flat screen satellite TV, video on demand, satellite direct-line telephone, iPod player, 110/220 volt outlets, electronic safe, minibar, alarm clock, WiFi internet access.

Owner's Suite (SA) $22,790

Category: SA

Size: 45 sq. m. (484 sq. ft.). Private Balcony: Yes Beds: Queen (180 cm x 200 cm) and 2 twins (90 cm x 200 cm) Stateroom Amenities: Individually controlled air conditioning, separate living &, sleeping areas, closet, flat screen satellite TV, video on demand, satellite direct-line telephone, iPod player, 110/220 volt outlets, electronic safe, minibar, alarm clock, WiFi internet access.

Privilege Suite (PV5) Call for pricing

Category: PV5

Privilege Suite (PV) Call for pricing

Category: PV

Grand Deluxe Suite (GD5) Call for pricing

Category: GD5

Deluxe Suite (DS3) Call for pricing

Category: DS3

Price includes all private Tauck shore excursions, cruise fare, port charges, applicable fuel surcharges, entertainment, and gratuities to Tauck Director and ship staff.

Land / Cruise Price includes all private Tauck shore excursions, cruise fare, port charges, applicable fuel surcharges, entertainment and gratuities to Tauck Director and ship staff. Aboard ship, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are included throughout the day. Departures will be hosted by one Tauck Director for approximately every 40 Tauck guests; travel East or West.

Four Seasons Hotels, Chicago and Toronto: Hotel accommodations on this cruise are at Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park and Fairmont Royal York (Toronto); if you wish, hotel accommodations at Four Seasons hotels in Chicago and Toronto are available (additional cost per person, subject to availability). See hotel descriptions on the website under Accommodations or ask for details at time of booking.

Four Seasons Hotels Additional Cost Per Person:

Double – $500

Single – $1000

Triple – $333

Your cruise may be a shared ship experience with non-Tauck guests onboard as well; all Tauck guests will be accompanied by one Tauck Director for approximately every 40 Tauck guests, and your itinerary will always be highlighted by exclusive, private Tauck shore excursions

Shore Excursion Selection: Tauck will contact guests 90 days prior to departure to assist with shore excursion selections (included in tour price, subject to availability).

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

Deck 7