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Summary

This New Toronto Cruise Takes You Across The Great Lakes & To A Dreamy Island Beach Town

It's launching this June.

​Viking cruise ship in Toronto, Ontario. Right: Mackinac Island.

Viking cruise ship in Toronto, Ontario. Right: Mackinac Island.

Lead Writer, Travel

A new cruise is launching from Toronto this spring and it will take you around all five Great Lakes. The experience, called Great Lakes Collection, features "culture-rich urban centres" and landmarks like Niagara Falls, and it comes with a hefty price tag.

Hosted by luxurious cruise line Viking, the journey will officially launch in June 2023 and travel from Toronto to Duluth. The 15-day expedition includes 10 tours in both Canada and the United States.

Viking Expedition Ship, The Shelter.Viking Expedition Ship, The Shelter.Viking

Travellers will be able to get a close-up view of Horseshoe Falls, hike through boreal forests, wander along sandy beaches, and even visit islands during the journey.

One such island is the dreamy Mackinac Island which is home to a small, European-like town that has no motor vehicles. Other highlights of the expedition include rides on a vintage train in Duluth and visiting Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio.

Viking Expedition Ship, The Aula.Viking Expedition Ship, The Aula.Viking

Viking launched a similar cruise from Toronto last year, but the Great Lakes Collection is the only experience that takes you across all five of the Great Lakes.

The trip is not cheap, with prices currently starting at $16,895 per person. One of the main reasons the cruise is priced so highly is the lavish ship that travellers will ride on.

Viking Expedition Ship, The Nordic Spa Heated Pool.Viking Expedition Ship, The Nordic Spa Heated Pool.Viking

The route will be serviced by both the Viking Octantis and the new Viking Polaris. The luxurious ships feature Nordic spas, science labs, hair salons, sushi bars, panoramic auditoriums, and more, so you'll be travelling like royalty.

The spacious suites are complete with Nordic balconies, floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass, 24-hour room service, heated bathroom floors, and more.

There are eight cruises in total from June to mid-September and bookings are available online.

Great Lakes Collection Cruise

Viking Expedition Ship, Manfredi\u2019s.

Viking Expedition Ship, Manfredi’s.

Viking

Price: $16,895+

When: June 10 to September 12, 2023

Address: Toronto, ON to Duluth, MN

Why You Need To Go: This new cruise takes you across all five Great Lakes in a luxurious ship.

Website

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

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  • Lead Writer

    Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media. After earning her B.A. (Hons) at Queen's University, she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant. Now, she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe. Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity. She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss Experience. Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter.

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