THE GREAT LAKES SMITHSONIAN JOURNEY
DATES: 2025 – Sep 17-24*
2026 – Aug 11-19
DURATION: *8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS
9 DAYS/8 NIGHTS
EMBARK: TORONTO, ON
DISEMBARK: MILWAUKEE, WI
SHIP: *LE CHAMPLAIN | LE BELLOT
FROM: $9,120
All Inclusive – Port Charges, Open Bar, Gratuities to ship crew, Shore excursions
BOOK EARLY – 2026 RATES ARE 30% OFF
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
Set sail with PONANT aboard Le Champlain for an 8-day cruise to discover the Great Lakes amidst the splendid colors of autumn.
You will leave from cosmopolitan and dynamic Toronto, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Ontario. Canada’s largest city will charm you with its museums, parks, and gardens.
Le Champlain will then sail the canal connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. From your call in Port Colborne, you will be able to see the impressive Niagara Falls. These three powerful waterfalls, renowned the world over, are an exquisite natural spectacle.
Your next lake, Lake Huron, boasts myriad islands in its northern part, with white rocks capped with conifers plunging into the sapphire waters of the lake. Here you will discover the quaint town of Little Current, gateway to Manitoulin Island, the world’s largest freshwater island.
From Sault Ste. Marie, you will have the opportunity to transit the engineering marvel of the Soo Locks for a foray into Lake Superior, before continuing to Mackinac Island for an exploration of the island’s Victorian past by horse and buggy.
End your voyage by sailing the length of Lake Michigan, a veritable inland sea, following in the footsteps of the region’s indigenous Americans, first settlers, and trappers. Make your way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the United States’ “brew city,” for disembarkation.
Expedition Highlights
- Engaging discussions onboard with Smithsonian Journeys Experts.
- A cruise with the opportunity to explore the five Great Lakes of North America, between the United States and Canada.
- A cruise along the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Georgian Bay.
- An itinerary combining nature and culture: picturesque landscapes and geological curiosities, the history of indigenous Americans inhabiting the region before European colonization.
- An excursion to the magnificent Niagara Falls.
- A visit to charming Mackinac Island, with its preserved Victorian architecture.
NOTE: Other dates are available without Smithsonian program or inclusions.
Included features:
- Special Smithsonian Journeys guest speakers and programs geared to the English-speaking market
- All accommodations, meals, and excursions described above
- Shore excursions in each port
- Gratuities to crew, guides and drivers on included excursions
- Comprehensive 7-night cruise aboard the deluxe LE BELLOT or LE CHAMPLAIN, with all the amenities for which Ponant ships are famous.
- All meals while on board the ship (from dinner on the day of embarkation to breakfast on the day of disembarkation)
- Captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner
- “Open Bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands… list available upon request)
- Evening entertainment and events
- Room service 24h (special selection)
- Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite
- Park entry fees into protected areas
- Airfare
- Optional excursions
- Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, Internet, etc.)
- Travel Insurance
- Pre- and Post-cruise programs
LE CHAMPLAIN
Like the other ships in the PONANT EXPLORERS series, this beautiful has been designed to provide absolute comfort for its passengers, even at the heart of the world’s most remote and isolated regions.
Racy lines, state-of-the-art equipment, a refined design, a softly muted and at the same time convivial ambiance together with a deliberately restricted number of cabins all contribute to the modernity of this unique ship in the world of cruising.
You will encounter unique itineraries, calls inaccessible to large ships, chic and elegant yacht-like ambiance, refined and personalized service as well as gastronomic cuisine.
Fast Facts:
- Length: 430 ft
- Beam: 59 ft
- Draft: 15 ft
- Cruising speed: 12.5 knots
- Guest decks: 5
- Guest capacity (double occupancy): Up to 184 PAX
- Normal crew size: 118
- Gross tonnage: 9976 UMS
RESTAURANTS
Loyal to the great French tradition, the haute cuisine on board is worthy of the finest restaurants, where discreet, attentive service is the hallmark.
The Le Nautilus gastronomic restaurant
Towards the rear of deck 4 you’ll find a panoramic restaurant large enough to accommodate all our passengers at one sitting. Offering a different concept than on our other ships, this space is open to the exterior and serves buffets of salads, desserts and cheeses. Our discreet and attentive staff provide a table service for hot meals.
Grill Restaurant
An exterior grill restaurant on deck 3 offering a relaxed ambiance and atmosphere:
PUBLIC AREAS
Main Lounge
Able to accommodate all our passengers at once for moments of shared conviviality, and as a venue for both daytime and evening shows and entertainment.
Panoramic Lounge
Library, internet desk, cocktail bar, live entertainment on selected evenings. Direct access to the panoramic terrace.
Wellness Area
Spa treatments, L’Oreal Paris hair salon, free access sauna and open gym
Pool deck
A swimming pool offering panoramic views and equipped with a counter-current system. A pleasant, attractive sun deck. An exterior bar and lounge equipped with armchairs and sofas
The Theater
188-seat capacity, cutting edge audio and lighting technology and LED stage background wall enabling the projection of ultra-high resolution media
ACCOMMODATIONS
A contemporary and warmly welcoming design
All the 92 staterooms and suites are equipped with private balconies or terraces. Like the rest of the ship’s spaces, they have been designed to be exceptionally open to the exterior. Brightness and radiance, discreet luxury, ethnic touches, contemporary design and unparalleled levels of comfort add the finishing touches to the all-round voyage experience.
- Individually-controlled air-conditioning
- Cabin layout: king-size bed, or twin beds, adjoining cabins available (children welcome)
- Minibar
- Flat screen satellite TV
- Video on demand
- Bose™ Bluetooth speaker
- Desk with stationery
- Electronic safe
- Hermès® bath products
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Bath robes
- Direct line telephone
- 110/220 volt outlets
- 24hr room service
- Inclusive Internet access Wifi
DELUXE STATEROOM
- Area : 19 m²
- Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin
DELUXE SUITE DECKS 3-6
- Area : 27 m²
- Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin (Deck 4 & 6; 3 passengers per cabin)
GRAND DELUXE SUITE DECK 6
- Area : 45 m²
- Capacity: up to 4 passengers per cabin
PRESTIGE DECKS 4-5
- Area : 19 m²
- Capacity: up to 2 passengers per cabin
PRESTIGE DECK 6
- Area : 19 m²
- Capacity: up to 4 passengers per cabin
PRESTIGE DECKS 5-6 SUITE
- Area : 38 m²
- Capacity: up to 4 passengers per cabin
PRIVILEGE SUITE DECKS 5-6
- Area : 32 m²
- Capacity: up to 3 passengers per cabin
OWNER’S SUITE
- Area : 45 m²
- Capacity: up to 4 passengers per cabin
