Cruising the Great Lakes aboard Le Bellot
Cruise the five Great Lakes from Milwaukee to Toronto, visiting islands and towns rich in history and natural splendor. Delight in the Victorian character of Mackinac Island; visit Sault Ste. Marie, known to Native Americans as the “Gathering Place”; and witness the thunderous power of Niagara Falls. Optional extensions to Milwaukee and Toronto.
Itinerary
On the shores of Lake Michigan, the only Great Lake located entirely in the U.S., lies Wisconsin’s largest city, Milwaukee, best known for its famous breweries. Milwaukee also has a rich cultural history, as it was the meeting place for Menominee, Ojibwe and Potawatomi people long before the arrival of European settlers in the early 19th century. Le Bellot (R, D)
Located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island was a lucrative port in the North American fur trade. With its white-sand beaches, forested parklands and charming streets lined with genteel Victorian homes, art galleries and quaint fudge shops, few places capture a bygone era more graciously than automobile-free Mackinac Island. Delight in a horse-drawn carriage ride to the Grand Hotel, the “Lady on the Hill,” a treasured institution for over 130 years with a gleaming white Colonial facade, over 2000 trademark red geraniums and a procession of American flags. Enjoy lunch overlooking the world’s longest porch, as romantic today as it was during the 1800s when it was dubbed “Flirtation Walk.” Stop at dramatic limestone Arch Rock, a portal to the spirit world according to Native American legend, and tour Fort Mackinac, built by the British in 1779 and garrisoned until 1875.
Le Bellot (B,L,D)
Cruise into Lake Superior—the deepest of the Great Lakes—to Whitefish Point, the eastern end of the 50-mile Skeleton Coast named for the nautical remains of over 300 shipwrecks, including the famed Edmund Fitzgerald. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Lake Superior shoreline. Known to Native Americans as the “Gathering Place” and referred to by locals as “The Soo,” the historic town of Sault Sainte Marie became one of the Great Lakes’s most important economic axes following construction of the Soo Locks, one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of the 19th century. Maritime history is evocatively presented at SS Valley Camp, a retired lake freighter built in 1917, featuring the faithfully restored living quarters of Great Lakes sailors and the tragic loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Transit the impressive locks, tour the Soo Locks Interpretation Center and watch as colossal freighters lower 21-feet from Lake Superior to enter Lake Huron. Le Bellot (B,L,D)
Cruise the coastline of Bruce Peninsula National Park, a biodiversity hot spot and part of the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In the traditional harbor village of Tobermory, embark on a glass-bottom boat cruise from Little Tub Harbor to Big Tub Harbor, which preserves almost two dozen 19th-century shipwrecks. See the remains of the schooner Sweepstakes, submerged in only 20 feet of water with its hull almost completely intact. Observe photogenic Big Tub Lighthouse which has been guiding ships since 1885, and the charm of Flowerpot Island, famous for its natural “flowerpot” rock pillars, sea stacks and wave-carved caverns. Le Bellot (B,L,D)
Chart Detroit’s rise to the apex of American idealism. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the nation’s most significant collections of art, housed in a magnificent Beaux Arts building. See Diego Rivera’s monumental Detroit Industry mural which captures the city’s blue-collar history, as well as masterworks by Rodin, Caravaggio, Van Gogh, Degas and Cézanne. Discover the rich architectural legacy of the Gilded Age at Grosse Point where grandiose mansions replete with lavish period furnishings reflect Detroit’s commitment to architectural preservation. Tour the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Mansion, a polished window on the grandeur and rich aesthetic lives of America’s industrial aristocracy. The manor was designed by Detroit’s preeminent architect, Albert Kahn, to resemble Cotswold village cottages and showcases an Art Deco design with rooms filled with ancient, Renaissance and 18th-century art, including presciently acquired works by Van Gogh, Cézanne and Rivera. Le Bellot (B,L,D)
Visit the acclaimed Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, which spotlights the creative genius of American inventors and innovators from baseball to vintage cars and airplanes to civil rights heroes and artifacts that represent defining moments in American history, or tour historic Greenfield Village, “America’s Hometown Celebration,” which preserves 80 famous historic structures, relocated from across the nation, as well as a lavish collection of vintage automobiles. See Henry Ford’s birthplace, two of Thomas Edison’s workshops, the Wright brothers’ bicycle shop and Luther Burbank’s garden office.
Le Bellot (B,L,D)
One of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural phenomena, Niagara Falls never fails to impress. Cruise toward the mist-enshrouded base of Horseshoe Falls and experience firsthand the sheer force of this geological wonder. See the 410-million-year-old rock layers of the Niagara Gorge and the formidable Whirlpool Rapids, among the world’s most extreme Class VI rapids. Enjoy a specially arranged lunch with spectacular falls views. See the Sir Adam Beck Power Station, the world’s first large-scale hydroelectric generation project, and admire Niagara’s famous Floral Clock, intricately filled with 20,000 plants and flowers. The historically important Niagara area was the site of the Battle of Chippewa, a major milestone in the development of the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Cruise through seven locks of the Welland Canal, one of North America’s most important economic lifelines. Constructed in the early 19th century, the canal links Lake Ontario to Lake Erie and was instrumental in opening the Great Lakes to commerce and prosperity—the canal carries nearly 40 million tons of cargo per year.
Le Bellot (B,L,D)
Disembark today in dynamic Toronto, Canada’s largest and most welcoming city that offers outstanding museums, galleries and restaurants which speak to its remarkable diversity.
Rich in architectural treasures and world‑class institutions that reflect its storied history, vibrant Milwaukee is the perfect introduction to your Great Lakes cruise. Enjoy a panoramic tour of the historic North Point neighborhood— home to one of the finest collections of Victorian mansions in the Midwest—and tour the expansive Milwaukee Art Museum, an impressive addition to Milwaukee’s revitalized waterfront, with more than 25,000 pieces of art. Enjoy a downtown walking tour where modern high-rises share the skyline with meticulously preserved 19th-century buildings fashioned from the city’s signature cream-colored local brick. Visit the striking Pabst Mansion, built in Flemish style by Pabst Brewing Company president Frederick Pabst. Accommodations for two nights are in the deluxe, centrally located The Pfister Hotel.
Conclude your Great Lakes voyage in cosmopolitan Toronto, one of North America’s most celebrated cultural melting pots. Enjoy a walking tour of the Distillery District, Canada’s premier arts, culture and entertainment destination, and visit Fort York, built in 1793 on the shores of Lake Ontario. Enjoy a specially arranged lunch at the top of the CN Tower’s 360-degree revolving restaurant. Visit Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival mansion and garden, built in the style of a European castle by Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Tour the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto’s crowning jewel with a collection of over 80,000 works, including the world’s largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures, housed in a visionary building designed by renowned native son, architect Frank Gehry. Accommodations for two nights are in the historical deluxe Fairmont Royal York.
Cost and Details
Cabin Categories (Prices shown are per person, double occupancy, and include the Early Booking Discount.)
8 – $4,995 Deluxe stateroom with a picture window, single door onto private partial-wall balcony, Deck 3, midship. (limited availability)
7 – $5,695 Prestige stateroom with expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 4, midship.
6 – $6,395 Prestige stateroom with expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Decks 5 midship and aft
5 – $6,995 Prestige stateroom with expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 6, midship and aft
4 – $7,395 Deluxe suite with expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 3, midship. (limited availability)
3 – $8,695 Deluxe suite with expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 4, midship. (limited availability)
2 – $9,295 Deluxe suite with expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 5, midship.
1 – $9,995 Deluxe suite with expansive sliding glass door, private balcony, Deck 6, midship.
Prestige Suite II – $10,995 Two-room suite with expansive sliding glass door, large private balcony, two bathrooms, sitting area with sofa. Decks 5 midship (limited availability)
Prestige Suite I – $11,495 Two-room suite, expansive sliding glass door, large private balcony, two bathrooms, two closets, large sitting area with sofa, Deck 6 midship, (limited availability)
Privilege Suite – $11,995 Large suite, expansive sliding glass door, larger private balcony, sitting area with sofa, Decks 5 & 6, aft. (limited availability)
Grand Deluxe Suite – $12,995 Large one-bedroom suite, expansive sliding glass door, spacious private balcony, full bathroom with tub and separate shower, additional half bath, sitting area with sofa, Decks 6, aft. (limited availability)
Owner’s Suite – $13,995 Large one-bedroom suite, expansive sliding glass door, spacious private balcony with outdoor Jacuzzi, full bathroom with tub and separate shower, additional half bath, sitting area with sofa, Deck 5, aft. (limited availability)
Singles occupant cabins are available in any category at 160% of the double rate.
Taxes are an additional $450 per person and are subject to change.
Included
Seven-night cruise from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, featuring all five Great Lakes—Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie and Ontario; Elegantly appointed, Five-Star Suite or Stateroom; Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions; Complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages available throughout the cruise; All meals aboard ship; Complimentary Wi-Fi (conditions permitting); Blue Eye—the world’s first luxury, multisensory underwater Observation Lounge; Excursion on Mackinac Island, including a horse-drawn carriage ride to the historic Grand Hotel and a guided tour of Fort Mackinac; Specially arranged lunch in the Grand Hotel, the “Grand Dame” of Mackinac Island; Cruise of Whitefish Point, the eastern cape of Lake Superior’s legendary Skeleton Coast; Transit of the impressive Soo Locks; Visit to the Soo Locks Interpretation Center and Observation Decks; Tour of the SS Valley Camp Ship Museum, a former lake freighter and fascinating repository of Great Lakes maritime history; Visit to the harbor town of Tobermory, part of the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; Glass-bottom cruise to Big Tub Harbor and around Flowerpot Island; City tour of revitalized Detroit, including guided visits to the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in historic Grosse Point; Guided tour of the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation or visit Greenfield Village, the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in the U.S.; Excursion to Niagara Falls, including a cruise toward the base of Horseshoe Falls and viewing of the Whirlpool Rapids; Specially arranged lunch with spectacular views of Niagara Falls; Panoramic tour of the Niagara Falls area, featuring the Sir Adam Beck Power Station and the beloved Floral Clock; Transit the seven locks of the historic Welland Canal; Transfers and luggage handling if your arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s); Experienced local guides for included excursions; Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers; Complimentary bottled water in your Suite or Stateroom and on excursions; Hospitality desk aboard ship; Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Directors at your service; Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions; Automatic $250,000 flight insurance policy for each participant ticketed on flights by Gohagan & Company.
Not Included
Airfare; Taxes of $450 per person (subject to change); Gratuities to ship personnel (recommended $15 per person per day); Hotel staff gratuities (pre-/post-program options) (recommended $1 - $2 per person per day) and gratuities for activities on your own; Passport and visa fees; Meals and alcoholic beverages not listed as included; Transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/ hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later than and/or departing earlier or later than the scheduled group transfer(s); Any overnight on land due to flight schedule(s); Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and Internet access unless otherwise specified; Accident/sickness, trip cancellation and baggage insurance; Baggage charges on aircraft; airfare and associated local taxes not listed as included; Airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed as included; All other services not specifically mentioned in the “Included” section
Optional Pre‑Tour: Milwaukee Pride and Preservation
$895 per person, double occupancy
$1,195 per person, single occupancy
Included
Transfers and luggage handling abroad if your arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s); Accommodations for two nights in historic Pfister Hotel, inclusive of taxes and service; Daily breakfast and one lunch; Panoramic tour of downtown Milwaukee, featuring the historic North Point Tower and the exclusive North Point mansion neighborhood; Visit to the dazzling Milwaukee Art Museum, an architectural masterpiece, housing a world-class art collection; Historic downtown walking tour showcasing paradigms of architectural preservation— Germania Building, Pabst Theater and Milwaukee City Hall; Tour of the ornate Saint Josaphat Basilica and Flemish-style Pabst Mansion on historic Grand Avenue; All excursions and visits, as outlined above, with experienced local guides; Gratuities to local guides and drivers; Complimentary bottled water provided on motorcoaches during excursions; Hospitality desk in the hotel; Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Program Director at your service; Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions.
Optional Post-Tour: Toronto
$1,195 per person, double occupancy
$1,395 per person, single occupancy
Included
Transfers and luggage handling abroad if your arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s); Accommodations for two nights in the Fairmont Royal York hotel, inclusive of taxes and service; Breakfast each morning; Guided tour of the acclaimed Distillery District, the epicenter of Toronto’s thriving arts scene; Enjoy astounding views as far as Niagara Falls from the slender needle of the CN Tower, rising above Toronto’s vibrant Harbourfront; Visit to the St. Lawrence Market, a city landmark and an epicurean’s paradise; Guided visit of Fort York, Toronto’s “founding landscape,” featuring an unequalled collection of War of 1812 buildings; Specially arranged lunch at the top of the CN Tower’s 360 degree revolving restaurant; Visit to the extravagant château, Casa Loma, a storied landmark and architectural wonder; Panoramic tour of Toronto’s eclectic neighborhoods, including Victorian Cabbagetown and chic Yorkville; Visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario, famed for its superb collection of Canadian and European masterworks; All excursions and visits, as outlined above, with experienced local guides; Gratuities to local guides and drivers; Complimentary bottled water provided on motorcoaches during excursions; Hospitality desk in the hotels; Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Program Director at your service; Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions.
This is a moderately active tour and participants must be able to keep up with an active group of travelers. For the safety and enjoyment of each participant and the group, participants who plan to join all the excursions must be able to:
- Walk on excursions often covering distances of one to two miles, and up to approximately two hours in length.
- Walk confidently on uneven surfaces. Some of the shore excursions require good balance as you walk on dirt trails and/or uneven pavement.
- Stand for up to two hours at a time each day.
- Climb and descend flights of stairs (some without railings) without assistance.
- Get off and on tour vehicles without assistance. The ship may either dock in port or tender ashore by small boat (tenders). Tenders involve a dry landing (participants step from the tender vessel directly onto land or a dock).
Educational Highlights
Ric Mixter, Guest Lecturer
Great Lakes historian Ric Mixter is one of the most requested maritime speakers in the country. Millions of television viewers recognize him as a shipwreck researcher, diving more than 100 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, including the Edmund Fitzgerald. He has interviewed dozens of shipwreck survivors over the past 15 years, including two from the 1913 Storm, two from the 1940 Armistice Day Storm, and survivors from the largest shipwrecks in lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie. Mixter, who has appeared as a shipwreck expert on the History and Discovery Channels, has been awarded for 20 years of maritime preservation by the Association of Great Lakes Maritime History.
Terms and Conditions
The full terms and conditions from Gohagan can be found here: https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms/
Cancellations
Cancellations for all or any part of the trip including Pre/Post Program(s) reservation(s) will not be effective until received in writing in the offices of The Commonwealth Club and Gohagan. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:
- From the time of booking through 96 days prior to departure: fully refundable deposit.
- From 95-61 days prior to departure: 50% of the program price
- From 60 to 45 days prior to departure: 75% of the program price
- 44 days or less prior to departure: No refund
*In the event of a cancellation between 45 and 95 days prior to departure, the refund will be by credit, usable on a future Gohagan & Company trip that commences on or before December 31, 2023. In addition, for all bookings, any applicable airline cancellation fees, optional excursion cancellation fees, and administrative fees may apply.
A “no-show” or early return from the trip will result in the forfeiture of 100% of the published full regular tariffs.
In addition, any applicable airline cancellation fees, optional excursion cancellation fees, and administrative fees may apply.
Trip Insurance
We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Information will be sent upon registration and can be viewed Travel Insurance Services website.
Eligibility
We require membership to the Commonwealth Club to travel with us. People who live outside of the Bay Area may purchase a worldwide membership. To learn about membership types and to purchase a membership, visit our membership page or call (415)597-6720.
Airfare
Airfare is subject to change and availability and, depending on the fare basis, likely is nonrefundable. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between you and the airline, even if purchased through Gohagan.
Luggage
Luggage allowance policies are set by the airlines and may change without notice.
Physical Accessibility
All programs require physical independence and mobility. Any physical or mental condition that may require special medical attention or physical assistance (for example, the need for a wheelchair) must be reported in writing when you make your reservation. Travelers must be able to embark or disembark motorcoaches alone or with minimal assistance from your traveling companion and climb stairs and step over raised thresholds without assistance. Travelers requiring assistance must travel with a companion who will be responsible for handling equipment.
COVID-19
The safety and well-being of our travelers remain our highest priority. Cruise lines and some other providers of services (as well as, potentially, some countries) require all passengers traveling to present confirmation of full COVID-19 vaccination, and, as well, passengers may have to produce evidence of a recent negative COVID test. All our staff are committed to adhering to all health and safety protocols from the start of your trip to the end as directed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overseas health officials as well as those protocols mandated by your cruise company (if applicable) and other suppliers of services. Detailed protocol information tailored to your travel program will be mailed to you along with additional pre-departure information.
Rates
Prices quoted are based on fares in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change at any time. On land and/or cruise programs, even after full payment, Gohagan reserves the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in supplier costs, currency fluctuations or fuel or energy surcharges and all such increases are to be paid to Gohagan upon notice to the tour participant of such increases. On programs which include Gohagan purchased interstate or international air (which originates or returns to the United States), no increased costs will be passed on after final payment except for subsequently imposed governmental tax increases.
Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Binding Arbitration Agreement Responsibility
The Commonwealth Club and Gohagan & Company and its and their employees, the sponsoring associations/organizations, and its and their employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors or trustees, successors, and assigns (collectively “Gohagan”), do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your program including, for example, lodging facilities, airline, vessel, or other transportation companies, guides or guide services, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Gohagan is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity or of any other third party.
In addition and without limitation, Gohagan is not responsible for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God or force majeure, acts of government, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, bites from or attacks by animals, insects or pests, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind or the threat thereof, sickness, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof, the lack of availability of or access to medical attention or the quality thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failures of airplanes, vessels, or other means of transportation, or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely.
If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors, you are required to spend an additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. Baggage is entirely at owner’s risk. The right is reserved to decline to accept as a trip participant, or remove from a trip, without refund, any person Gohagan judges to be incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of participating in the activities, or who is abusive to other trip participants, leaders or third parties, or who Gohagan determines to detract from the enjoyment of the trip by others. Specific room/cabin assignments are within the sole discretion of the hotel or cruise line.
Gohagan reserves the right to change the itinerary or trip features at any time and for any reason, with or without notice, and Gohagan shall not be liable for any loss of any kind as a result of any such changes. Ship schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, sightseeing events, special programs and guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change or cancellation. Gohagan reserves the right to substitute motorcoach transportation using hotels, inns or lodges for cruise accommodations if necessary due to weather, water conditions or levels, other events of force majeure, mechanical or other conditions beyond the control of Gohagan. Gohagan is not responsible therefor and is not required to compensate passengers under these circumstances. Gohagan may cancel a trip (or an option) for any reason whatsoever; if so, its sole responsibility is to refund monies paid by the participant to it. Gohagan, however, is not required under these circumstances to refund the cost of any purchased travel insurance. Gohagan is not required to cancel any trip for any reason including without limitation, United States Department of State, World Health Organization or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind. Gohagan is not responsible for penalties assessed by air carriers resulting from operational and/or itinerary changes, even if Gohagan makes the flight arrangements or cancels the trip. Gohagan reserves the right to substitute vessels, hotels or attractions of a similar category for those listed in this brochure.
Binding Arbitration
Any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this Agreement, the brochure, or any other literature concerning the trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16, either according to the then existing Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or pursuant to the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) Illinois law and will take place in Chicago, IL. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, the participant and Gohagan are waiving the right to a trial by jury.
Acceptance of Contract
By forwarding of deposit, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants and accepts the terms contained in this Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Binding Arbitration Agreement.
Registration
Commonwealth Club CST#: 2096889-40; Gohagan CST#: 2031868-40, WST#: 601 767 666, OST#: TA 0905.
