Previous experience with Viking was favorable and we hoped this was a way to see the Great Lakes area which was a part of the country we had not been. Had we done more research we would have not taken this trip. The ship is beautiful and well designed, with lots of hidden and cozy places to enjoy spending time. The ride is very smooth with little movement, even in rough water. Entire crew from start to finish were outstanding. Food was outstanding.

Embarking from Milwaukie, WI, the port and scenery were quite unattractive. The first stop, which was Mackinac Island, was most enjoyable but not long enough, less than 6 hours. We rented bikes on our own to ride around and explore; highly recommended. Other stops at Parry Sound, Georgian Bay and Silver Islet, while beautiful, were rather secluded and offered little to do. The Special Operations boats were fun to ride and offered closeups to the shoreline, although very difficult to obtain a seat on. The zodiac trips were slow and not terribly interesting. Some excursions were modified and shortened . One "hike" was along a gravel road inside a campground. The naturalist was knowledgeable but no other positive comments. It appeared finding excursions in these areas was difficult. The kayak trips looked fun but were all booked by the time we were able to schedule. The submarine advertised beautiful below water scenery but we heard repeatedly the water was too murky to see anything.

This ship and its sister Polaris, are expedition ships which have, in addition to the regular crew, a crew of about 20 scientists and many very expensive "toys". These crew members were quite knowledgeable in their area of expertise but it seems these ships were built to go to Antarctica and sailing the Great Lakes is a way for them to be used in the summer months. What we were unaware of is the average age of the passengers, which we estimate to be well over 80, and estimate at least half never left the ship but stay aboard playing puzzles, knitting, playing games or reading. Certainly this allowed for fewer passengers going ashore, but the environment was not one we hoped for in seeking an active cruise with outings as described. Read more