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Great Lakes Cruise from Toronto to Chicago

Choc

My husband and I are headed out on Friday for our first small ship cruise with Tauck. We have done many land tours and river cruises with Tauck but this is our first small ship adventure. We have sailed many times but with other cruise lines. We have never been in the Great Lakes region. We have sailed from Boston to Montreal and we did the Canadian Capitals many years ago. I know many of you have sailed with Ponant before so any last minute advice would be welcomed. I will report back after we return.

Comments

British

Choc, I’d like some tips from you! We leave for that tour on August 30th beginning in Chicago. We have taken about four Ponant’s cruises so know what to expect about food and evening entertainment. I’m looking more for info on the stops, your impressions etc. Hoping the group we find ourselves with are mobile and not super formal about evening dress.
I guess Convention people will be heading out of town on Friday.
Which hotels are you staying at? We chose Fairmont as we have stayed at the Chicago Four Seasons and the dinner is at the Fairmont.

kfnknfzk

Choc,

Please do report back after your trip. Our trip in 2022 was very much an anomaly with many circumstances completely outside of Tauck's control, so I will not elaborate on those circumstances here.

This was our first experience on a Ponant ship and really did not have any other small ship experiences except for independent travel in Scandinavia.

We were not comfortable in our cabin, but that was my fault for not scheduling a different date that offered a larger room. We were also surprised how there was virtually nothing to do other than sitting in a large cavernous bar area. There was a small auditorium that I thought would be used for lectures about the Great Lakes, effects of global warming, et al, but it was only used for the daily afternoon talks on the next day's schedule and was locked at all other times.

The food was adequate but nothing like what we have experienced on Tauck's riverboats. Perhaps this was another anomaly, but there were many guests who wore bathing suits and coverups at dinner—a plus for those who abhor dressing for the venue! The most luxurious setting was the infirmary which my husband returned to daily just to speak with the physician.

The servers and room attendants were exceptional. For some reason, the tour directors and French crew did not speak to one another.

My only tip would be to take a rain jacket, preferably one with a hood. I hope you find the onboard experience more enjoyable than we did. I do not think the Ponant experience is for us!

British

Kfnknfzk, I had your report in mind when we booked this tour just a few months ago, but Tauck offered us such a great deal, we could not resist it. We picked the cheapest cabin knowing it will be small. Yes, the basic cabins are small and the bathrooms too, but this was a sudden extra for us in an already tour filled year. We have only been to Chicago of all the places featured ( my hubby ahas been off Toronto a couple of times on business) and it’s a great way of seeing that part of the country which we don’t fancy driving to.
In the past, we have found the small library deserted and have hung out there to read and relax. We have always found the food good on the Ponant ships but it is very French style, which we like.
Wasn’t there any entertainment after dinner? We always went to that but it was not well attended as most people seemed to go to bed early. We even danced away at the disco night!
We love lectures, so I did hope there might be some. Again, unfortunately, although we always go to them, they also are not well attended, such a shame.
One thing for sure, we will be wearing nice attire for the dining room, maybe not a jacket if there is no room for sensible touring attire, but my husband will take dress shirts and bow tie and I will have two or three nice outfits if room allows for that many. Mix and match is fun.

kfnknfzk

There was a small area on the same floor as our cabin but I would not characterize it as a library. Unfortunately, it was not a "quiet" room.

With the sheer immensity of the lakes (I was in awe), it would have been so educational to have lectures on them. This is conjecture on my part, but the tour directors seemed to have been thrown together at the last minute and seemed to be trying to get acquainted with one another, as well as with the itinerary. We did have a director who we have had three times before and was delighted to see us. He certainly made our journey more palpable.

The food was far from being French. The daily afternoon offerings—bar food—consisted of dry, crustless white bread slathered with mayonnaise and sprinkled with equally dry carrot and zucchini shreds.

We prefer quieter and more cultured musical performances for nightly entertainment. We have always enjoyed the festive and fun atmosphere of the riverboat 'dances' but constant loud noise and inebriated guests do not appeal to us.

Unless the clientele has changed for this tour, you will not see jackets, ties, dresses, or dress slacks onboard.

Choc - please do not allow my very bizarre experiences to taint your expectations for this trip. I have taken 30+ land tours and a few river cruises with Tauck and this was my first twilight zone experience. I look forward to reading about your experiences. Warm regards.

Choc

We are staying at the Four Seasons in both Toronto and Chicago. We are flying up from Florida the day the tour starts. The welcome dinner in Toronto is at Casa Loma.

British

That food sounds dreadful. Not what we have experienced on Ponant ships, we’ve even had caviar tastings. I hope your experience is not what we are in for!
Every tour group attracts a very different group which is why I am so nervous at the start of any tour. The Welcome meeting is a nightmare for me.
The ‘library’ I am talking about was a large space with bar at the back of the boat with large windows for viewing.
We‘ve had a classical piano player on several of the Ponant’s ships and some excellent singers and dancers. We sing opera and are members of a talented acting group and have been impressed.
Maybe the difference is that the ship is in the US!
I’ll be sure to report back as I’m sure Choc will.

Choc

There is a utube video of the Ponant Bellot. Check it out

British

Thanks Choc, I watched it and realize I had seen it before. I noted the library I recall is at the front of the ship. The food shown is what we have experienced in the past.

kfnknfzk

That's great, Choc, that your welcome dinner is at Casa Loma. Ours was changed to a different venue—looked like an old military installation. We did a drive by of Casa Loma so we could see what we missed. It looks fabulous.

We also opted for the Four Seasons and enjoyed very nice rooms with separate living areas. In Chicago, we had a lovely view of Lake Michigan. Depending on how high up you are, you may find a note on the bed explaining how the skyscrapers in Chicago are built to withstand the wind and what to expect. I won't spoil the surprise.

I do recall other passengers commenting that our Ponant experience was in no way indicative of the typical Ponant experience.

MS78

To those of you on this journey, if you arrive in Chicago early, I have to recommend the Architecture tour offered by the chicago Architecture Center. It starts at the base of bridge on Michigan avenue and East Wacker drive across the river from the Apple store. I live in Chicago and take guests on it when they are in town, so I've taken it multiple times. Every time I learn something new. It's one of our best attractions. And there is a an interesting Georgia O'
Keefe exhibit at the Art institute until Sept 22. It's her city scenes before she headed to the Southwest.

British

Thank you. We have been in the Architecture building but not taken the tour. We took the Frank Lloyd Wright tour instead. We are not going to have much time as we are not arriving a day early.

kfnknfzk

MS78 - Are you referring to the architecture cruise? If yes, one is provided on this tour (or was in 2022) but I do not recall if it was put on by the Architecture Center. Regardless, we found it to be very informative and comprehensive.

MS78

Kfnknfzk- the architecture cruise is usually provided by CAC. In fact, only the best docents get to do the river cruises. People work their way up to that position. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

kfnknfzk

We did. Immensely. The narrator was extremely knowledgeable.

British

This trip will be the third ti,e we’ve taken the cruise architectural tour. It doesn’t matter, we enjoy it.

Lotusgirl

I took a look at the Truck itinerary for Chicago, and I think they have dine a nice job with it.

If you like art museums, the Art Institute is excellent (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). There is a cafe on the lower level if you need to grab a quick lunch. The Art Institute is across the street from the Southern border of Millennium Park, so it would be easy to walk North from there through Millennium Park. Particularly on a nice day, a walk through the Park is really pleasant.

If you are looking for something to do nearby, a quick visit to the Chicago Cultural Center is worthwhile. It is located on the West side of Michigan Avenue, across from the North end of Millennium Park. The official address is 79 East Washington. The building is known for its Tiffany glass dome (3rd floor). There are always interesting exhibitions, and entry is free.

I also agree that the Architecture Center boat tour is excellent. We have been up and down the River many times, including on that tour, and it never gets old. You will see from the boat that there is a nice river walk down at the water level, and on a nice day it can be very good experience.

Tini

Great Lakes Cruise: Toronto to Chicago, August 23…. Any tips for clothing are welcome. I noted the suggestion of a rain coat/jacket with hood. Any others for this time of year are welcome. Thank you.

British

We hope to fit clothing for hot, cold, windy and wet weather. Oh and nice things for evening dinners in one suitcase 🤪

JanP

The Chicago Architecture Center offers numerous walking tours in the downtown area as well as in neighborhoods. There is also an El tour. Things to consider if you don’t want to do the architectural river tour. My husband has been a CAC docent on some of the walking tours and on the El tour for the past 20 years.