Great Lakes Cruise Traffic Expected to Rise 5%

Travel accounts highlight the appeal of smaller-scale cruises, from kayaking and fjord excursions on a Norwegian ocean voyage to slow-moving French canal barges that visit villages, vineyards and historic sites. Great Lakes cruises offer a different blend of open-water scenery and river-cruise convenience, with small ships docking near city centers and making it easy to visit destinations such as Mackinac Island, Detroit, Cleveland and Niagara Falls. More than 25,000 passengers are expected to cruise the Great Lakes this season, a 5% increase over the previous benchmark, reflecting rising interest in these itineraries. Across the experiences, smaller groups and closer access to destinations are presented as alternatives to the crowds and scale of conventional large-ship travel.