| The Great Lakes have long fascinated mankind. | | | | Lakes cruises have long been recognized by |
| Since humans first arrived in the area, these | | | | Europeans. |
| magnificent fresh water "seas" have been an | | | | As the decades passed, Great Lakes cruise |
| important transportation route for both business | | | | companies were forced to competed with ocean |
| and pleasure. Fully 1/5 of the world's fresh water | | | | liners that grew bigger and glitzier every year and |
| flows through these massive lakes. The area | | | | made faster and faster transits to faraway ports |
| which contains the lakes is known as the Great | | | | and tropical islands. By the 1960s, cruising on the |
| Lakes basin and is it one of the richest and most | | | | lakes had fallen out of favor and little was left of |
| fertile spots on the planet. | | | | the industry except private charters and short |
| With so much to offer, it is no wonder that a | | | | day trips by private boats. |
| cruise industry developed on the lakes. People | | | | Then, during the 1990s, a German firm challenged |
| began to take Great Lakes cruises for pleasure | | | | the ocean cruise liners and brought full load of |
| shortly after Europeans first arrived, and by the | | | | European tourists to the lakes. That single event |
| early 1900s, there were cruise ships large and | | | | is credited with reigniting interest in the failing |
| small that carried tourists across these beautiful | | | | Great Lakes cruise industry. Almost overnight the |
| waters. | | | | residents of the basin area awoke to the |
| In the 1930s, two such ships, the S.S. South | | | | undeniable value of these waterways that are |
| American and S.S. North American made regular | | | | unique in all the world. New cruise lines were born |
| cruises carrying passengers around the lakes. At | | | | and new ships ordered. The modern age of Great |
| the time, the U.S. was buried in a great depression | | | | Lakes Cruises was born. |
| much worse than the financial upset we are | | | | Today, there are many cruise lines offering |
| experiencing today, and those individuals who | | | | excursions that last from mere hours to weeks. |
| could afford a vacation often wanted to travel as | | | | None of this new generation of Great Lakes |
| cheaply as they could. Cruising the lake on these | | | | cruise ships are as large as the ocean liners that |
| luxury liners gave them the opportunity to cuts | | | | travel to Hawaii and other exotic ports. These |
| costs and still enjoy a luxury vacation. People | | | | new luxury cruise ships are more like mini-yachts, |
| from around the basin regularly took the tours | | | | carrying 100 to 300 people in spacious cabins and |
| alongside people from all over the U.S. and even | | | | with excellent service. |
| people from Europe since the value of Great | | | | |