The Great Lakes Golf/Culinary Cruise

Cruise Dates:
August 22–29, 2009

The Great Lakes are a vast, interconnected inland sea, one of the great natural marvels of the world, and this one-of-a-kind voyage takes you to all five. In fact, the best way to experience the Great Lakes is by cruise ship—from the deck of Clelia II you have the perfect perspective on the unspoiled forests, pristine beaches, bluffs, islands, and dunes that make sailing the Great Lakes an unforgettable experience. And traveling by ship enables golfers to visit more Great Lakes golf courses than would be convenient traveling by land. We'll dock at Little Current and golfers will play at the Rainbow Ridge Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve. You'll enjoy the bygone Victorian charms at Mackinac Island and the rich history in Houghton. From Port Elgin in Ontario you can explore the remains of Native American and early Canadian settlements, or play at Doug Carrick's Cobble Beach Golf Links. And from Windsor, Ontario, you can travel to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village outside Detroit or play at Beach Grove Golf & Country Club, with its recently renovated Stanley Thompson course. Extend your Great Lakes experience by participating in the optional extension to Kohler, Wisconsin, where you will play famed Whistling Straits, one of the country's finest courses.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1	TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA • EMBARK Arrive in Toronto and embark Clelia II. Overnight aboard ship docked in Toronto.
Day 2	WELLAND CANAL Sailing from Toronto early in the morning, Clelia II will enter the Welland Canal to begin the dramatic passage through a series of eight locks that will "lift" the ship 327 feet from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, the difference in the levels of the two lakes. Part of the St. Lawrence Seaway System, the canal is one of the world's engineering marvels. Stay on board for the entire transit or enjoy golf or an excursion. GOLF: Golfers will play the opening round at the Grand Niagara Resort. Sited on the shores of beautiful Welland River, this Rees Jones classic beckons players of all levels. Mind the water, which comes into play in 14 of its 18 holes. TOUR: Non-golfers will take a drive and marvel at the great falls of Niagara, where every minute more than six million cubic feet of water thunder over the crestline.
Day 3	WINDSOR, ONTARIO • LAKE ERIE Arrive in Ontario's Windsor, built on the Detroit River, near the entrance to Lake St. Clair. GOLF: At Beach Grove Golf & Country Club, we will play the recently renovated Stanley Thompson course. Located on the shores of Lake St. Clair, this private club has a long and prominent history. TOUR: Touring passengers will drive across to Michigan's Detroit and Greenfield Village, a remarkable assemblage of restorations saluting the American past, with the Henry Ford Museum as its centerpiece.
Day 4	PORT ELGIN, ONTARIO • LAKE HURON This morning Clelia II arrives in Port Elgin, a bustling resort town built on a beautiful shoreline of Lake Huron. GOLF: Golfers will play Cobble Beach Golf Links, with its undulating fairways, links-like character, and thrilling vistas of Georgian Bay. This Doug Carrick course challenges the best players while also delighting the novice. TOUR: Those touring will visit the town of Owen Sound. Built on a ravine on the Sydenham River and facing Georgian Bay, Own Sound is noted for its natural attractions, including seven scenic waterfalls, good museums, and a thriving artistic community.
Day 5	LITTLE CURRENT, MANITOULIN ISLAND, ONTARIO | LAKE HURON Land at Little Current, the main settlement on Manitoulin, the world's largest freshwater island and one of 30,000 islands that grace Lake Huron. Manitoulin is the home of the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, a Native American community that bears the distinction of being the only tribe in Canada never to have ceded title to their land. GOLF: Golfers will play the Rainbow Ridge Golf Course. One of the most interesting features about this enjoyable course is that it is owned and operated by the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve. With 4 sets of tees to accommodate all levels of play, Rainbow Ridge boasts a challenge for both the avid golfer and beginner alike. TOUR: Non-golfers will drive to the reserve, where a traditional Native American powwow will be held, and visit the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, whose exhibits chronicle the story of the native people of Manitoulin and the north shore of Lake Huron.
Day 6	MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN & LAKE MICHIGAN • SOO LOCKS • LAKE SUPERIOR Arrive in beautiful Mackinac Island, a Victorian-era haven where cars are forbidden and bicycles share the road with horse-drawn carriages. Explore this idyllic island and see the ancient limestone formations that were considered sacred by the Straits Indians; the impressive Fort Mackinac, built atop a high cliff by the British in 1780; and the Victorian Grand Hotel, a landmark of the island. Also enjoy time at leisure to stroll along streets lined with gingerbread-trimmed buildings and browse in the charming shops. As we sail from Mackinac Island, be out on deck for breathtaking views as Clelia II sails under the Mackinac Bridge to enter Lake Michigan. Rising 552 feet above the Straits of Mackinac and five miles long, the bridge connects Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas. At 8,614 feet, it is the longest two-tower suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. Return to Lake Huron and proceed to the scenic waterways of the North Channel, which lead to Sault Ste. Marie. Here Clelia II transits the Soo Locks, known as the busiest in the world, where some 12,000 ships pass annually.
Day 7	HOUGHTON, KEWEENAW PENINSULA, MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA | LAKE SUPERIOR Today Clelia II will navigate through the Portage Waterway, the narrow channel that separates Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula from the mainland, to call at quaint Houghton, built on a bluff facing the channel. Keweenaw witnessed the country's first mineral rush, when vast deposits of copper were discovered in 1840. By the time the rush was over early in the 20th century, copper had generated enormous wealth, estimated to be ten times more than the money generated by the California Gold Rush. The legacy of the copper rush is still evident today in the abandoned mines, deserted settlements nestled in the forest and the opulent buildings in the region's towns. GOLF: The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, skillfully designed to follow the natural topography, features watered fairways, spectacular views, and manicured spacious greens, which provides an outstanding golf experience for both the veteran and novice golfer. The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge's nine-hole, par 36 course is unequaled in the area for its breathtaking setting and challenging layout. Alternate tee boxes offer an enjoyable and varied 18-hole round. TOUR: Non-golfers will explore this region, which is not only rich in history but also a place of extraordinary natural beauty.
Day 8	DULUTH, MINNESOTA, USA • DISEMBARK Clelia II docks in Duluth, at the westernmost port on Lake Superior's North Shore. Disembark and fly home.

Golf Hosts

A PGA Golf Professional, Ron Lucas spent four years as Head Professional at Latrobe Country Club under the tutelage of Arnold Palmer. His client roster includes, among many others, Cadillac/Callaway golf clinics, Special Olympics groups and the Pittsburgh youth Golf Foundation. Currently Ron is President and owner of Pro Golf Club Manufacturing and founder of a company specializing in custom-designed clubs and quality club repair.

After graduating from Stirling University in Scotland, Denise Doyle spent two years as an assistant golf professional with the Pebble Beach Resorts. Denise has also held positions at Fresh Meadow Country Club in New York and Kuki'o Golf and Beach Club in Hawaii. In 2004, Denise became a "Class A" member of the PGA of America and is currently a teaching professional at El Cabellero Country Club in Tarzana, California. She resides in Southern California with her husband, who is also a golf professional.

Special Guest Chef

Chef Dani Arana, only 28 years old and a rising culinary star, honed his skills in some of the top restaurants in the world before heading up the kitchen at Taberna del Alabardero, the elegant and authentic restaurant evocative of Old World Spain in Washington D.C.

While presenting classic Spanish cuisine with a contemporary presentation, Chef Dani has carved out his own niche. His first priority is always to please his guests and continue to excite them about Spanish gastronomy. "I love seeing the reaction of guests when they are exposed to new textures, cooking methods and combinations of different Spanish flavors," said Dani.

Chef Dani will cook special dinners and lunches during the cruise, conduct master classes and demonstrations, and oversee wine tastings.

Exclusive Culinary Cruise Amenities

• One complimentary night's stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto before embarking on the cruise
• Two massages (per suite)
• A $200 voucher redeemable at the onboard boutique
• A complimentary bottle of champagne

3-night Optional Post-cruise Extension in Kohler, Wisconsin

August 29–September 1, 2009

Extend your Great Lakes journey by spending three days at The American Club, a superb luxury resort in Kohler, Wisconsin. Play two of Pete Dye's award-winning championship courses, the Straits Course at Whistling Straits and the River Course at Blackwolf Run. The Straits Course, which hosted the 2004 PGA Championship, is styled after Ireland's great links courses and spans two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Given a five-star rating by Golf Digest, the River Course was the site of the 1998 U.S. Women's Open. It cuts across a glacial valley. Touring guests will enjoy the many recreational offerings at The American Club, including the Kohler Waters Spa; the private 500-acre River Wildlife preserve for hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and horseback riding; the Shops at Woodlake Kohler, spanning more than 30 boutiques and a gourmet market; charter fishing on Lake Michigan and fly fishing on the Sheboygan River; and antique and history tours, among other attractions.