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Voyage to the Great Lakes with The American Spectator
Organized by Travel Dynamics International, our voyage brings great minds to the Great Lakes. Cruising aboard the American-flagged and operated Yorktown, a power-packed lineup of authors and journalists will discuss the fate of the nation as it nears the most decisive election of a generation. Panelists Grover Norquist, John H. Fund, George Gilder, Jay Nordlinger, John Miller, and R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. will discuss politics and policy in one of the country’s most highly contested regions.
Embarking in Detroit, the seven-night cruise will showcase the history and culture of this unique region. Highlights include the exploration of Native American culture on Manitoulin Island, transiting the impressive Soo Locks, and Chicago’s spectacular skyline. Experience the bygone Victorian charm of Mackinac Island, as well as the lesser known delights of Sheboygan and Saugatuck, with their thriving arts scene. The rich maritime history of the region will be detailed by Chairman of the American Maritime History Project, George Ryan, who will also examine the Great Lakes’ past and present cultural landscapes.
Flying under the American flag, and operated entirely by an American crew, Yorktown accommodates an intimate 138 guests in 69 exterior cabins. The limited size and relaxed, congenial atmosphere of Yorktown make it the ideal ship for this voyage. You will have the opportunity to mix and mingle freely with our panelists, joining them for meals or informal conversation on deck.
Itinerary
View Detailed Itinerary
Distinguished Authors & Journalists
John H. Fund is a senior editor for the American Spectator, an analyst for Fox News, and a former editorial board member and columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Fund is a tireless opponent of pork barrel, earmarks, and lack of transparency in Congress. He was called “the Tom Paine of the modern Congressional reform movement” by Roll Call.
George Gilder, author of the best-selling Wealth and Poverty (1981) and champion of supply side economics, is chairman of George Gilder Fund Management, LLC and host of the Gilder Telecosm Forum. He is also a Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute, where he directs Discovery’s program on high technology and public policy.
John J. Miller is director of the Dow Journalism Program at Hillsdale College and national correspondent for National Review. His books include TheBig Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football and The First Assassin, a historical thriller set during the Civil War.
Jay Nordlinger, a native Michigander, is a senior editor of National Review. He writes about a variety of subjects, including politics, foreign affairs, and the arts. His latest book is Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World.
Grover Norquist, Contributing Editor to American Spectator, is president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). In the 112th Congress, 238 House members and 41 Senators have taken ATR’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all tax increases.
Bob Tyrrell is founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is a New York Times bestselling author, and a nationally syndicated columnist whose articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times,
Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, Washington Times, National Review, Harper’s,and elsewhere.
George Ryan is a maritime historian with extensive knowledge of the Great Lakes. Past President of the Lake Carriers Association and Executive Director of the American Iron Ore Association, George will speak to us from his vantage as Chairman of the American Maritime History Project.
Yorktown
The Yorktown
The Yorktown is the perfect vessel for relaxed and convivial exploration of America’s great coastal waterways. Built in Florida in 1988 specifically for coastal cruising and certified by the U. S. Coast Guard, the Yorktown flies the American flag and is staffed by friendly and experienced American officers and crew. With a draft of only 9 feet, the Yorktown is able to maneuver in secluded waterways and visit small ports that are inaccessible to larger vessels. And Yorktown’s American registry makes it possible to operate domestic itineraries unavailable to foreign-flag ships. The ship’s cuisine, served in a dining room large enough to accommodate all guests at once, emphasizes American regional culinary traditions. Accommodating only 138 guests in 69 exterior cabins, the Yorktown enjoys an atmosphere of warm and relaxed informality that endears it to repeat and new guests alike.
Life aboard Yorktown
Life aboard Yorktown is relaxed and informal, and dress is always casual. Guests discover soon after settling in that the ship’s design fosters a sense of community and shared enterprise. Most cabins have large picture windows, and each is furnished with comfortable beds, a writing desk, ample storage, a clock/radio/CD player, and has a private bathroom. Your cabin is the perfect place for peace and quiet and for private rest and reflection. But you will want to spend most of your time in one of Yorktown’s inviting common areas. The Lounge, never more than two decks away (Yorktown has no elevator), is the hub of shipboard activity—the place to read, to converse with fellow travelers, to attend lectures and concerts, to enjoy a cocktail as the pianist performs on the ship’s Steinway piano, or simply to enjoy unobstructed views of the passing scene. The Sun Deck affords similar opportunities to read and relax, with the added virtue of open air.
BESPOKE SMALL-SHIP AMENITIES
Returning from excursions, guests enjoy complimentary refreshments, afternoon tea and all-day coffee in The Lounge, a gracious space for relaxation, surrounded by panoramic windows. Before or after dinner, cocktails are served to live music performed by the ship’s pianist on a Steinway piano.
Other Yorktown features include:
- Internet access
- Window-lined lounge with panoramic views
- Dining room surrounded by windows
| Cabin Code |
Cabin Description |
Regular Rate |
| E |
Outside cabins on Main Deck with portholes
|
$3,995
|
| D |
Outside cabins on Lounge Deck with windows |
$4,495
|
| C |
Outside cabins on Promenade Deck with windows |
$4,995
|
| B |
Outside cabins on Main Deck with windows |
$5,595
|
| A |
Outside cabins on Lounge Deck with windows |
$5,995
|
| AA |
Outside cabins on Promenade or Lounge Deck with windows |
$6,495
|
| S |
Superior outside cabins on Sun Deck with balcony |
$6,995
|
SINGLE RATES: A limited number of cabins are available for solo travelers at the following rates: Category C: $5,890; Category B: $6,490; Category A: $6,890. Categories AA & Superior are available at double the per person, double occupancy rates.
AIRFARE: Airfare is not included in the cost of the program. Please call the Air Travel Desk at toll-free 877-711-9896 or 212-592-1340 to make your reservations, or see your travel agent.
Yorktown Deck Plan
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS
- 7-night cruise aboard the 138-guest Yorktown
- Complete program of tours and excursions
- Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
- All meals aboard ship
- Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying guest lecturer
- Professional Travel Dynamics International tour staff
- Complete pre-departure materials
- Port and embarkation taxes
- Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers
NOT INCLUDED: Airfare; visa and passport fees (if applicable); luggage and trip cancellation insurance; meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages other than those specified above; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel.
Day 1
DETROIT, Michigan, United States | EMBARK
Fly to Detroit and transfer to the pier to embark Yorktown.
Day 2
GODERICH | BAYFIELD | STRATFORD, Ontario, Canada
Arrive in Goderich, located on the shore of Lake Huron and famed for its sunsets. Drive south along the shore to the charming village of Bayfield. Spend time enjoying its art galleries, delightful boutiques, and smart cafés. Continue to Stratford, a Victorian city known as one of North America’s great centers of art and culture.
Day 3
LITTLE CURRENT, MANITOULIN ISLAND | 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, home to the rare Red-shouldered hawk and Cape May warbler, is also home to the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, a thriving Native American community that bears the distinction of being the only tribe in Canada never to have ceded title to their land. Visit the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, whose exhibits chronicle the story of the native people of Manitoulin. Then enjoy a traditional Native American powwow.
Day 4
SOO LOCKS | WHITEFISH POINT | LAKE SUPERIOR
Yorktown will transit the Soo Locks, known as the busiest in the world, where some 12,000 ships pass annually. We then arrive at Whitefish Point, located on Lake Superior, and drive to Tahquamenon Falls State Park for a look at the Upper Falls. Return to Whitefish Point where there will be an opportunity to visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, located in a Coast Guard station built around a lighthouse which dates from 1861.
Day 5
MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan, United States
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 landmark Victorian Grand Hotel. Also enjoy free time to stroll along streets lined with ginger-bread-trimmed buildings and browse in the charming shops.
Day 6
SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin
Call in lovely Sheboygan, located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Sheboygan River. French explorers landed on the shores in the 17th century, and in the early 19th century, William Farnsworth established a fur trading port here, and was later joined by William Paine and others who further developed the town. Today, Sheboygan is enjoying revitalization. Visit its nearby attractions.
Day 7
HOLLAND | SAUGATUCK, Michigan
Visit Saugatuck, nestled off the shores of Lake Michigan and Kalamazoo Lake. Originally a lumber town, Saugatuck eventually became known for its fruit production, especially its peaches. In the early 1900s, Saugatuck was a prime summer destination for Chicago urbanites. Today, it is known for its historic buildings and churches, unique shops, and many art galleries, which you will explore on a walking tour.
Day 8
CHICAGO, Illinois | DISEMBARK | FLY HOME
Disembark in Chicago and transfer to the airport for return flights home.
Note: this itinerary operates in the reverse direction, from Chicago to Detroit on the following dates:
June 16, 2012 - June 23, 2012
June 30, 2012 - July 7, 2012
July 14, 2012 - July 21, 2012
August 18, 2012 - August 25, 2012
1-Night Optional Cruise Extension In Detroit
Tour the principal sights of Detroit. Included: One night at The Atheneum Suite Hotel with breakfast, a half-day tour, and transfer between the hotel and pier.
Rates: $275 per person, double occupancy; $100 single supplement
1-Night Optional Cruise Extension in Chicago
Tour the principal sights of Chicago. Included: One night at the Hyatt Regency Chicago with breakfast, a half-day tour, and transfer between the hotel and pier.
Rates: $295 per person, double occupancy; $175 single supplement
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