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North America's Enchanting Seaway: Commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812
After a decisive victory over Britain’s Royal Navy at the Battle of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry famously wrote to U.S. Army General William Henry Harrison, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” Join us in commemorating the War of 1812, and the only naval battle ever fought on the Great Lakes, as we cruise from Lake Erie to the majestic St. Lawrence River in remembrance of honor and heritage.
Until the American War of Independence, the Great Lakes were wholly within the boundaries of the various British colonies of North America. The advent of the new country raised the issue of the ownership of the Lakes. Strangely, it was the Napoleonic wars in Europe that were to settle it.
Lending his expertise to Travel Dynamics International is historian Ray Jones, co-author of The War of 1812: A Guide to Battlefields and Historic Sites. A distinguished expert, Jones will tell the story of the war from the perspectives of American, Canadian, British and Native American soldiers. Passengers will learn how the War’s St. Lawrence, Niagara, and Lake Ontario theaters permanently altered the political geography of North America, and paved the way for over half a million pioneers to move westward across the Ohio Territory.
Cruise highlights include a call at historic Cleveland, where the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have organized a series of commemorative events alongside the Great Lakes Historical Society. Guests will also have an opportunity to visit the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Next, pass through the eight locks of the Welland Canal into Lake Ontario and recount the decisive roll Fort Erie and the Chippawa Battlefield played in the Niagara campaign, the longest and bloodiest military operation of the war. Explore the thundering Niagara Falls before navigating through the resplendent Thousand Islands and historic St. Lawrence River en route to Montreal and Quebec City.
Our ship is the American-flagged and -operated 138-guest Yorktown. This handsome, comfortable small cruise ship features cabins that face outside, a lounge and dining room that are surrounded by large windows, and broad promenade decks.
The War of 1812 played a pivotal role in shaping the political map of North America. From the smallest skirmishes in the forests of New York, to the great naval engagements on the Atlantic, these are battles worth remembering.
Itinerary
Day 1 • QUEBEC CITY | EMBARK
Day 2 • QUEBEC CITY
Day 3 • MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada
Day 4 • THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
Day 5 • THOUSAND ISLANDS
Day 6 • WELLAND CANAL | NIAGARA FALLS | LAKE ONTARIO
Day 7 • CLEVELAND, Ohio | LAKE ERIE
Day 8 • USA | DETROIT, Michigan, United States | DISEMBARK
View Detailed Itinerary
This voyage will be accompanied by Ray Jones, co-author of The War of 1812: A Guide to Battlefields and Historic Sites. You will quickly discover that Mr. Jones is not only one of the most renownd experts in the military history of the War of 1812, but also extremely knowledgable in how its aftermath helped shape the current political geography of North America.
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
- Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
- All meals aboard ship
- Complete program of tours and excursions
- 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
QUEBEC CITY | EMBARK
Embark in Quebec and transfer from the airport to Yorktown.
Day 2
QUEBEC CITY
City, built on the site of Iroquois village Stadacona, sits high above the narrowest point of the St. Lawrence River, giving it the nickname, “the Gibraltar of North America”. With its old city walls, narrow cobblestoned lanes, country squares, copper gables, outdoor cafes and historic battlements, Quebec City remains one of the most romantic spots in North America. The authentic, undeveloped charm led UNESCO to designate it a World Heritage site in 1985. Discover the Citadel, which at the outset of the War of 1812, was one of the only permanent fortresses in the Canadas.
Day 3
MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada
The second-largest French-speaking city in the Western world after Paris, Montreal is one of North America’s most cosmopolitan cities, striking a dynamic balance between the avant-garde and Old World charms. Our tour includes a stroll through the cobblestoned streets of Vieux-Montreal (the old quarter); resplendent Notre Dame Basilica; and Mont-Royal Park, where the Iroquois established their original settlement. The afternoon is at leisure to further discover Montreal on your own.
Day 4
THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
American leaders saw the St. Lawrence Valley as an ideal invasion route into Canada. British regulars, helped by Indian tribes, were quite successful against American advances, and the campaigns targeting Montreal in both 1812 and 1813 failed terribly. As we navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway, a system of lakes, canals, and locks that provide a deepwater passage from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario. We’ll begin our beguiling transit through its seven locks, whose history dates back as early as 1895 when the first commission was established to discuss the feasibility of creating such an ambitious and important seaway. It was finally realized in 1959 with the passage of the icebreaker “D’Iberville.” Our onboard experts will delve further into the history of this storied region and the decisive role the St. Lawrence theater played in the War of 1812.
Day 5
THOUSAND ISLANDS
Explore the renowned Thousand Islands, a popular vacation destination for more than a century. Enjoy views from the spacious lounge or open sun deck as we sail past tiny islands dotted with magnificent homes of every size including the turreted castle on Heart Island. This will be a day to relax as you take in the surrounding vistas and enjoy presentations by expert lecturers.
Day 6
WELLAND CANAL | NIAGARA FALLS | LAKE ONTARIO
Today Yorktown begins the dramatic passage from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Before departing Lake Erie, enjoy a lecture on the only naval battle ever fought on the Great Lakes - The Battle of Lake Erie. After a decisive victory where nine U.S. Navy wooden war ships engaged the British Royal Navy, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's famously wrote to U.S. Army General William Henry Harrison, "We have met the enemy and they are ours". Next, pass through the Welland Canal. A series of seven locks designed as a continuous flight of “stairs” lowers Yorktown 324 feet over a distance of 27 miles. From the decks of the ship witness the mechanics of this engineering marvel, which took over 100 years to complete. Stay on board for the entire transit or disembark in Niagara for an excursion to Niagara Falls, one of North America’s most spectacular natural wonders, or visit Fort Erie and the Chippawa Battlefield, home of the longest and bloodiest operations of the Niagara campaign.
Day 7
CLEVELAND, Ohio | LAKE ERIE
Sitting where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie, Cleveland is home to a monumental downtown and a rich cultural legacy. Over nine million people visit this city on the lake, founded on the wealth of steel and oil barons. Cleveland’s industrial foundation is very much in evidence, though downtown’s steel warehouses and tool-and-die factories now house smart restaurants, cafés, and shops, and its many bridges lead to revitalized neighborhoods. Our tour of the city will include the Great Lakes Science Center, with its excellent presentations of the ecology of the Great Lakes, and the striking I. M. Pei-designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located on the Lake Erie waterfront. Alternately, tour the superb Cleveland Museum of Art, noted for its collection of European paintings, as well as American, Asian, and African Art, and the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Later enjoy the various historical events organized in commemoration of the War of 1812 by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp, and learn about the small, yet significant, role Cleveland play in the War.
Day 8
USA | DETROIT, Michigan, United States | DISEMBARK
Disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Click here to view the comprehensive brochure of our 2012 North America voyages.
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