Comparing All-Inclusive Great Lakes Cruise Lines, Let's Find The Best Option For Your Style

I just returned from a Great Lakes cruise on Viking Octantis and it was an incredible experience - certainly a bucket-list adventure that I encourage all of you to consider. However, some comments and questions from our community involved the concept of how "all-inclusive" the cruise was and how it compares to other ships.

This question arises from the travel industry's overuse of the word "all-inclusive," something the cruise industry used to be known for but has somewhat eroded over the years. While all cruise lines operating Great Lakes cruises would be considered "all-inclusive," this means different things for different operators.

Comparing All-Inclusive Cruises On The Great Lakes

The three primary operators offer vastly different interpretations of "all-inclusive," making comparison essential for informed decision-making.

Viking Octantis and Polaris provide the most sophisticated expedition experience with 378 passengers. These ships feature Nordic balconies (offering amazing views without worrying about cold mornings or hot afternoons), heated floors, plush robes, and Freyja toiletries in all staterooms. WiFi, multiple dining venues, one shore excursion per port, and expedition equipment like Zodiacs are included. The ships also feature onboard research partnerships with NOAA, Cornell, and other institutions, plus citizen science labs unique to Viking's expedition model. However, submarine rides cost $499-500 extra, and premium experiences like unlimited beverages require the Silver Spirits package at $35 per day. What many don't realize is that you can bring unlimited wine and spirits aboard - we brought a case of wine in our VinGardeValise and enjoyed it throughout the cruise with no corkage fees, even having wine stewards decant and serve our personal bottles at dinner.

Victory I and Victory II deliver the most comprehensive package available. These 190-passenger ships include unlimited beverages, WiFi, all dining venues, shore excursions, ground transfers, and even a pre-cruise hotel night. Unlike Viking, there are no additional charges for specialty dining or premium beverages, making this the truest all-inclusive experience.

Pearl Mist offers middle-ground value with 210 passengers on the only all-balcony, stabilized ship on the Great Lakes. The fare includes meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, daily cocktail hour, shore excursions, and Starlink WiFi. Additional beverages and premium excursion upgrades cost $25-125 extra per person.

European vessels provide ultra-luxury experiences with sophisticated service and comprehensive inclusions. Ponant's 184-passenger Explorer-class ships Le Bellot and Le Champlain offer bilingual French service, unlimited beverages, and partnerships with cultural institutions like Smithsonian Journeys. Hapag-Lloyd's 230-passenger Hanseatic Inspiration brings German precision to Great Lakes cruising with bilingual German-English service and comprehensive expedition experiences starting around $17,000 per person for entry-level accommodations.

Alcohol: What's Actually Included

On Viking Octantis, I chose not to purchase the the alcohol package because the expedition schedule was so packed with scientific activities and research programming that there simply wasn't time to socialize at bars like on traditional ocean cruises. The included house wines at lunch and dinner were excellent, and bringing our own wine made the experience perfect for our travel style. Viking's focus on environmental science programming and Nordic spa experiences creates a different onboard atmosphere than traditional cruise socializing.

This highlights a key difference between operators. Victory's ships may offer more onboard socializing time for relaxing rather than expedition activities like Zodiac rides and special operations boat excursions offered by Viking. This makes their unlimited premium beverage package ($99 per stateroom per day) makes sense if you prefer bar socializing between ports and prefer top shelf cocktails over more mid-tier options.

Tours and Activities: Expedition vs. Traditional Cruising

The activity approach varies significantly between expedition-focused Viking Expeditions and more traditional cruise experiences.

Viking's expedition emphasis means a mix of included and premium excursions. The included tours were very good and more than sufficient for most people, covering cultural sites, natural exploration, and historical attractions. However, if you wanted boat tours, vineyard visits in Niagara, or helicopter tours over Niagara Falls, these premium experiences required anywhere from $150-500 extra fees. The trade-off is access to expedition equipment and expert naturalists that create unparalleled wildlife and geological experiences, plus unique opportunities like submarine dives to explore Lake Superior shipwrecks.

Victory includes shore excursions at every port as part of their comprehensive package, from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame visits in Cleveland to horse-drawn carriage rides on Mackinac Island. They've also introduced premium experiences for travelers seeking specialized activities.

Pearl Mist includes guided excursions at each destination, with optional premium upgrades such as seaplane rides over Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands or extended cultural experiences.

WiFi and Connectivity

All major cruise operators on the Great Lakes now include WiFi, though policies on streaming vary significantly. Victory provides unlimited access throughout their ships with fewer restrictions on usage. Viking Octantis and Polaris use Starlink technology for reliable connectivity, and WiFi calling worked very well on our cruise. However, internet access includes unlimited basic WiFi, but no high-bandwidth streaming without upgrades. Pearl Mist also features Starlink technology and restricts streaming to preserve bandwidth for all passengers.

Additionally, since all cruise ports in this region are in the United States or Canada - expect excellent 5G connectivity near major cities like Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario as well as while transiting the Detroit River and Welland Canal.

Food and Specialty Restaurants

Dining represents excellent value across all operators, with no additional charges for specialty restaurants.

During the day we loved our "second lunch" at Viking's Mamsen's serves authentic Nordic-style dishes using family-style tableware spanning almost a century, while multiple other stations in the World Cafe accommodate different dining options throughout the day.

Victory operates the elegant Coastal Dining Room and transforms The Grill into the interactive Tuscan Stone Grill for dinner, offering a "Hot Rock Dining Experience" where guests can cook their own premium steaks on heated stones.

Pearl Mist emphasizes locally sourced ingredients in their panoramic dining room, while Ponant brings sophisticated French culinary traditions with onboard-baked Lenôtre pastries and fresh French bread daily.

Making the Right Choice For Your Great Lakes Cruise

When selecting your Great Lakes experience, consider your priorities. Victory offers true worry-free all-inclusive value. Viking provides sophisticated expedition cruising with optional premium experiences. Pearl Mist delivers luxury accommodations with moderate inclusions. European operators cater to ultra-luxury travelers seeking sophisticated service.

One key consideration that most cruisers don't consider is that some lines will include pre-cruise hotel accommodations while others charge extra. On my Viking cruise, air was included but changing flights cost extra, and we couldn't explore Duluth or Toronto due to tight connections. Viking sometimes includes hotel nights in embarkation cities like Chicago on certain itineraries and is typically more expensive than just booking your own accommodations, but this varies by fare and specific voyage. Victory on the other hand, consistently includes the pre-cruise hotel night, potentially offering better value for city exploration and a more relaxed embarkation experience.

These nuances matter when planning your Great Lakes adventure. For personalized guidance navigating these all-inclusive options, Heather Hills from Flow Voyages can help you book a cruise that matches your specific travel style and expectations.

Please note: We strive to be as accurate as possible on pricing and details, but cruise offerings change constantly. Always consult your travel advisor for current specific details before booking an all-inclusive Great Lakes cruise.

Written by: James Hills

Pro-BloggerWest Coast Cruise ExpertThought Leader

James is an avid fan of all types of cruising but especially enjoys exploring the Pacific coastal regions since it perfectly captures the elements that he is passionate about, including natural beauty, conservation, opportunities to explore new cultures, and meeting some fantastic new people too.