Cruise Talk: Great Lakes Cruise Ships

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Great Lakes Cruise Ships

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Topic: Great Lakes Cruise Ships

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 02-23-2000 12:40 PM

I understand the MS COLUMBUS has been very successful with her Great Lakes cruises in the past couple of years, albeit they are marketed primarily to Germans (and sold out months and months and months in advance).

I was curious about something. A ship can be no longer than 740 feet long and 78 feet wide to pass through the locks, Welland Lock on Lake Erie in particular. Yet pictures of the COLUMBUS that I have seen show her to barely squeeze through, and she is only 71 feet wide. What gives? Why can't ships like the MARCO POLO (which is narrow enough and has an environmentally sound waste system, which is mandatory), the CROWN DYNASTY, or a dozen other ships I know of make cruises on the lakes? Does anyone know EXACTLY what the requirements are to cruise the Great Lakes?

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-23-2000 05:21 PM

Hi Rex - Perhaps one or other of these will give you some answers -
http://www.great-lakes.net/
http://www.glsc.org/index.php3

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

mikiebaccarat
First Class Passenger
Member # 1026

posted 02-23-2000 07:32 PM

Probably the most limiting factor for Cruise ships to enter the Great Lakes is the vessels draft. Maximum allowable draft is 27 ft. but during this last year of low water the limit is probably 25 ft.
As well as C Columbus the French have a slightly smaller line Le Lavant cruising the Great Lakes. There are also ships of the American Flag Clipper Line operating in the Great Lakes and the smaller still American Flag ships of the American Caribbean Canadian Line. e is also the small Canadian Empress which cruises between Kingston Ont and either Montreal-Ottawa or Montreal Quebec City. Rumour had it that the SeabornPride was to have been brough into the Lakes summer of 99, I never heard whether she did.

Posts: 53 | From: Kingston,ON,Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 02-23-2000 08:52 PM

Seaborn Pride was in Toronto last summer, 1999

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 02-24-2000 12:23 PM

Thanks everyone. Looking through some of my old e-mails, I got my answer!! In order to pass thru Welland Canal, a ship can be no longer than 740 feet or be wider than 78 feet. While this does not explain the 1000-foot freighters and ore carriers, I guess it applies to passenger ships only.

Has anyone been on the COLUMBUS, by chance?

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

mikiebaccarat
First Class Passenger
Member # 1026

posted 02-24-2000 05:05 PM

The American Soo locks connecting lake Superior and Lake Huron can accommodate 1000 footers. Such vessels are confined to Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan and Erie and are all American flag vessels engaged mainly in the ore trade. Welland Canal and St. Lawrence Seay locks are limited to 740 ft. 78 ft. beam and at high water 27 ft. draft.

Posts: 53 | From: Kingston,ON,Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 02-24-2000 09:12 PM

Thanks for the info Mikie. I wondered how those 1000 footers got that far inland. And that also explains how the old girls Greater Detroit and Seandbee, with their 98 foot beams, got to the lakes. Could I be dorkier?

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

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