A quick search on the internet will provide perhaps a dozen or more lists of things that cruise passengers should remember to bring on Great Lakes cruises.
I myself have written several such lists and have found there are 3 things that all lists have in common, and these three things should always be brought on a Great Lakes cruise.
In fact, these three items are so important that they should be brought even on short charters, day or dinner cruises on the Great Lakes.
First On any Great Lakes cruise, bring a good camera.
These days that means digital and it would be wise to bring at least one extra memory card and a couple of sets of extra batteries.
The Lakes area is fertile and teeming with wildlife, often and sometimes unexpectedly, these creatures can be seen from the decks of Great Lakes cruise liners that are running parallel with the shore.
There are also many beautiful shorelines to photograph and the lakes tend to produce brilliant sunrises and sunsets that make for excellent photos.
Great Lakes cruise liners stop at both highly urban ports where museums and opera are available and at unique ports that are little changed from one hundred or more years ago.
There are islands in the Lakes that still have no motor vehicles and there are others that are inhabited by the same families that lived there five hundred years ago.
Passengers on Great Lakes cruises that stop at these ports are usually treated to outstanding experiences that--along with the photo opportunities--cannot be replicated anywhere on earth.
Second Bring good shoes.
A nice comfortable set of shoes for walking is almost a requirement, especially when Great Lakes cruise liners put in at historic Mackinac Island where no motor vehicles are allowed.
A comfortable set of walking shoes will be worth their weight in gold in such places.
Bring a second set of shoes for aboard ship and yet a third set for dress wear if you are on a luxury cruise.
But, please don't forget the walking shoes.
Third Perhaps most important on Great Lakes cruises, bring clothing that can keep you warm or dry or cool by turns.
The Lakes are quite far north and at different times of the year can be sweltering or freezing.
To make the weather more difficult to judge, temperatures can rise or fall suddenly from morning to afternoon.
As a rule of thumb, it is best to wear clothing in layers.
Several light layers can be combined to add insulation and warmth, or layers can be removed to cool down.
So, a light t-shirt for underneath, followed by another light shirt, followed by a sweater perhaps or a sweat shirt and a windbreaker for overall.
Then it is just a matter of adding or subtracting additional layers as necessary.
I myself have written several such lists and have found there are 3 things that all lists have in common, and these three things should always be brought on a Great Lakes cruise.
In fact, these three items are so important that they should be brought even on short charters, day or dinner cruises on the Great Lakes.
First On any Great Lakes cruise, bring a good camera.
These days that means digital and it would be wise to bring at least one extra memory card and a couple of sets of extra batteries.
The Lakes area is fertile and teeming with wildlife, often and sometimes unexpectedly, these creatures can be seen from the decks of Great Lakes cruise liners that are running parallel with the shore.
There are also many beautiful shorelines to photograph and the lakes tend to produce brilliant sunrises and sunsets that make for excellent photos.
Great Lakes cruise liners stop at both highly urban ports where museums and opera are available and at unique ports that are little changed from one hundred or more years ago.
There are islands in the Lakes that still have no motor vehicles and there are others that are inhabited by the same families that lived there five hundred years ago.
Passengers on Great Lakes cruises that stop at these ports are usually treated to outstanding experiences that--along with the photo opportunities--cannot be replicated anywhere on earth.
Second Bring good shoes.
A nice comfortable set of shoes for walking is almost a requirement, especially when Great Lakes cruise liners put in at historic Mackinac Island where no motor vehicles are allowed.
A comfortable set of walking shoes will be worth their weight in gold in such places.
Bring a second set of shoes for aboard ship and yet a third set for dress wear if you are on a luxury cruise.
But, please don't forget the walking shoes.
Third Perhaps most important on Great Lakes cruises, bring clothing that can keep you warm or dry or cool by turns.
The Lakes are quite far north and at different times of the year can be sweltering or freezing.
To make the weather more difficult to judge, temperatures can rise or fall suddenly from morning to afternoon.
As a rule of thumb, it is best to wear clothing in layers.
Several light layers can be combined to add insulation and warmth, or layers can be removed to cool down.
So, a light t-shirt for underneath, followed by another light shirt, followed by a sweater perhaps or a sweat shirt and a windbreaker for overall.
Then it is just a matter of adding or subtracting additional layers as necessary.
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