French Cruise Ship Makes Inaugural Visit to Thunder Bay Region

For the first time, the French-owned cruise ship Le Champlain is navigating Lake Superior. The five-deck luxury vessel, with a capacity of 188 passengers, arrived in Thunder Bay early Tuesday morning from Duluth. The stop was brief, allowing time for processing by the Canada Border Services Agency at Keefer Terminal before it sailed on toward Sleeping Giant and Silver Islet.

Le Champlain will continue its tour along the north shore, stopping at Red Rock, Rossport, Terrace Bay, and the Slate Islands, before returning to Thunder Bay on Saturday morning. The ship’s owner, Marseilles-based Ponant, previously visited Thunder Bay with its smaller vessel, Le Levant. Ponant is one of four cruise lines scheduled to make a total of 16 stops in Thunder Bay this year.

Passengers who boarded in Milwaukee will disembark this weekend, while a new group, flown into Thunder Bay, will set sail for the return trip to Wisconsin. According to Ponant’s website, an 11-day voyage on Le Champlain costs between US$9,000 and US$11,000 per person for a 204-square-foot room.

Paul Pepe, tourism manager for the City of Thunder Bay, noted that Ponant has expanded significantly since its founding in 1988. “Now they’re bringing one of their beautiful new builds into the Great Lakes and Lake Superior,” Pepe said. He highlighted the growing interest among international cruise operators in the previously inaccessible north shore.

Pepe expressed excitement over the increasing popularity of the region in the cruise industry, noting the positive economic impact on small communities and local businesses. Tourism Thunder Bay works alongside the Superior Country Travel Association to promote the area to cruise operators.

Calling 2024 “a boom year” for cruise activity in Thunder Bay, Pepe acknowledged that while Hapag-Lloyd’s Hanseatic Inspiration canceled one visit to spend more time along the north shore, the year remains the city’s best for cruise tourism.

Pepe also mentioned that four cruise operators are expected to bring their ships to Thunder Bay 14 times next year, with the first-ever visit from Victory Cruise Lines. Despite a slight drop in visits, he emphasized that the cruise industry is cyclical, with itineraries varying to keep experiences fresh for repeat guests.

Improvements to the Pool 6 facilities have been ongoing, but Pepe hopes to see a semi-permanent structure for luggage and check-ins established in the future. Still, cruise lines have expressed satisfaction with Thunder Bay’s current setup. A best-use study for the Pool 6 lands, conducted by the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, could lead to future tourism developments that complement the cruise industry’s success.