With a horn blast and a Coast Guard escort, the 130-passenger American Patriot left Buffalo after a two-day stay. The ship is heading back to Syracuse (Oswego) after docking in Buffalo on Thursday along the Buffalo River at the foot of Erie Street. Passengers on that first cruise were offered excursions to Niagara Falls, the Darwin Martin House, AKG Art Museum, and the Botanical Gardens. Passengers could also venture out on their own and a team from Visit Buffalo Niagara was there to help folks discover the city. Passengers before or after their cruise spend one night in Buffalo.
The eight day/seven night Great Lakes/Thousand Island cruises are one-way and originate or terminate in Buffalo or Oswego with stops in Clayton (Thousand Islands), Ogdensburg, and Rochester. The upcoming June 5, August 27, September 3, October 4 and October 11 cruises are sold out. Eight 2027 cruises and 2028 and 2029 cruises can be booked on the American Cruise Lines website. Prices start at $8,395 per person, airfare included.
The American Patriot will also be sailing between Buffalo and Milwaukee seven times this summer. Those 14-day cruises start at $13,060 per person. The ship will also be doing nine day Lake Michigan cruises in July and August with prices starting at $8,675.
There are seven cruise lines operating on the Great Lakes with increasing demand for vacationers looking for unique experiences on ships much smaller than the behemoths sailing the open seas. For comparison, Cleveland is welcoming 55 ships this year, carrying 9,000 passengers.
Buffalo is late to the game but the future looks promising. Earlier this month the State unveiled plans for a cruise ship terminal on the outer harbor that will be able to accommodate multiple ships. Victory Cruise Lines has committed to stopping in Buffalo beginning next year. They offer 14-night cruises from Montreal or Quebec to Chicago on five Great Lakes. Prices start at $8,899. Victory operates 200-passenger ships.
