Beautifully engineered Kawartha Voyageur moored at Smiths Falls lock PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

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The Kawartha Voyageur is charming her way up and down the Rideau, from Kingston to Ottawa and back. She is a beauty at 120 feet of steel. She is also an engineering feat able to collapse her top to fit under low bridges. (I guffawed at my use of words!)

The wedge snapped her at the Smiths Falls lock, moored approximately one hundred feet from it. It is a mystery how she fit into the lock, but one trick was revealed : she folds up her nose, the lower deck, for a good fit.

Kawartha Voyageur folds up her lower, guests’ deck for a tight fit in Rideau River locks PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

A cruise on the Kawartha Voyageur is a great idea for a short 5-6 nights cruise. As cruises go, you meet people and make new friends. After all, you live in close quarters for 6 or 7 days.

“Mom, Dad, we bought you a cruise for your anniversary.” It is just so perfect.

ABOUT THE SHIP

The lower level features guests cabins which can house 45 passengers. The middle deck houses the dining room, a lounge, a library and a bar. Games, cards, puzzles, theatrical skits, books, magazines, keep everyone busy during evenings–or you can surf on the ship’s wifi. There is an elevator between the two floors for those creaky knees.

All guests can be served meals in one sitting. Food is made fresh daily; after all its owners are a farming family who know the merits of ‘fresh.’

The top deck is for sightseeing, in the shade and open skies. The front lower deck offers closeness to water and ability to hop off at will when moored.

I stood on her and confirm, she is immaculate. Sadly, it was overcast and drizzling. I could not capture her with our usual natural spotlight.

Rear view of Kawartha Voyageur with many cooling units showing on the top deck PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

The Ontario Waterway Cruises runs all cruises on the Kawartha Voyageur. Both are owned by second generation Ackert family of Peterborough. Their founders were farmers who on retiring shifted their work to hospitality. The rest is history.

Ackert family owned Ontario Waterway Cruises runs all cruises on the Kawartha Voyageur PHOTO BY theWedge.LIVE

Watch this video to see how the ship shrinks and folds to fit into short locks and pass under low bridges. Very impressive.

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