With the pandemic waning, Milwaukee saw a big increase in cruise ship activity in 2022.
With the COVID-19 pandemic waning, Milwaukee saw a big increase in cruise ship activity in 2022, according to a new city report.
More cruise vessels traveled to or from Milwaukee last year than any other year in recent history, said Port Milwaukee's latest annual report.
That resulted in 33 visits from eight Great Lakes cruise ships visiting Milwaukee from May through October − carrying 13,611 passengers, the report said. That compares to 3,000 passengers in 2019.
Those vessels included the 665-foot Viking Octantis. It's the largest cruise ship to ever dock in the city.
Along with Viking, cruise lines that sail on the Great Lakes with stops in Milwaukee include Ponant, Plantours and Pearl Seas.
In 2020 Pearl signed a deal with Port Milwaukee to make it a turnaround location for ships through at least 2030.
The lease provides priority docking rights at Pier Wisconsin, the dock immediately east of Discovery World downtown, with a guarantee the Pearl Mist will use the turnaround point at least five times per year.
Milwaukee's role as a turnaround point, where cruises begin and end, brings the potential for passengers to extend their trips with extra nights in the city. That could translate into additional business for local hotels, restaurants and other tourist destinations.
The increased cruise ship visits also carry an intangible benefit of showing off Milwaukee to people who could be first-time visitors.
“Milwaukee is a great destination, filled with attractions and hospitality. People from around the globe are clearly taking notice of our city, and the growing passenger and vessel visit numbers speak for themselves," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
"This effort is a wonderful example of how the city’s partnerships are creating new excitement and activity in Milwaukee," he said, in a statement.
Meanwhile, the port in 2022 received a $3.5 million grant, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, to help pay for upgrades, including a new platform, at Port Milwaukee's south shore dock, located just east of the Lake Express High-Speed Ferry terminal, 2330 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive.
That will help accommodate the increased number of cruise vessels, including the Ocantis.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee saw a big increase in cruise ship activity in 2022.
