Cruise ship activity remained high in Milwaukee in 2023

Drew Dawson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·3 min read
The Viking Octantis sails toward the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee on its way to dock at the Port of Milwaukee on Friday, May 6, 2022. The Octantis was the first cruise ship to visit the city since 2019.
The Viking Octantis sails toward the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee on its way to dock at the Port of Milwaukee on Friday, May 6, 2022. The Octantis was the first cruise ship to visit the city since 2019.

Cruise ship visits to Milwaukee were down slightly in 2023, compared to the record-breaking year in 2022.

While cruise ship visits weren't quite at record levels this past year, cruise ship appearances have noticeably risen on the Great Lakes since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here's what you should know.

How many cruise ships visited Milwaukee in 2023?

There were 30 cruise ships visits to Milwaukee in 2023, which is three less than the record (33) set in 2022.

Did that bring a lot of people to Milwaukee?

The cruise ship visits brought over 11,500 people to the city, according to Port Milwaukee.

How many different ships came to Milwaukee in 2023?

There were nine cruise ships that docked in Milwaukee in 2023. It is worth noting that 28 of the visits were "turnaround" visits. This means that travelers' trips were either beginning or ending in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee's role as a turnaround point 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.

Here's how it broke down:

  • Viking Octantis – 8

  • Viking Polaris – 1

  • Pearl Mist – 5

  • Hanseatic Inspiration – 3

  • Ocean Navigator – 3

  • Ocean Voyager – 1

  • Hamburg – 2

  • Le Bellot – 3

  • Le Dumont D’Urville – 4

Why has there been such an increase in cruise ships in Milwaukee?

Here's what Port Milwaukee had to say:

"Great Lakes cruising has seen significant growth over the past few years. This growth can be attributed to an overall interest in exploring the natural beauty and amenities offered by Great Lakes states and provinces and the increase in cruise lines entering the market. Milwaukee has become a premier destination for Great Lakes cruising due to our unique services and offerings to cruise lines and visiting passengers. Vessel operators have easy access to necessary ships services and passengers enjoy Milwaukee’s diverse cultural and culinary attractions. Milwaukee’s abundance of local hotels and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport add convenience for passengers and crew who are arriving or departing from the vessels."

Will this trend continue?

It certainly looks that way. Port Milwaukee 2022 received a $3.5 million grant in 2022, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, to help pay for upgrades, including a new platform, at Port Milwaukee's south shore dock, just east of the Lake Express High-Speed Ferry terminal at 2330 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive.

Additionally, cruise ship lines like Pearl signed a deal in 2022 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.

When is cruise season in Milwaukee and on the Great Lakes?

The earliest ship to dock in Milwaukee did so in May in 2023. The last did so in October.

Tom Daykin contributed to this report.

Drew Dawson can be reached at ddawson@jrn.com or 262-289-1324.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cruise ship visits in Milwaukee remain high in 2023 after record year