Cruise season kicks off in Milwaukee with return of Viking Octantis

Final up to date on Could eighth, 2023 at 02:12 pm

The Viking Octantis cruise ship returned to the Milwaukee harbor Thursday morning, formally marking the beginning of the 2023 cruise season for the town.

The cruise ship’s arrival in Milwaukee will start a 2023 summer season season throughout which 31 port calls by numerous cruise ships are deliberate, bringing an estimated 12,000 passengers to the town.

Operated by Switzerland-based Viking Cruises, the Octantis ship can carry as much as 378 passengers on voyages all through the Nice Lakes. That is the second season that Viking will designate Milwaukee as a cease for the corporate’s Nice Lakes cruise itineraries.

Viking additionally plans to introduce a second, equivalent ship to the Nice Lakes in 2023. Known as the Viking Polaris, the ship will double the cruise line firm’s capability within the Nice Lakes area and create extra leisure tourism alternatives in Milwaukee.

The Octantis and Polaris ships can even provide new cruises this 12 months between Milwaukee and South America. The passengers who arrived in Milwaukee on Thursday accomplished a two-month lengthy journey that started in South America.

“Port Milwaukee’s Nice Lakes cruise business has elevated our profile inside the group and all over the world. Extra residents have gotten accustomed to Port Milwaukee’s work due to this new tourism sector, and we’re excited for extra development within the years forward,” stated Jackie Carter, director of Port Milwaukee. “The Port is wanting ahead to a different profitable Nice Lakes leisure cruise season in 2023.”

After the cruise season was cancelled for 2 years as a result of pandemic, 2022 was a record-setting 12 months for Port Milwaukee with over 13,000 guests coming to the town. Eight completely different cruise ships made 33 port calls final 12 months.

Peggy Williams-Smith, president and chief govt officer of VISIT Milwaukee, beforehand stated the financial influence of final 12 months’s cruise season in Milwaukee was over $3.1 million.

This 12 months, Viking will as soon as once more use the town’s Heavy Elevate Dock as its docking location. The South Shore Cruise Dock, positioned instantly east of the Lake Categorical Excessive-Velocity Ferry terminal, will function the longer term port-of-call for vessels the dimensions of the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris. Building of South Shore Cruise Dock is anticipated to start in 2024.

“Milwaukee is a good vacation spot, full of sights and hospitality. Individuals from across the globe are taking discover of our metropolis,” stated Mayor Cavalier Johnson. “This can be a great instance of how native and regional partnerships are creating new pleasure and exercise in Milwaukee. I’m wanting ahead to extra worldwide cruise passengers touring to America’s recent coast this 12 months, and past.”