Viking Polaris near St. Clair, MI, on Monday. [Lori Hannon]
The 665-foot Viking Polaris launched the season when it docked Monday in Detroit. She passed through the St. Clair River later that day headed for an Alpena visit on Tuesday and then off Mackinac Island on Wednesday. It will conclude on Friday in Milwaukee, Wis.
Victory Cruise Lines will be the next to begin its season on April 25 with its Cruise All 5 Great Lakes itinerary. Its first call on Michigan will be on May 1 in Detroit. The itinerary includes stops at Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac Island and Escanaba.
Michigan’s cruising season will include nine ships from seven cruise lines: Six of the seven cruise lines will bring nine ships to Michigan ports: Pearl Seas (Pearl Mist), Ponant (Le Bellot, Le Champlain), Victory (Victory I, Victory II), Viking (Octantis, Polaris), Hapag-Lloyd (Hanseatic Inspiration), and American Cruise Lines (American Patriot).
The industry is expected to have a $300 million economic impact on the Great Lakes region this year – that’s a 25% increase over 2025, according to a forecast by Cruise the Great Lakes, a marketing program focused on attracting more passengers to the region. The projected passenger number of 23,000 is a 5% increase over 2025. More than 800 port visits are planned, a 15% increase.
M Live
