Chris welcomes Kelly Wolgamott | Vice President of Pure Michigan, Travel Michigan, Lansing, MI.
Watch Kelly and Chris discuss how Great Lakes cruising is driving tourism growth, port opportunity, infrastructure planning, and business impact in the YouTube video shared below:In the conversation, Chris looked to find out several things from Kelly:
Welcome Kelly, we’ve worked with you in various capacities, like Pure Michigan, for over a dozen years. Tell us about Travel Michigan?
What’s driving the record growth in Great Lakes cruising for 2026, and is it sustainable long term
- How can local businesses in port cities better prepare to capture more of that projected $300 million economic impact?
What opportunities does this growth create for tourism, hospitality, and small businesses across the region?
How is Cruise the Great Lakes working with communities to ensure both large and small ports benefit?
What infrastructure or workforce investments are needed to support the continued expansion of the Great Lakes cruise industry?
» Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/
» Watch MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN
» Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork
» Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/
» MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/
Cruise the Great Lakes Forecasts Record Growth in 2026
$300 million economic impact expected from nearly 175,000 passenger visits
(ERIE, PA) – Cruise the Great Lakes, the region’s cruise marketing program, kicked off the 2026 regional cruising season by sharing its forecast at a press briefing in Erie, Pennsylvania, following the organization’s annual meeting. The 2026 season continues the long-term growth of Great Lakes cruising, delivering more passengers and port visits, and a record-breaking $300 million (US) economic impact across large and small regional destinations.
Economic impact
The economic impact of cruising on the Great Lakes is expected to exceed $300 million (US) in 2026, a 25% increase from 2025. More passengers, more port visits, higher shoreside spending, and a rising price premium for Great Lakes cruises are critical drivers of this growth. The ongoing expansion of Great Lakes cruising continues to bring significant economic benefits to both large and small port communities throughout the region.
Cruise Lines and Ships
A new cruise line will enter the Great Lakes market in 2026–American Cruise Lines will bring ships to U.S. ports in the region. The itinerary highlights the growing variety of travel options.
In total, seven cruise lines are scheduled to operate on the Great Lakes in 2026, including:
- Pearl Seas
- Ponant
- St. Lawrence Cruise Lines
- Victory
- Viking
- Hapag-Lloyd
- American Cruise Lines
These lines will operate 10 ships cruising the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River in 2026:
- Pearl Mist (Pearl Seas)
- Canadian Empress (St. Lawrence Cruise Lines)
- Octantis (Viking)
- Polaris (Viking)
- Le Bellot (Ponant)
- Le Champlain (Ponant)
- Hanseatic Inspiration (Hapag-Lloyd)
- Victory 1 (Victory)
- Victory 2 (Victory)
- American Patriot (American)
Passenger visits
In 2026, Great Lakes cruises are projected to welcome over 23,000 individual passengers, a 5% increase from 2025. More than 800 port visits are planned, which is nearly 15% higher than last year. And the total number of cruise passenger visits across the region is estimated at nearly 175,000, up nearly 15% from 2025.
2026 Season Statistics At a Glance
- Economic impact over $300 million (US), an expected increase of nearly 25% from 2025.
- 10 cruise ships will operate on the Great Lakes in 2026.
- the 7 cruise lines plan 148 itineraries (trips)
- Over 23,000 passengers will cruise on the Great Lakes.
- Cruise ships will make more than 800 visits to Great Lakes ports, a 15% increase.
- Total cruise passenger traffic at ports will total over 175,000, up 15% from 2025.
Understanding the Data
Port Visits:
- This estimate is calculated by adding all stops by all ships.
- If there were two ships, and each visited four ports, that would be eight port visits.
Passenger Visits:
- This figure is calculated by taking the passenger number and multiplying it by the port stops.
- If there are two ships, each with 100 passengers, and each ship makes four port stops, then there are 800 passenger visits.
# # #
About Cruise the Great Lakes
Cruise the Great Lakes is the region’s cruise marketing program focused on attracting more passengers. It is a forum to bring together the States, Provinces, cruise lines, ports, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, associations, and others working toward shared goals.
