Milwaukee’s South Shore Cruise Dock: Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks a New Era in Waterfront Development

On the morning of September 4th, 2025, officials gathered at Port Milwaukee, located on the shores of Lake Michigan, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the highly anticipated South Shore Cruise Dock. The construction marks a significant investment of $17 million, aimed at creating a deepwater berth at 2320 South Lincoln Memorial Drive, set to be completed in June 2026.

This new dock is designed to accommodate Seawaymax-class vessels, the largest ships capable of navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway locks, enhancing the facilities available at Milwaukee’s existing cruise berth at Pier Wisconsin, located near Discovery World. In recent years, Viking Cruises had to use the City Heavy Lift Dock at Jones Island, which was less suited for these operations.

Port Milwaukee Director Jackie Q. Carter noted that 2024 saw 22 cruise visits, bringing in 13,500 passengers. These visits primarily involved turnarounds, where passengers disembarked and new guests boarded. For 2025, the schedule has already expanded to 55 visits due to the inclusion of transit calls, allowing cruise ships to dock temporarily for passenger excursions.

Visit Milwaukee’s President and CEO, Peggy Williams-Smith, shared that cruise traffic in the current year generated an estimated $2.5 million in economic impact, with projections of further growth to $3.5 million for the upcoming season. These numbers reflect spending in local hotels, restaurants, attractions, and small businesses, as well as wages for local residents in these sectors. A study indicated that between 2022 and 2024, cruise passengers contributed $7.2 million to the local economy.

Funding for the dock’s construction has come from various sources, including a $3.5 million Wisconsin Capital Tourism Grant, a $500,000 Harbor Assistance Grant from the state’s Department of Transportation, and $5 million from the City of Milwaukee, alongside reserves from the Port.

At the ceremony, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and other local officials emphasized that this project would enhance Milwaukee’s appeal as a travel destination and broaden the positive effects of tourism throughout Wisconsin. Originally slated for completion in 2023, the project has now been officially set in motion with a clearer timeline for the future.

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