Boost in Great Lake Cruise Ship Activity: 600 Port Visits Projected for 2024

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – More than 20,000 passengers are expected to cruise the Great Lakes this season.

Cruise the Great Lakes said there will be almost 600 port visits this year, after a record-breaking 2023 season that saw 800 visits and close to 25,000 passengers.

“As we look ahead to 2024, we remain committed to sustaining the vitality of our region’s cruising sector,” Anna Tanski, tourism director of Cruise the Great Lakes, said in a Monday release. “In just a decade, the number of cruise passengers has more than doubled, and Great Lakes ports continue to thrive as hubs for visitors. We are focused on maintaining this momentum as we navigate the future.”

Cruises brought 2,500 people — and their money — to Muskegon in 2023

Cruise ships are expected to have a $200 million regional economic impact in the 2024 season, nearly 50% more than what the industry saw in 2022.

In West Michigan, cruise ship passengers generated around $700,000 in economic impact during the 2023 season.

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