Great Lakes Region Expecting Record Cruise Growth in 2026
by Dori Saltzman
Viking ship in Duluth. Photo: Cruise the Great Lakes
Cruise the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes region’s marketing vehicle, has released its forecast for the 2026 cruise season. It predicts a record-breaking season with more cruise lines and ships than ever before – totaling about 175,000 passenger visits – and upwards of $300 million in economic impact on large and small regional destinations.
“As we look to 2026, we’re excited to see continued growth in the Great Lakes cruise sector,” said Sally Davis Berry, tourism director of Cruise the Great Lakes. “We forecast this upcoming season to be even stronger than 2025, both in terms of passenger numbers, destinations visited, and economic impact, which underscores the appeal of cruising in the Great Lakes.”
New for 2026 will be the entry of American Cruise Lines into the Great Lakes market. The small-ship cruise line will bring two ships to the region over the course of the next few years.
With ACL’s entry, seven cruise lines and 10 cruise ships will offer Great Lakes sailings in 2026 including:
- Pearl Seas (Pearl Mist)
- PONANT (Le Bellot, Le Champlain)
- St. Lawrence Cruise Lines (Canadian Empress)
- Victory Cruise Lines (Victory 1, Victory 2)
- Viking (Octantis, Polaris)
- Hapag-Lloyd (Hanseatic Inspiration)
- American Cruise Lines (American Patriot)
In total, the Great Lakes region is expecting to welcome more than 23,000 individual passengers in 2026, a 5% increase from 2025. More than 800 port visits are planned, which is nearly 15% more than last year. Added together, this represents nearly 175,000 cruise passenger visits across the region, up nearly 15% from 2025.
The economic impact is also growing. In 2026, the economic impact of cruise on the Great Lakes is expected to exceed $300 million, a 25% increase from 2025.
“Great Lakes cruising is vitally important to Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. It’s a major economic driver and job creator for our port communities and the state,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers during a press conference in Wisconsin revealing the new numbers. “I commend Cruise the Great Lakes for playing a key role in promoting the Great Lakes as a world-class destination.”
