ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Escanaba has wrapped up a full season of welcoming cruise ships to its shore.
White and blue cruise shops docking on Little Bay de Noc have become a familiar sight for Downtown Escanaba.
“We had just a very, very positive experience with the Victory Cruise Lines,” said Vickie Micheau, Executive Director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce. “I think that we met their expectations. It was not only positive for their guests, but it certainly was positive for our community as well.”
Victory Cruise Lines’ ships previously belonged to the former American Queen Voyages, which made frequent trips to Escanaba in 2023. This year—following a season without regular stops—Victory came to town 34 times between May and October. Escanaba also had two visits from Pearl Seas Cruises.
“This was Dan Kobasick’s dream—the founder of NorthShore Logistics—and this is something that he had in the works for a long time,” Micheau said. “We have a wonderful port that can accommodate all the needs of the cruise ships that come in.”
Cruise passengers enjoyed a full day in town, led by knowledgeable local tour guides. According to Micheau, Victory Cruise Lines requested an itinerary that included local history and culture. Buses took visitors to places like the U.P. Military Museum and Webster Marble: Inventing the Outdoors Museum, as well as to local businesses.
“They did a little bit of shopping downtown, they visited the Bonifas Arts Center, they’ve had pasties, and of course they spent time at the lighthouse in Downtown Escanaba,” said Micheau. “We had guests that were from the East Coast, from the West Coast, and everywhere in between. They’ve been very impressed with our community, and we’re hoping whether they come back by car or by ship that they stop and see us again.”
While plans for the cruise lines to return have not been made at this time, the success of this year leaves Micheau optimistic about the future.
“You think about this little community and what it has to offer, and it makes us really proud of what this community has done and how many services they’re able to provide,” she said. “If they are happy with the services and if we met their expectations, we’re hoping that they’ll come back.”
To learn more about the cruise, visit victorycruiselines.com.
