CLEVELAND — With cruise season in the Great Lakes now in full swing, another ship made a stop in Cleveland on Tuesday.
The Pearl Mist, from Pearl Seas Cruises, docked in Cleveland as part of its 11-night excursion through the Great Lakes. The ship, which carries 210 passengers, arrived at 6 a.m. and departed at 8 p.m.
The "11-Night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay" cruise starts in Toronto and makes stops at ports in Niagara Falls, Cleveland, Detroit, Mackinac Island, and several other destinations, before ending in Milwaukee.
Pearl Seas Cruises' 11-night Great Lakes & Georgian Bay excursion will make six stops in Cleveland this season, allowing roughly 1,260 passengers to experience the city. A spokesperson for Pearl Seas Cruises told 3News' Neil Fischer that the company is planning two more Great Lakes itineraries in 2024, with a total of 12 visits to Cleveland.
"Cruising is really pumping up Cleveland's tourism economy," said Dave Gutheil, chief commercial officer for the Port of Cleveland. "The Great Lakes cruises are a real adventure for these passengers, giving them a real taste of what our region has to offer. We're thrilled there has been so much interest by the cruise lines. The Pearl Mist shows off the Great Lakes much like river cruises show off regions of Europe.''
Passengers shore excursions in Cleveland include a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a narrated motorcoach tour from downtown Cleveland to University Circle, a sporting heritage tour with stops at Progressive Field and League Park, and an experience in Amish Country, along with other area cultural attractions.
Other companies will dock their cruise ships in Cleveland this summer, including American Queen Voyages and Viking.
The first cruise ship of the 2023 season docked in Cleveland on May 10. According to the Port of Cleveland, cruise ships began docking in Cleveland in 2017. That year, there were nine stops in Cleveland. In 2023, a total of 53 visits are planned.
Cleveland's economy will benefit from that increase in cruise visits. The Port of Cleveland, citing a recent report, says that each cruise passenger who comes to the city spends approximately $150. Based on the expected 10,000 passengers who are expected to visit Cleveland this year, the economic impact multiplies to $1.5 million.
Roughly 170,000 passengers in all are expected to visit Great Lakes ports this year.