Cruise the Great Lakes projects more passengers in 2025

Cruise the Great Lakes, a regional marketing partnership, projects more than 22,000 passengers in the region during 2025, a nearly 10% increase from this year.

More than 700 port calls are planned, up nearly 30% from 2024, pushing up projected cruise passenger visits across the region to more than 150,000.

2025 marks the return of the revived brand Victory Cruise Lines to the Great Lakes, and other operators include Pearl Seas Cruises, Viking, Ponant, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Canada's St. Lawrence Cruise Lines.

Economic impact

Cruise the Great Lakes projects cruising's economic impact to exceed $230m, a 15% increase from 2024.

'As we look to 2025, we’re excited to see continued growth in the Great Lakes cruise sector,' said Cathleen Domanico, tourism director of Cruise the Great Lakes.

'The beauty and diversity of our region continue to attract visitors from around the world,' added Anne Sayers, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and chair of Cruise the Great Lakes. 'With more ships and ports on the itinerary, the positive economic contributions of Great Lakes cruising will continue to be felt across the region.'