Milwaukee, WI - Sun, sails and ships cruising into the lakefront —a taste of summer rolled into Milwaukee Tuesday morning with the first of an expected 11 cruise ships docking at the port this season.
It was just one of the many ships cruising the Great Lakes to get to what Mayor Barrett has coined the 'Capitol of America’s Fresh Coast.'
“Let’s take advantage of our incredible proximity to the Great Lakes and tout ourselves as the Capitol of the Great Lakes,” Mayor Barrett said.
Reaping the benefits of a growing interest in cruising the lakes —Milwaukee is seeing an increase in cruise traffic, more than doubling the number of stops by cruise ships in the city last year. Tuesday more than 200 people offloaded the Pearl Mist —going from boat, to bus and into the city.
“We are a destination," Adam Schlicht said. "We are a premier destination. We are a sexy destination."
Milwaukee serves as the turnaround port for the Pearl Mist. Meaning, after the more than 200 passengers offload, another similarly-sized group will board. Boosting, at the very least, the city’s hotel economy.
“Having that overnight visit from cruise ships this summer means that folks are going to really have the opportunity to experience our city,” Schlicht said.
The Pearl Mist returns in July, making stops in Milwaukee a few more times throughout the season.
