Escanaba Opens Cruise Season as Victory I Brings 150 Visitors
Sunday’s shore program moved visitors from the waterfront to the Delta County Chamber Museums for local history on Webster Marble and the Upper Peninsula’s military role.
Escanaba opened its cruise season Sunday when Victory I docked around 8 a.m. with about 150 passengers bound for local excursions in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Cruise the Great Lakes forecasts more than 800 port visits this year, a 15% increase over 2025, with passenger volume projected at 23,000, up 5%. The regional economic impact is expected to reach $300 million, 25% above last year.
Escanaba call centered on local history
North Shore Marine Terminal handles Escanaba's cruise calls. Sunday's shore program moved passengers from the waterfront to local museum sites. At the Delta County Chamber Museums, visitors heard about Webster Marble, the outdoor entrepreneur associated with Marble Arms, and the Upper Peninsula's role in U.S. military history.
Alfred Columb, a passenger from New Hampshire, said the Great Lakes trip had been on his travel list for years. "I brought a bathing suit, but that has stayed in the luggage," Columb said.
Columb said he would consider returning later in the summer. "I'd like to see more of the actual lakes," he said. "We've done a lot with cities and museums and that type of thing."
"We've had several people that have been aboard cruise ships who have brought their family and come back," said U.P. Military Museum Curator Ann Jousma-Miller.
Regional schedule expands beyond early calls
Michigan ports have already seen early-season Great Lakes calls from Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris of Viking Cruises, Victory I and Victory II of Victory Cruise Lines, and Hanseatic Inspiration of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Ponant's Le Bellot and Le Champlain, along with American Cruise Lines' American Patriot, are expected at Michigan ports later this summer.
Pearl Seas Cruises' 210-passenger Pearl Mist is scheduled to enter the Great Lakes on Friday for its 12th consecutive season in the region. Its first Michigan call is scheduled for Detroit on Monday, followed by an 11-night Great Lakes and Georgian Bay itinerary that advertises Escanaba among eight Michigan ports.
