Green Bay Triples Downtown Cruise Ship Calls for 2026 Season

Green Bay’s downtown waterfront is scheduled to host six cruise ship calls in 2026, triple the two visits recorded in 2025, according to an Oct. 30 announcement from Discover Green Bay.

Six downtown ship calls planned for 2026

The 2026 calls are slated for Leicht Memorial Park, placing arriving passengers within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and attractions in the city’s core. The expanded schedule includes visits from American Cruise Lines and Victory Cruise Lines and comes as Cruise the Great Lakes, the regional tourism marketing program, projects 2026 will be a record year for Great Lakes cruising.

Across the lakes, seven cruise lines are set to operate in 2026, reflecting broader growth in the Great Lakes cruise segment.

Which cruise lines are scheduled to call, and how the itineraries differ

American Cruise Lines is set to bring its newly built American Patriot to Green Bay four times in 2026 as part of its Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula Cruise itinerary. The ship is designed to carry up to 130 passengers, and the itinerary also includes a stop in Sheboygan.

Victory Cruise Lines is scheduled to return with two calls tied to round-trip cruises departing from Chicago. Those itineraries also include a stop in Sturgeon Bay, and Victory’s ships on the scheduled visits can carry up to 190 passengers per call.

• May 29, 2026: Victory Cruise Lines is scheduled to call in Green Bay on a Chicago round-trip itinerary that also includes Sturgeon Bay.
• June 11, 2026: Victory Cruise Lines is scheduled to make its second Green Bay visit, again as part of a Chicago round trip with a Sturgeon Bay stop.
• June 24, 2026: American Cruise Lines has a sailing departing Milwaukee that includes a Green Bay call on the Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula Cruise itinerary, which also features Sheboygan.
• July 1, 2026: Another American Patriot sailing departs Milwaukee and includes Green Bay as part of the Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula Cruise route.
• Aug. 1, 2026: American Patriot is scheduled on a Milwaukee departure that includes a Green Bay call on the same Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula itinerary.
• Aug. 8, 2026: American Patriot’s fourth Milwaukee departure that includes Green Bay closes out the summer run of sailings that list the city on the itinerary.

Passenger counts and spending estimates for 2026

Brad Toll, CEO of Discover Green Bay, said the 2026 schedule could bring almost 800 passengers to the Green Bay area and generate more than $327,000 in short-term economic impact, driven by spending at local attractions, restaurants, and retail businesses.

Toll emphasized that the benefits are not limited to the day a ship is in port. “The economic impact that comes from a ship arriving continues to pay us back down the road,” Toll said, adding that passengers on prior visits have indicated interest in returning for longer stays.

Separately, local estimates shared during the announcement also placed the potential tourism benefit around $300,000 tied to the 2026 cruise calls, alongside Toll’s higher short-term impact projection.

Infrastructure, location, and the downtown appeal

Local officials have pointed to the downtown location of the cruise dock as a key advantage for both visitors and businesses. Toll said, “You have to have the assets and infrastructure in place and the Port of Green Bay, and the city of Green Bay have done a wonderful job of providing that.”

Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich credited investments by the city, Brown County, and the state of Wisconsin for helping make the ship calls possible, and he highlighted passenger interest in signature attractions such as Lambeau Field and the National Railroad Museum.

“We understand how important tourism is to the health of our economy and to the state of Wisconsin,” Genrich said during the announcement. “Cruise ships are a big part and a growing part of that economy. We’re really looking forward to growing that presence.”

Genrich also described the cruise facilities as an early gamble intended to draw ships to the city and said increasing from two calls in 2025 to six in 2026 is a sign that strategy is working. “The continued growth to go from two to six ships for us is really encouraging,” he said.

Great Lakes cruising expected to build on 2026 momentum

Cruise the Great Lakes tourism director Sally Davis Berry said activity across the region is expected to increase next year, with the sector’s 2026 economic impact projected to exceed $300 million. “We’re excited to see continued growth in the Great Lakes cruise sector and the positive economic impact it creates,” Davis Berry said during the news conference at the KI Convention Center.

With Green Bay’s calls scheduled to begin May 29 and continue through August, local tourism officials and city leaders have said they want to build on the expanded schedule as Great Lakes cruise traffic continues to grow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where will cruise ships dock in Green Bay in 2026?

Cruise ships are scheduled to dock at Leicht Memorial Park in downtown Green Bay.

How many cruise ship calls are scheduled for Green Bay in 2026?

Green Bay is scheduled for six cruise ship calls in 2026, up from two visits in 2025.

Which cruise lines and ships are scheduled to visit Green Bay in 2026?

American Cruise Lines is scheduled to bring American Patriot on four sailings that include Green Bay, and Victory Cruise Lines is scheduled for two calls tied to Chicago round-trip cruises that also include Sturgeon Bay.

How many passengers can the scheduled ships carry?

American Patriot is designed to carry up to 130 passengers, while Victory Cruise Lines’ ships on the scheduled visits can accommodate up to 190 passengers per call.