This May 3 visit is the first of 39 visits by the Victory I, Victory II, the Pearl Mist, and the American Patriot, which is new to Escanaba. That’s right — we will welcome four different cruise ships this season, largely because passengers and crew who visited our port these past several seasons have shared extremely positive feedback about Escanaba! The ship’s passengers from all around the world book these cruises to not only see the Great Lakes, but to experience and learn about the cities along the routes–and to see what makes our waterfront community so unique.

Those of us who have served the cruise ship guests have heard many positive comments from both the passengers and crew members. I personally had the pleasure of meeting one tremendously grateful passenger on July 4, 2023, when she realized she had left her essential medication behind, so she desperately needed to get to a pharmacy. A few weeks after her visit, I received this hand-written note: “I truly appreciate your kindness in spending part of your Fourth of July with me. The personal tour of your hometown was a plus!”

Then there is this comment from one of the cruise ship directors: “I have never seen a community so proud of where they live. I am in awe of how welcoming your community was. I heard from a passenger that the Escanaba stop was ‘way better than Mackinac Island.'” The island had been their previous port of call.

Our local tour guides agree that the comments they heard from passengers were “overwhelmingly positive” with many saying how welcomed the cruise ship passengers felt while visiting Delta County, and how genuine our residents are.

LaFave

We at the Delta County Chamber of Commerce are, in a word, uplifted — by the positive comments we have heard from the guests that visit our waterfront community. Yes, they love the lakeshore, the Sand Point Lighthouse, our quaint shops, the stunning architecture of the homes along Lake Shore Drive and Ogden Avenue, along with the beautiful artwork they see and have a chance to purchase, but the overriding positive comment we hear over and over again is that YOU make them feel welcomed. The cruise passengers are eager to meet you, our local residents. Your hospitality is what they often remember most when they leave our charming city.

So, whether you see them getting off the charter bus at one of our shops that the Cruise line selects to offer their passengers, or walking toward Ludington Park or the Lighthouse, please continue to show them the warm, welcoming hospitality they have come to know and love.

The cruise ship visits provide tremendous economic value as well, both from direct spending by the passengers and crew, along with ancillary income, (for example, employees of businesses serving cruise passengers, who then go on to spend their dollars locally). The economic impact is estimated to be upwards of $1.5 million this summer.

We at the Chamber of Commerce want to thank all the residents and businesses for showing our cruise ship guests warm U.P. hospitality, and encourage everyone to continue their enthusiasm all summer long. For a list of dates that the cruise ships will be in port in Escanaba this season, be sure to follow the Delta County Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.