“So far we have reservations from two different cruise lines and they will make a total of fifteen stops at the Muskegon port.”
President of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce Cindy Larsen says the past few years have proven that West Michigan is fast becoming a popular cruise destination. Muskegon tourists enjoy checking out area museums and the city’s collection of retired maritime vessels.
“Some of the passengers will opt in for a trip to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and then at the same time they’ll stop at a local vineyard for a wine tasting, so that is very different from what they see in downtown Muskegon yet so much a part of Michigan’s history.”
Cruise the Great Lakes predicts vessels will make nearly 600 port visits in 2024, bringing over 20,000 individuals to the region. That’s roughly double from a decade ago. The economic impact could surpass $200 million.
Larsen says that while Muskegon is still recovering from the effects of COVID on tourism, she sees the uptick in cruise vessels coming to port as a very good sign for West Michigan.
“Everyday things that we take for granted but if you’re coming from Arizona or New Mexico or California, this is quite a treat to see a different part of the world.”
