2024 Great Lakes Cruise Passengers Forecast to be 140,000+

Chicago - Cruise the Great Lakes, a key promotional initiative for the region's cruise industry, has shared its optimistic outlook for the 2024 cruising season. After experiencing a historic year in 2023, the upcoming season is expected to further demonstrate the strength and growth of the cruising sector in the region, contributing significantly to both major and minor regional destinations through passenger visits and related expenditures.

For 2024, Cruise the Great Lakes estimates that ships will dock nearly 600 times across various ports, welcoming over 20,000 travelers. This marks a significant increase, with passenger numbers expected to be double what they were ten years prior. The region's ports are projected to host over 140,000 cruise visitor instances next year.

The organization forecasts that the cruising industry will generate an economic impact exceeding $200 million in the region in 2024. This projection is based on the continued rise in the number of passengers, port calls, spending onshore, and the increasing popularity of the Great Lakes as a cruising destination both domestically and internationally. The economic benefit in 2024 is poised to see a nearly 50% rise from 2022.

Among the cruise lines slated to operate in the Great Lakes in 2024 are Pearl Seas Cruises, Viking Cruises, St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, Ponant, Hapag-Lloyd, and Plantours Cruises, highlighting the diverse range of cruising experiences available to explorers of these iconic waters.