This article was published in collaboration with Lake Erie Living.
\Viking is cruising into Cleveland tomorrow morning for the very first time.
Viking just began sailing the Great Lakes last summer — and quickly found there was a strong enough market to support a second ship this summer.
“We are proud to welcome both of our expedition ships to the Great Lakes,” said Viking chairman Torstein Hagen in a press release. "With historic canals that are engineering marvels, cities with thriving arts and culture and unmatched wilderness, this is a phenomenal region of North America that may be familiar to many — but few have had the opportunity to explore."
The ship arriving in Cleveland tomorrow is the newly built 378-guest Viking Polaris which is part of the new Great Lakes Collection itinerary. Tomorrow will be the first of eight Viking stops in Cleveland this year.
In addition to Cleveland, the 15-day Great Lakes Collection itinerary features stops in Toronto, Port Colborne (Niagara Falls), Detroit, Alpena on Michigan’s lower peninsula, Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula, Michigan’s Mackinac Island, Ontario’s Georgian Bay and Thunder Bay, the Soo Locks and Duluth.
Just like with ocean cruises, excursions will be offered. In Cleveland, those include a narrated tour of downtown Cleveland, an arts tour including the the Cleveland Museum of Art, a food tour including the West Side Market, a biking tour along the Towpath Trail, and a hike through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
“Cleveland has so much to brag about and that’s not hollow boosterism; it’s a fact and these cruise ships are helping to prove it,” said David Gutheil, chief commercial officer for the port of Cleveland in a press release. “It’s fun to hear tourists talk positively about all the fun things we have to do so near the vessel, such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the great restaurant scene downtown.”
The Polaris will cruise into Cleveland at about 7 a.m. At 10 a.m., ship captain Olivier Marien will host a brief ceremony with local officials, including Cuyahoga County executive Chris Ronayne. The event will be held on the docks near the cruise ship terminal at 1050 W. Third St., just northwest of Cleveland Browns stadium.
The Viking Polaris joins her identical sister ship, the Viking Octantis, which starting sailing the Great Lakes in 2022. The Octanis' iterneraries range from eight to 13 days and do not pass through Cleveland.
According to Viking.com, the Great Lakes Collection cruise starts at about $12,000 per person.
Want more Lake Erie in your life? Subscribe to our free The Splash newsletter. It’s your guide to the best food, drinks, parks, beaches, shopping, festivals, music and more. Click here to subscribe.
