Photos: KBJR-TV

By Quinn Gorham of KBJR-TV • March 10, 2022

Duluth’s iconic lift bridge will go up for a new visitor this summer. Viking Cruise Line’s first ship to Duluth will arrive this May. The cruise will depart from Thunder Bay, Ontario, and sail down the North Shore, arriving in Duluth for its second stop.

Each ship is roughly 665 feet long and can accommodate 380 guests, with 250 crew members. Chris Fleege with Duluth’s Planning and Economic Development Department said the city hopes to upgrade its infrastructure ahead of the ships’ arrival.

Part of that process involves upgrades to the port’s aging seawall, which will likely take until 2023 to complete.

“While we’re doing the construction of the seawall, we’ll have at least eight visits from Viking. They’ll basically anchor out in the harbor and then they’ll have a smaller craft that will bring them down through and into the DECC,” said Fleege. That project will be funded by a $5 million federal grant.

The city also hopes to build a customs facility, which, unlike the seawall, needs to be completed before the first ship arrives in May.

“The most critical piece is really having the Customs and Border facility ready to process passengers, and that’s taken in coordination with the Coast Guard, with TSA,” said Fleege.

Construction on the facility has been designated mainly to the DECC, where it will likely be housed. Once the ships arrive, Fleege believes businesses will quickly see the economic benefits.

“We do see it as a real economic development opportunity and appreciate the partnerships with all the parties that have been involved,” he said.

He projects the city of Duluth could see an economic impact of $780,000 in its first year of cruises, with that number jumping to $1.2 million in the following years.

Popular attractions like the North Shore Scenic Railroad will be advertised by the cruise line, encouraging passengers to give back to the local economy.

“The North Shore Scenic Railroad and Lake Superior Railroad museums are going to fit right into the excursions that will be available for their passengers,” said Josh Miller, with the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Miller believes attractions like the railroad are what drew the cruise line to Duluth, and they should feel right at home in the city.

“Duluth has always had a great sense of place and that’s one of the things that makes the attractions an element to it. It’s why we’re a tourist destination, and it’s really nice to know Viking Cruises is recognizing Duluth as being a great place,” he said.

To watch the video version of this report and read related stories, follow this link to the KBJR-TV website. https://www.kbjr6.com/2022/03/10/setting-sail-with-arrival-cruise-ships-just-months-away-city-leader...