Port Milwaukee getting ready to host two cruise ships simultaneously

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two passenger cruise ships will dock in Milwaukee Friday bringing tourists to the city. This is the first time in recent history that two cruise ships will be in port simultaneously.

It also coincides with a renewed effort to attract the passenger cruise business to Milwaukee and the Great Lakes.

The Pearl Mist is scheduled to tie-up at the dock east of the Lake Express ferry terminal around 8:00 a.m. The Pearl Mist anticipates using Port Milwaukee as a Great Lakes embarkation point for its future cruise itineraries.

The Grande Mariner is set to dock at the cruise ship dock adjacent to Discovery World in downtown Milwaukee at 10:30 p.m. Friday.

Together, the two cruise ships have the capacity to carry more than 300 visitors.

The Port expects an additional vessel, the Hamburg, to stop in Milwaukee on two dates later this year. 

Next year, Port Milwaukee expects more than ten cruise vessel visits from at least five different ships.