You will get familiar with the site of cruise ships and their tenders coming to shore in Algoma this summer. The first of nine different cruise ships, including eight from the Viking Cruise Line, lowered their anchor outside of the Algoma Marina Friday morning. The 665-foot vessel began shutting people to the Algoma Marina via tenders just after 8 a.m. beginning with members of the crew first followed by some of the passengers.
Algoma City Administrator Matt Murphy said a lot of work and conversations went into the logistics of welcoming hundreds of passengers to the area off of an international ship. He added the city is embracing what the opportunity will bring.
About a third of the passengers on the ship were going to be boarding buses to head off to area attractions in Door County and Green Bay. Locals like Steve Mayheu are helping out the Viking Cruise Line to give the excursions a local flavor as tour guides. He has given tours at Lambeau Field for a long time, but even he admitted to having some nerves about this experience.
Cruise ships and their guests are becoming a normal sight in Door and Kewaunee counties. A year after docking in Sturgeon Bay, the ship Ocean Navigator of American Queen Voyages cruised through the area on Thursday. In addition to the Viking fleet, the City of Algoma learned this week that the HANSEATIC inspiration will also make a stop in Algoma on Tuesday. That is in addition to the seven upcoming Viking Cruise Line stops going through mid-September.
