The US Great Lakes port of Milwaukee is developing a new, modern cruise dock to replace its current location on the heavy lift dock on Jones Island, which is surrounded by industrial sites.
The new South Shore East cruise dock, expected to be ready for the 2026 cruise season, will accommodate larger ships and significantly boost passenger traffic.
This season, ‘Viking Octantis’ and other ships berthed at the City Heavy Lift Dock.
The 2025 cruise season will see a 10% increase in regional passengers, compared to 2024, with about 11,000 international passengers expected to visit Milwaukee through mid-October.
The new dock will be able to accommodate the largest cruise vessels, including the Viking fleet.
Construction began in the spring of 2025, with the new facility expected to be operational for the 2026 cruise season.
This new terminal is expected to bring around 18,500 global passengers to Milwaukee during the 2026 season.
