By Star-News staff
ALGOMA – The Algoma community will see its first of multiple visits from the Viking Polaris, as it makes its stop in Algoma on June 16 around 8 a.m.
The ship will moor off-shore and boats will ferry visitors to the shore, where they can board a bus for several shore excursions including:
Cruise guests will be able to “Discover Green Bay” during a four-and-a-half-hour tour which includes a “scenic drive by motor coach through the farmland of the Door Peninsula en route to Green Bay.”
Visitors will learn about Green Bay’s history before arriving at Lambeau Field, where they will have an opportunity to tour the Hall of Fame and areas of the stadium, including the field itself.
A six-hour tour showcases the natural beauty of Moonlight Bay on foot and by kayak and includes a bus trip across the Door Peninsula
The tour also includes a look at Cana Island Lighthouse.
A four-hour hike highlights the Niagara Escarpment.
The massive limestone cliff runs from east-central Wisconsin through the Door Peninsula to Ontario, before reaching Niagara Falls in New York.
The escarpment was carved out when receding glaciers of the last Ice Age moved across the area thousands of years ago, creating rugged cliffs and bluffs, lakeside caves and exposed bedrock.
The two-and-a-half-hour tour allows visitors to discover the area’s wineries, brewers and cheese makers.
The tour also includes a tour of downtown Algoma and a history of the area.
Visitors will enjoy local beverage and cheese pairings and a walk along the shores of Lake Michigan.
The Algoma Chamber of Commerce and local businesses are working on ways to welcome the visitors.
The chamber will operate a mobile visitors’ center at Heritage Park and hand out Algoma bags, while Algoma ambassadors are available around the city.
“The Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce has solicited volunteers to staff a pop-up welcome stand near the Algoma marina where they will help answer questions and share information about our Algoma businesses and attractions,” said Algoma Chamber Executive Director Rosemary Paladini.
“What will make the volunteers recognizable at the welcome stand, our visitor center and throughout the city will be the Algoma Ambassador t-shirts. The shirts are a yellow with “Algoma Ambassador” on the front. On the back, we invite visitors to use the “Scan me!” QR code which will direct them to an “Experience Algoma” page, where they can locate dining, shopping, arts, entertainment and special cruise day events.”
The 15-day Great Lakes tour starts in Toronto, Ont., and ends in Duluth, Minn., with the Algoma stop falling on Day 7 of the trip.
The cruise ship, and its sister ship Octantis, will return in July, August and September, with the next visit scheduled for June 29.
For more information, visit https://visitalgomawi.com/events/united-states/wisconsin/algoma/community-events/viking-cruise-ship-algoma-wi-port-visits-2023.