Cleveland is hot: The Ohio metropolis recently made news when luxury travel purveyor Tauck made a call in the Port of Cleveland as part of its Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto itinerary. This is the company’s first-ever visit to the city in its 98-year history, and it was also a first for luxury cruise line PONANT, as the Great Lakes itinerary is sailing aboard its 430-ft, 184-guest luxury Le Dumont-D’Urbeville.
“Our cruises visit top destinations around the globe, from Antarctica to Venice, Italy to the Galapagos Islands, yet we’re always thrilled to showcase world-class locations closer to home,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar in a press statement. “Cleveland has so much to offer, and it’s a fantastic addition to our ‘Cruising the Great Lakes’ itinerary.”
Cleveland By Tauck
Cruise-goers aboard Le Dumont-D’Urville had a chance to spend an entire day in Cleveland, which started with an exclusive pre-opening visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The visit included a pub lunch and beer flight at a local craft brewery followed by sightseeing, including visits to Playhouse Square, Edgewater Park and University Circle.
Because Tauck operates its voyages aboard chartered ships—in this case, owned and operated by PONANT—it is able to offer your clients a more immersive and richer experience onshore, with custom-made excursions operated by local experts and Tauck Director guides. The visit ended when Le Dumont-D’Urville sailed on to the Welland Canal. Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto will visit Cleveland ten times in 2023 and 2024.
The Port of Cleveland is seeing a surge in cruise visits, with Viking’s Polaris calling there on its maiden voyage. The city expects visits from 49 different cruise ships this season, including American Queen Voyages and Pearl Seas Cruises.
“Tourism is a vital part of our local economy,” said Will Friedman, president & CEO of the Port of Cleveland, in a press statement. “We expect to see even more cruise ships arrive in Cleveland in the next several years and are happy to work with Tauck to accommodate more visitors.”
For more information, visit tauck.com.
