LUDINGTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVES CRUISE SHIP STOPS IN LUDINGTON DURING 2026

American Cruise Lines will make two stops at the Ludington harbor on August 7 and August 14 after Ludington City Council approval was granted last week. For each visit, the American Patriot will arrive at 9:30 a.m. and depart the same day at 6:30 p.m. 

Built in 2025, the 250-foot ship is designed to accommodate 130 guests. The stops allow for coastal exploration – so visitors disembarking the ship will spend the day in Ludington, shopping, dining, enjoying museum visits, and more.

 “This is a great chance to showcase Ludington as a destination for this and future cruise ships,” said Brandy Miller, executive director of the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We expect it to provide a meaningful economic boost to our local businesses by bringing in more visitors this summer. More importantly, this serves as an introduction to what we hope will become a more robust and sustainable part of our tourism economy in the future. It allows us to thoughtfully test and build this market, while highlighting the unique character, walkability, and experiences that make Ludington & Mason County such a special port of call.”