ACL-American Cruise Lines announced it had signed a 20-year docking agreement with Vicksburg MS.
The agreement was finalized by City officials and includes a financial contribution from the cruise line for improvements to the docking area and funding for beautification of the facility. According to the agreement, ACL will pay the City a per-passenger fee and the Company will receive priority docking for its cruise ships along a section of Vicksburg riverfront.
ACL has had riverboats visiting Vicksburg and sailing on Mississippi River for years, but this is the first official agreement of the kind between Vicksburg and the cruise company. ACL is currently the largest cruise line in the country with a fleet of thirteen small U.S.-built vessels. The cruise line has doubled its capacity on the river in the past two years, with four ships sailing there in 2020, and more newbuilds coming in 2021 and beyond.
In addition to the investment in the waterfront and passenger fees, ACL will provide shuttle services for its passengers, transporting them throughout the community to a variety of businesses in the downtown area and Vicksburg attractions.
ACL ships cruise 10+ different Mississippi River itineraries between February-December each year.