There is no cruise terminal. We meet you at the ship.
There is no cruise terminal at Port Milwaukee. That surprises most people, because every ocean port they have used has one, and it is the single most useful thing to know before you arrive.
15 minutes from Mitchell, alongside the vessel rather than at a gate, and room for a week of luggage. The rate is flat, all-inclusive, and agreed before you book.
Two port areas, and which one is yours
There are two separate port areas and which one your ship uses depends on the ship. We confirm it against your sailing rather than guessing, because they are not close enough together to walk between with luggage.
We work with port security and bring the vehicle alongside the vessel. You are not dropped at a gate to find your own way in, and on the way out you are not looking for a car somewhere beyond the fence with everything you packed for a week.
Give us the ship and the sailing date when you book and we confirm the area against your booking rather than against last season's.
Lines calling at Milwaukee
The lines calling at Milwaukee that we have carried passengers for:
- Viking
- Pearl Seas Cruises
- Ponant
We carry their passengers rather than working for the lines, so book with us directly rather than waiting to see what is offered on board.
Luggage, which is the other half of this job
A Great Lakes sailing is a week or more, so the bags are full size and there are usually four of them for two people. Six large cases fit, and with two passengers the third row folds down and roughly doubles it. Tell us what you are actually carrying when you book.
- Passengers
- Up to 6
- Luggage
- 6 large suitcases, or the equivalent
- With two passengers
- Third row folds, roughly double
More with soft-sided bags, fewer with hard cases that do not give. Golf travel bags take more room than their dimensions suggest, though golfers tend to know that already. Tell us what you are actually carrying and we will tell you what fits.
The airport legs
Mitchell is about 15 minutes from the port, which makes a same day fly-in genuinely workable, and it is the reason most of this work is two bookings rather than one: the airport to the ship at the start and the ship to the airport at the end, often a week apart.
| From the port to | Miles | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE) | 8 | 15 min |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | 79 | 1 hr 20 min |
| Dane County, Madison (MSN) | 82 | 1 hr 20 min |
Measured from downtown, which is where the port is. Arrivals, FBOs and the Mitchell limo lane are covered in full on the airport page.
Questions people ask
Where exactly do we meet you at the port?
There is no cruise terminal at Port Milwaukee. That surprises most people, because every ocean port they have used has one, and it is the single most useful thing to know before you arrive. There are two separate port areas and which one your ship uses depends on the ship. We confirm it against your sailing rather than guessing, because they are not close enough together to walk between with luggage. We work with port security and bring the vehicle alongside the vessel. You are not dropped at a gate to find your own way in, and on the way out you are not looking for a car somewhere beyond the fence with everything you packed for a week.
How long is the drive from Mitchell to the port?
About 15 minutes. That is short enough that flying in on sailing day works, though we would still put you on an earlier flight than feels necessary, because a ship does not wait.
Will our luggage fit?
A Great Lakes sailing is a week or more, so the bags are full size and there are usually four of them for two people. Six large cases fit, and with two passengers the third row folds down and roughly doubles it. Tell us what you are actually carrying when you book.
Can you do the return leg a week later?
Yes, and most of this work is booked that way: the airport to the ship at the start and the ship to the airport at the end. Both are agreed up front at a flat, all-inclusive rate, so the second one is not a fresh negotiation while you are dragging bags down a pier.
What if the ship is late?
We track the arrival rather than the schedule. A Great Lakes sailing moves with the weather more than an ocean crossing does, and a chauffeur sitting at the pier for an extra 40 minutes is our problem rather than yours.
How much does it cost?
The quote is the number you pay. All fares, fees, taxes, tolls and chauffeur gratuity are in it, and each line is shown rather than buried. Point to point is priced on distance and time. Point to point has no minimum. Airport transfers and hotel shuttles are often under an hour, and consecutive trips can be booked back to back. Hourly, as directed carries a minimum of three hours on weekdays and four at weekends.
While you are here
- Private city toursA good use of the day before a sailing, and the chauffeur has lived here 30 years.
- Milwaukee black car serviceDinner downtown the night before, without deciding who is driving.
- Airport transfersMitchell in 15 minutes, O’Hare in an hour and a half.
- The service areaEverywhere else we go, on one map.
Send the ship and the sailing date.
We confirm which port area it is using, and you have a flat, all-inclusive quote back the same day. Book both legs at once and the return is settled before you sail.
rides@luxsuv.com