Local Businesses Supplying Viking Octantis Cruise Ship
We’ve gotten use to shopping online, home deliveries, at store grocery pick up orders, but here’s a new twist for one local business.
The Viking Octantis cruise ship made it’s maiden voyage in the Great Lakes last year, and has scheduled more stops in the Alpena port for 2023. Last season the ship had a need to replenish it’s provisions and contacted Marine Market in Alpena to have a delivery made to them at a dock in Detroit.
It’s something Co-owner of the market, Bradey Smith knows a little bit about. “Marine Market’s been delivering provisions to the Great Lakes freighters for 135 years and we’re happy that Viking cruises has made Alpena one of their stops,” he said. “It’s good for local businesses and we’re happy to be a part of it. They’ve been getting some local beer from Austin Brothers and provisions from us, and it’s been really good for the community.”
Prior to their arrival in Alpena earlier this week, the cruise ship reached out again to the market to order two tenders full of fish and other products while in port. Arrangements were made to make a delivery at the dock to the tenders which are uses as taxis that bring visitors ashore. Two full loads were transported from the dock to the vessel.
After departing Wednesday for their next stop at Mackinac Island, arrangements had to be made for an addition to the delivery. “Then we followed up with a little urgent order up to Mackinac Island,” said Smith. “Sometimes we have to get creative with our deliveries, and today was one of those days. Typically, we’re a land delivery. Today we were sea, so we brought the provisions over to one of the, zodiac inflatable boats, and we were able to provision one of the boats in that manner today.”
The Octantis was moored out along with the cruise ship Polaris at Mackinac Island as both ships taxied their guests to and from the island, using the bright orange tenders. They each carry two of the taxis onboard with them as they travel.
Their itinerary will take from Lake Huron into Georgian bay, through the Soo Locks up into Thunder Bay, down to Milwaukee and then back around to Detroit, and Toronto. Passengers can fly into the various ports to join the cruises.
