American Cruise Lines breaks ground on new cruise dock in Natchez

• The groundbreaking marks American Cruise Lines’ largest port infrastructure project to date.

American Cruise Lines and the City of Natchez broke ground Wednesday on a new cruise dock on the Mississippi River.

The groundbreaking marks American Cruise Lines’ largest port infrastructure project to date.

Officials with the company and the city say it is a significant investment in the future of tourism in Natchez and along the Mississippi River.

Charlie Robertson, President and CEO of American Cruise Lines, said Natchez is a highlight of their Mississippi River cruises “and has been a wonderful partner since we started sailing on the Mississippi more than a decade ago.”

“This is an investment in Natchez and in Mississippi River tourism,” Robertson said. “We believe in the continued growth of tourism on the river and want to continue investing in port communities from Louisiana to Minnesota.”

He went on to say that the cruise line is ready to partner with communities along the river to build more docks and grow tourism throughout the Mississippi River corridor.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson sees the investment as a way to position Natchez not only as one of the Mississippi River’s premier destinations, but ultimately as a port of embarkation where passengers can begin and end their river cruises.

“This new dock moves us closer to a vision we have worked toward for a long time — for Natchez, the jewel of the Mississippi, to join New Orleans and Memphis as a port where river cruise passengers can begin and end their journeys,” Gibson said.

The mayor said the groundbreaking was about more than building a dock.

“It is about connecting Natchez to the country and the world — by river, by air and through hospitality — and positioning our city for the next generation of tourism growth,” Gibson added.