Longitudinal World Cruise IV | Viking Octantis Expedition Ship

Board your ship and get comfortable in your stateroom. Milwaukee was first settled by Europeans in 1818 when French-Canadian fur trader Solomon Juneau arrived. Later, German, Polish, and Eastern European immigrants brought a strong beer-brewing tradition, making Milwaukee the world's top beer producer for much of the 20th century. Today, the city thrives as a hub of art, history, and culture. The RiverWalk, a scenic pedestrian path along the Milwaukee River, is a great place for a relaxing stroll or admiring public art.

Nestled on Lake Michigan’s shores, Milwaukee sits at the meeting point of three rivers—the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic. Long before European arrival, indigenous groups such as the Potawatomi, Menominee, Fox, and Winnebago inhabited the area. Missionary Jacques Marquette explored Milwaukee in 1647, followed by fur traders. The settlement remained a secondary trading post until after the Revolutionary War when Jacques Vieau established the “Milwaukee Outfit,” transforming it into a key trading hub along Lake Michigan’s western shores.