Cruise ship docks in New London

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) — A Connecticut-based company’s cruise ship has made its way to New London.

The company is aiming to highlight local gems in New England’s shoreline communities.

While it may have been a dreary day, the 100 passengers onboard the cruise ship have an action-packed itinerary that included visiting submarine bays, St. James Episcopal Church, the Mystic Seaport Museum and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

The cruise ship came from Newport, but initially departed from Boston. Guests are on a seaport tour, and will do a number of excursions along the shoreline ports. The tour concludes in New York.

“It’s never been done before, where you can cruise the New England shoreline like a river cruise,” American Cruise Lines public relations manager Alexa Paolella said. “It’s really special from that perspective, because the access is amazing, unlike what you’d have on a big, large-ship cruise.”

The voyage will last eight days and seven nights. New London Mayor Michael Passero said American Eagle is one of five ships coming to the city in this fall. He added the ships have already boosted economic activity in the area.

“You can feel the increase in the sidewalk traffic,” he said. “The merchants can tend to notice when people are here visiting and when they’re regular residents, so it’s a good feeling.”

Next stop? Old Saybrook. The ship will be docking at the Saybrook Point Marina from Tuesday to Thursday.

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