Davenport is preparing to join the list of cities that will host Viking River Cruises when it starts offering cruises on the Mississippi River. Tuesday night, the Riverfront Improvement Commission will consider approving a license agreement with the city, which would go to the city council next week.
Steve Ahrens, Executive Officer of the Commission, says the proposed agreement requires Viking to pay the city one dollar per passenger. Cruises won't start until 2022, but he thinks the docking site, River Heritage Park, just upstream from Government Bridge, is nearly ready now.
"The only thing, and it's already underway, is the access from River Drive for a bus or whatever, due to the raising of the rail line by Canadian Pacific. But that's already underway for a spring permanent fix."
In addition to the per-passenger fee, Viking will provide up to 25,000 dollars for possible improvements at the Davenport docking site.
Ahrens says Viking River Cruises is now building ships that will travel between St. Louis and St. Paul, and even started marketing and taking reservations.
Just last week, Burlington approved a similar agreement with the company.
