The American Heritage riverboat will make eight stops in Marietta between July 1 and Aug. 24. The American Melody will make seven. (Photo provided)

A schedule has been announced for two passenger river cruise ships that will be in Marietta this summer.

The American Melody and the American Heritage will make a combined 14 stops in Marietta between July 1 and Aug. 24 at the levee on the Ohio River, the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau said.

The American Melody and American Heritage are operated by American Cruise Lines.

The Melody is a 180-passenger cruise ship built in 2021 for the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers. The paddlewheeler Heritage has a capacity of 150 passengers and debuted in 2015 as the American Eagle, then the Queen of the Mississippi.

The Heritage will visit Marietta eight times, and the Melody will make seven stops in town in the two-month period.

Each visit will have more than 100 passengers, resulting in a significant economic impact for businesses in Marietta, said Shannon Beacham, marketing director for the Marietta-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Passengers will explore Marietta, shop downtown, eat in local restaurants and visit area attractions during their stay.

In addition to cruise passengers, the riverboats also attract spectators from across the region to view the boats from the Ohio River Levee, adding even more foot traffic and activity to the riverfront.

The Convention & Visitors Bureau will be present at the levee for each arrival to greet passengers and provide information about local attractions, shopping, dining and experiences throughout the area.

Passengers can visit historic and cultural sites, including Campus Martius Museum, the Children’s Toy & Doll Museum, the Henry Fearing House and the Castle.

While the public is not permitted to go aboard, tour or ride the vessels, visitors are encouraged to come to the levee to view the boats from shore.

Approximate arrival and departure times will be posted on the Visit Marietta Facebook page as each visit approaches.