The Rhode Island-based Grande Caribe also docked at City Front Tuesday, the first visit to Vicksburg for the boat operated by Blount’s Small Steamship Adventures.

The Grande Caribe arrived at 8 a.m. with about 85 on board, said reservations manager Esther Pato.

“We’re a family-owned company that’s been in business 46 years,” Pato said. “Our founder, Luther Blount, also built boats, so we also have our own shipyard.”

Vicksburg was added to the itinerary this year for the Grande Caribe’s Treasures of the Mississippi cruise, a nine-day, eight-night trip from Memphis to New Orleans.

While here, passengers were offered optional excursions to the Vicksburg National Military Park and Biedenharn Museum, said Pato.

The Grand Caribe, a 184-foot boat with a 96 passenger capacity, was built by Blount Boats of Warren, R.I., in 1997 and renovated in 2009.

The boat is scheduled to return to Vicksburg in December, Pato said.