By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas closed the 2016 cruise season at Halifax Cruise Port in Nova Scotia, Canada on 28 October.
Highlights of the 2016 cruise season in Halifax included inaugural visits from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway on 29 June and Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas on September 1, the return of Disney Magic, and four calls from Cunard Line flagship Queen Mary 2.
Final passenger numbers for the 2016 season will be released in the coming weeks. The cruise industry in Halifax is worth an estimated CAD$104.3 million each year in economic benefit, according to the most recent economic impact report.
“We have seen tremendous year-over-year growth at this location,” said Alex MacLean, founder and CEO, East Coast Lifestyle. “The cruise guests are a big part of that. They come in looking for an authentic East Coast product they can take back with them, and we are more than happy to provide them with what they are looking for. It has been a great season for us.”
Cruise passenger interest in nearby landmarks like Peggys Cove and unique destinations like Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have kept tour operator Ambassatours Gray Line busy since the first vessel arrived in April.
“We are very fortunate here in Nova Scotia to live in a place where people come to spend their vacations,” said Dennis Campbell, CEO of Ambassatours Gray Line. “It is our privilege to provide our cruise guests with a service that helps make their time in our region even more memorable while supporting the local tourism economy.”