By
Rebecca Gibson |
Canada’s Port of Baie-Comeau is to welcome 18,875 passengers and crew during 21 calls from a record 11 cruise ships in 2018.
For the fifth consecutive year, Baie-Comeau’s cruise season will open with a call from Pearl Sea Cruises’ Pearl Mist, this time on 27 May. The port will welcome maiden calls from CTMA Cruises’ CTMA Vacancier on 19 September, Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ Marco Polo on 23 September, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic on 25 September, Silversea’s Silver Wind on 7 October and Silver Spiritt on 9 October. The latter three ships will also make return calls during the 2018 season.
“The small Baie-Comeau Cruises team, led by executive director Renée Dumas, has chalked up an incredible achievement with the upcoming visit of Disney Magic, which will be like a childhood dream come true for many,” said Yves Montigny, Baie-Comeau mayor. “The team continues to grow as it works tirelessly to overcome the obstacles in its path. Team members spread their passion and promote their vision through our community, taking the time to work closely with our local merchants and partners while spreading their “joie de vivre” around the world. Baie-Comeau is clearly benefiting from the arrival of international cruises and we will continue to grow.”
Baie-Comeau Cruises will implement various initiatives this year to ensure it provides the best possible welcome for cruise ships and their passengers. In June, it will introduce a new bicycle rental service so cruise visitors, other tourists and local resident can hire scooters or hybrid, electric, tandem and children’s bicycles from the terminal.
Significant investments will also be made to enhance areas along the Pioneer Promenade, which stretches from the cruise terminal to Pioneer Park.
“The involvement and financial support of our partners and their enthusiasm for our projects and development strategies are a clear signal of our shared commitment to developing Baie-Comeau as a cruise destination,” said Viviane Richard, president of Baie-Comeau Cruises. “Among other things, thanks to the Plan Nord Initiatives Fund, Baie-Comeau is acquiring a new gangway system custom-made for large ships like Disney Magic. The new system will be ready for the maiden call of the Disney Cruise Line’s vessel. It will allow our destination to offer a more efficient system for disembarkation/embarkation operations for large ships and the possibility of offering two gangways for ship operations.”
In addition, Baie-Comeau Cruises will proceed with a study to assess the feasibility of building a new pier for tourists and residents. In the long term, the organisation also has plans to develop nautical tourism, diversify its service offerings, and create new events, such as the Tall Ships Race it hosted in summer 2017.