By
Rebecca Gibson |
Blount Small Ship Adventures is to homeport a vessel at Canada’s Port of Saint John to sail a Bay of Fundy cruise itinerary in summer 2015.
The line’s 98-passenger ships will sail to a range of ports within the Bay of Fundy, including St Andrews, Grand Manan and Campobello Island.
“We are thrilled to announce this partnership and our continued commitment to New Brunswick and Port Saint John,” said Nancy Blount, president, Blount Small Ship Adventures. “We have already been operating in the destination as part of Blount’s ‘Classical Maine and the Northeast’ cruise, and know it is beloved by our customers for its historic cities, charming maritime villages and the beauty of its rocky shores jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Beyond the stunning backdrop it provides, we understand the economic impact of calling Port Saint John home, and are proud to partner with the destination and contribute to its tourism development.”
The homeporting contract follows a recent announcement that New Brunswick’s provincial government is to invest CAD300,000 over the next three years to help Saint John develop as a homeport for expedition-class cruise ships. A study conducted by Dillon Consulting indicated that Saint John is ideally suited to homeport expedition-class vessels due to its strategic position on the Canada-New England itinerary, its tourism services and other cruise-related facilities.
Trevor Holder, minister of tourism, heritage and culture, said: “The Blount line will be the first to offer cruises where passengers will start or end their experience right here in New Brunswick. This signals to other similar companies that we are also open for their business.”
As recognition of the brand expands, the provincial government and port aim to expand this niche business line.
“Unlike the average visiting cruise ship, our port will not be the first stop for Blount passengers,” said Peter Gaulton, chair of Port Saint John’s board of directors. “Instead, they will experience the city before our world-class port becomes a gateway to this region's natural wonders. We are proud to be part of this bigger picture and to be an economic driver for culture-building industries like hospitality, tourism and retail in the province.”