US port hosted six maiden visits and 328,305 passengers between May and early November
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Cruiseport Boston in Massachusetts, US has closed its 2015 season after welcoming 328,305 passengers during 114 calls from 29 ships.
This year, the port hosted six maiden calls from various cruise lines. These included Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Marina, Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAdiva and Royal Caribbean International’s Liberty of the Seas, which was also the largest vessel to ever call in Boston.
Holland America Line’s Veendam also began sailing a new itinerary from Boston to Hamilton in Bermuda, while Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn continued to sail to King’s Wharf, Bermuda.
In July, Cruiseport Boston also welcomed Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2. During the call, the port also marked 175 years since Cunard’s former flagship Britannia first visited Boston in 1840 on her historic inaugural transatlantic voyage from Liverpool, UK.
“Boston is New England’s homeport and is a quick drive for thousands of cruise passengers who choose not to fly, or cannot afford the expense of flying a family to Florida,” said Lisa Wieland, acting port director of Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). “This makes Cruiseport Boston an ideal starting point for cruises to Bermuda, Canada/New England, and several transatlantic itineraries. Canada/New England is now a successful market for six months of the year – May to October – and continues to grow, with several ports on the itinerary receiving guest satisfaction ratings among the highest in the world.”
To accommodate growing passenger numbers, Massport continues to upgrade its terminal facilities. This February, it completed a US3.2 million renovation project to improve ventilation, heating and lighting in one of the buildings. It also added new toilets, as well as power outlets to make ticketing and baggage processes more efficient.
Cruise operations at Massport provide more than 950 direct jobs and generate nearly US$80 million in economic impact, as well as US$25 million in annual local, state, and federal tax revenue annually.
“More and more people are beginning to recognise that not only is Boston a great port of call destination, but that they can also take cruises out of Boston and enjoy a growing variety of destinations,” said Thomas Glynn, Massport CEO. “Our thriving cruise business boosts our regional economy and provides good-paying blue collar jobs. Its success would not be achievable without the hardworking men and women at Cruiseport Boston.”
Next year, Cruiseport Boston expects to handle around 330,000 passengers during 119 calls from 32 ships between May and mid-November.
Eight ships will make maiden calls including Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic; Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas; Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Mariner; Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest; Holland America’s Zuiderdam; Oceania Cruises’ Sirena; and Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Star. Ponant will also offer two itineraries from Boston.
Meanwhile, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Balmoral, Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest and Viking Star will all overnight at the port.