Canadian cruise port to host four maiden calls and more than 46,000 passengers by 22 October
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Montréal is to handle 29 international cruise ships, more than 46,000 passengers and 10,000 crew members between 31 August and 22 October 2016.
Four vessels will make maiden calls in Montréal over the next two months. They include Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2 on 17 September, Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest on 23 September, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ SS Marina on both 1 and 21 October, and Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Star on 2-3 October. The busiest day of the season will be 1 October when three ships will simultaneously disembark and embark a total of 7,000 cruise passengers and crew.
Due to restoration work on the Alexandra pier and Iberville maritime terminal, cruise ships will dock at a temporary cruise terminal located in Eastern Montréal and at the McKay pier in Old Montréal.
“Everyone at the Montréal Port Authority and the Montréal Cruise Committee has made a major effort to ensure that cruise lines and passengers receive outstanding quality service and the warm welcome that Montréal is known for,” said Sylvie Vachon, president and CEO of the Port of Montréal. “We are very pleased with the positive feedback we received during the first half of the season and we are ready for the large volumes of passengers expected during the high season.”
According to a survey by the Montréal Cruise Committee, passengers who started or ended a cruise in Montréal or Québec City in 2015 spent US$23 million during their visits.
“We are really noticing the financial impact from these passengers, which has been significant since last year,” said Mario Lafrance, general manager of Vieux-Montréal SDC and member of the Montréal Cruise Committee. “As soon as a cruise ship docks in Montréal, local businesses benefit with increased sales. It’s very positive for our economy.”