By
Alex Smith |
Nova Scotian cruise ports are expecting a season of growth in 2023, with more than 300 cruise calls scheduled to arrive in the Canadian province throughout the upcoming season.
The cruise season is scheduled to start on 22 April in the Port of Halifax with the arrival of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn. It will then run until 9 November, when Silversea Cruises’ Silver Shadow departs from Halifax. The Port of Sydney will receive its first vessel, Holland America Line’s Zaandam, on 25 April, while its last vessel will be Oceania Cruises’ Insignia on 5 November. Several smaller ports including Shelburne, Lunenburg, Pictou County and Louisbourg are also expecting cruise vessels.
In total, Halifax is expecting to receive 191 vessel calls carrying approximately 325,000 cruise guests. There are 11 scheduled inaugural calls, and two days on which five different ships will visit the port.
“The return of the cruise industry in 2022 contributed to a very strong recovery for tourism across the region,” said Captain Allan Gray, president and CEO of Halifax Port Authority. “With our partners, we are looking forward to growth in 2023, and finding new and exciting ways of further developing this industry for our province and extending the economic benefits that come with cruise.”
The Port of Sydney is expecting 112 vessels and over 200,000 guests to visit during 2023. A total of 24 cruise lines will have ships calling at the port, with 14 inaugural visits expected.
“This year will be a record-breaking year for Sydney,” said Marlene Usher, CEO of the Port of Sydney. “We have surpassed our pre-Covid numbers and are positioned well for the future. Our success is due in large part to our industry partners and our winning reputation as an Island destination. The economic benefits to our region are significant and the future looks bright.”