By
Alex Smith |
PortsToronto experienced a record cruise season at the Port of Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal, with 45 ships bringing 18,000 guests to the Canadian city.
Vessels from cruise lines including Viking, Hapag-Lloyd, Ponant, Plantours, American Queen and Pearl Seas visited the port. Viking’s Viking Polaris and Hapag-Lloyd’s Hanseatic Inspiration also made their maiden calls in the port in 2023.
“I am thrilled to cap off another record season at the Port of Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal, welcoming thousands of visitors to Toronto through the harbour’s scenic Eastern Gap,” said RJ Steenstra, president and CEO of PortsToronto. “We are proud to be connecting visitors to Toronto through our city’s remarkable waterfront and to operate a transportation network that brings connectivity, tourism and investment to our city.”
According to Cruise the Great Lakes, an initiative led by the Conference of Great Lakes Governors and Premiers, cruising in the Great Lakes generated an economic value of over $120 million for the region’s ports and communities in 2022.
"The growing Great Lakes cruise market brings international visitors to Toronto who often extend their trip, making their way into the city’s many diverse neighbourhoods for food, culture, entertainment and more,” said Andrew Weir, executive vice president of Destination Toronto. “We look forward to the continued growth of the cruise market that helps support a thriving visitor economy.”