Canadian ports expect influx of cruise ship activity
January 10, 2017
By
CCE
Canada's 150th birthday celebrations and the low Loonie will help drive more cruise traffic to the nation's ports.
The recently refurbished passenger terminal at the Port of Montreal is anticipating and increase of up to 28 per cent more cruise passengers and crew members compared to last year as the city of Montreal celebrates its 375th birthday and Canada marks its 150th year.
According to a Canadian Press report by Ross Marowits, ports across Atlantic Canada, Quebec and British Columbia are anticipating a surge in cruise traffic.
Ports in Atlantic Canada are anticipating double-digit increases in passenger traffic, above the nearly 600,000 that landed last year. The Port of Halifax, the largest in the region, saw 238,000 cruise passengers in 2016, up seven per cent from 2015.
While the number of ships arriving in Halifax decreased last year, the port is welcoming larger ships, with the Royal Caribbean’s 4,100-passenger Anthem of the Seas setting a record for most passengers last fall.
Vancouver, Canada’s largest port, anticipates a strong cruise season as volumes grew three per cent in 2016 to 830,000 passengers.
