Niagara’s Legend Sails On
Despite harsh winter weather conditions, Hornblower Niagara Cruises has completed assembly on half of its fleet in preparation for the tour operator’s inaugural spring launch. At its dock on the Niagara River, Hornblower has assembled one of the two catamarans that will ferry visitors to the base of the Horseshoe Falls for a unique view from the base of the Niagara Falls. The second catamaran will complete assembly in the next two weeks before undergoing final preparations for the official launch.
Terry MacRae, CEO and president of Hornblower, said that: “While battling record cold temperatures, high winds and blizzard-like conditions, our assembly crew has risen above, constructing catamaran one right on schedule. The catamarans are truly state-of-the-art vessels that will allow Hornblower Niagara Cruises to offer several unique tour options to showcase the majesty and power of the Falls for millions of visitors.”
Currently, the two catamarans are on schedule to enter the Niagara River after the spring thaw.
Hornblower Niagara Cruises’ general manager, Mory DiMaurizio said: “We are incredibly excited about carrying on the legacy of Canada’s most iconic visitor experience — the legendary boat tour to the base of the mighty Horseshoe Falls. As the tour boat provider for world class attractions such as Alcatraz and the Statue of Liberty, we are looking forward to thrilling millions of visitors from around the world with an extraordinary experience to the thundering waters of Canada’s natural wonder of the world — Niagara Falls.”
In addition to multiple daily tours to the Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil Falls, Hornblower Niagara Cruises will be introducing new Early Morning Sunrise Tours, fully-licensed Sunset Cocktail Cruises, Falls Illumination and Falls Firework cruises all with on-board snacks and music.
The newly built 700-passenger catamarans were constructed in Wheatley, Ont., by Hike Metal, a marine construction company. Once constructed, each catamaran was then taken apart in three sections in order to transport it to its destination in Niagara Falls. A team of highly skilled marine engineers has reassembled the three sections of the first catamaran and pending weather conditions, will assemble the second by mid to end of February.
