Cruise

Record Cruise Season Expected for Montreal

The 2017 cruise season opened in Montreal this past weekend with the arrival of Holland America’s Veendam.

Over the course of the season, which closes on Oct. 27 with the departure of the Seven Seas Mariner from Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the Port of Montreal will welcome 52 international cruise ships and 16 domestic ones, for a total of more than 110,000 passengers and crew members. This represents an increase of more than 25% over the last season.

Three luxury ships will make their first-ever stop in Montreal, including the Silver Muse, a 596-passenger vessel from Silversea Cruises, the Viking Sea and the Viking Sky, both 930-passenger ships from Viking Ocean Cruises.

“Montreal will shine as a major international tourist destination in 2017. For several years, we have been actively working on the development of the cruise sector, which is growing dramatically around the world, in the hopes of increasing economic spinoffs for the city’s attractions and restaurants,” said Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.

“There is no end in sight to Montreal’s steady growth in cruise activities, as we prepare for another record year,” added Sylvie Vachon, president and CEO of the Montréal Port Authority. “This is a sign that the destination is increasingly attracting the attention of cruise lines. We are confident that, with our new world-class facilities, we can expect a bright future in this sector.”

(http://www.croisieresmontreal.com)