Cruise season begins in Montréal: Nearly 130,000 passengers and crew members expected this season

MONTRÉAL, May 7, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - This year, 27 ships and 19 cruise lines will make a total of 90 stops in the Port of Montréal. More than 130,000 passengers and crew members are expected to visit the city, representing a 12% increase over the last season.

Montréal is increasingly standing out as a starting or ending point for cruises. In fact, four different companies are offering Montréal-to-Montréal itineraries via Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon or the Great Lakes. The city will also be the departure port for 20 cruises headed to Boston, 16 cruises to New York, 16 cruises to the Magdalen Islands and 6 cruises to Florida, as well as cruises to the Great Lakes, Europe (United Kingdom and Germany) and Cuba.

"For several years, we have been actively working to develop the cruise sector, which is growing dramatically around the world. Quebeckers will increasingly find it easier to book cruises leaving from Montréal and enjoy the city's various attractions, including its fine food establishments and hotels for every taste," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.

The season will continue right through to November 2, when Oceania Cruises' Insignia departs. Between now and then, Montréal will welcome six new ships, including the M/S Jacques Cartier (Croisières Jacques-Cartier, a Québec firm), the Victory II (Victory Cruise Lines), the AIDAvita (AIDA Cruises), the Star Pride (Windstar Cruises), the Silver Spirit and the Silver Wind (Silversea Cruises).

The Port of Montréal is bolstering the city's strategic initiatives to promote the cruise sector by unveiling new facilities to welcome visitors. "Last year, we inaugurated a new cruise terminal, demonstrating the Port of Montréal's desire to offer passengers and cruise operators an exceptional experience that's in line with Montréal's reputation. This year, we're enhancing the experience by opening three public areas on the port's Grand Quai, which will shape the new identity for the Alexandra Pier. The projections for this year confirm Montréal's draw as a destination for international and domestic cruises, including those on the Great Lakes," said Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Montréal Port Authority.

To see all scheduled arrivals and departures for the 2018 season, go to: cruises/schedules.

About the Montréal Cruise Committee
Supported by Tourisme Québec, the Montréal Cruise Committee works closely with the Montréal Port Authority and Tourisme Montréal, as well as five other local organizations: Aéroports de Montréal, the Old Port of Montréal Corporation, the Old Montréal Business Development Corporation, and the Hotel Association of Greater Montréal. For more information about cruises in Montréal, go to: croisieresmontreal.com  

About the Port of Montréal
Operated by the Montréal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montréal is the second largest port in Canada and a diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods. It is a leading container port served by the largest shipping lines in the world. Port activity supports 16,000 jobs and generates $2.1 billion in economic benefits annually. Ideally located at the intersection of the Saint-Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, the Port of Montréal is the second largest port along the Saint-Lawrence River. Every year, it welcomes tens of thousands of passengers and crew members travelling on ships destined for international and domestic destinations, including the Great Lakes.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is a private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. The organization leads innovative tourist welcome strategies with a twofold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a quality experience and maximizing the economic benefits of tourism. Uniting more than 800 tourism professionals, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development.

For more information, go to www.mtl.org 

SOURCE Tourisme Montréal

Tourisme Montréal, Andrée-Anne Pelletier, Manager - Corporate Public Relations, 514-844-3344, cell: 514-248-7844, [email protected]; Montréal Port Authority, Mélanie Nadeau, Director of Communications, 514-283-1385, [email protected]