Montreal Cruise Arrivals Up 33 Percent This Year
by Richard D'AmbrosioWith a new cruise port terminal attracting more service, the Port of Montréal welcomed 114,517 passengers and crew members during the 2017 cruise season, up 33% compared to 2016.
Twenty one ships representing 16 international cruise lines moored 52 times at the newly renovated T1 Terminal located at the Alexandra Pier in Old Montréal and at Terminal T3 located east of Jacques-Cartier Bridge. The season opened on May 6 with the arrival of the MS Veendam from Holland-America and closed on October 27 with the departure of the MS Seven Seas Mariner from Regent Seven SeasCruises.
This season also saw 16 domestic cruises operating between Montréal and the Magdalen Islands.
Three new luxury international cruise liners visited Montréal for the first time this season – the MS Viking Sky and MS Viking Sea from Viking Cruises, and the MS Silver Muse from Silversea Cruises. The number of cruise passengers and crew members visiting Montréal has increased by more than 140% since 2011.
According to the Montréal Cruise Committee, Americans made up 68% of the visitors, followed by the British at 12% and Canadians at 7%. Nearly 70% of passengers who began or ended a cruise in Montréal prolonged their stay by an average of two nights.
