CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Port Charlottetown is preparing for a record-breaking season this year with 94 scheduled cruise ship calls.
That means 115,000 passengers will visit the city this year, a 28 per cent increase over the 2017 season.
“These numbers are unprecedented for cruise on the Island and to see the sailing season spread further into the early months and through the summer is a great indication of where this business is going,’’ said Les Parsons, CEO of the Charlottetown Harbour Authority.
The port is also looking at nine inaugural calls.
RELATED: Port Charlottetown sees increase in traffic in 2017
Corryn Clemence, business development manager at the port, says it shows the growth of cruise in the entire region.
“We have worked diligently with local tourism operators, cruise lines and regional counterparts to put our best foot forward and sell the destination as a must stop port of call,’’ Clemence said. “The opportunities this creates to showcase Prince Edward Island as a premier vacation destination and the propensity for passengers to return has a substantial economic impact for the Island.’’
This season will kick off with a call from Holland America’s Veendam on May 2 and wraps up on Nov. 4 with a call from the Silver Seas Silver Wind.
For a complete schedule, visit Port Charlottetown’s website at www.portcharlottetown.com.
Five cruise ship facts
1 - The first cruise ship to visit The Port of Charlottetown will be the Veendam and its 1350 passengers and 568 crew members on May 2 and the last ship will be the Silver Wind with its 296 passengers and 210 crew members.
2 - The Port of Charlottetown is the marine gateway to Prince Edward Island. As the busiest common-user marine terminal facility in Prince Edward Island, the port welcomes the bulk of cruise business to the Island as well as sand, gravel, petroleum products and agricultural fertilizer.
3 - Nine first-time calls are on the books for the cruise ships.
4 - More than 110,000 passengers are expected in 94 cruise ship visits, a 28 per cent increase over the 2017 season.
5 - The port had hoped to pass the 100,000-passenger mark in 2017, but several visits were cancelled due to weather and a speed limit imposed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to protect endangered right whales.
