Cruise: Halifax, Montreal, Seattle

Cruise Season 2016 Opener at the Port of Halifax

The 2016 Halifax cruise season officially opened April 30 with the docking at 9 a.m. of Holland America’s Veendam at the port authority’s Pier 22 cruise terminal.

Through the end of the season in October, the port is expecting 135 vessel calls and 240,000 cruise passengers.

This year’s schedule lists first-time calls by eight cruise ships, four visits by Queen Mary 2 and three by Disney Magic. September 15 is expected to be the busiest passenger day with over 9,000 passengers plus crew expected. 

October 7 is slated to be the season’s busiest cruise ship day, with five vessels in port. During the season as well, the port is expecting more than 30 ship-to-shore power hook ups.

A complete vessel posting can be found at the Cruise Halifax website at Cruise Halifax website.

 
Holland America’s Veendam preparing to make a shore-power connection at Halifax’s Pier 22 cruise terminal
Photo/Halifax Port Authority

Montreal: Alexandra Pier and Iberville Passenger Terminal – Restored and Ready for the 2017 Cruise Season

Financing amounting to $35 million for the restoration and modernization of Alexandra Pier and Iberville Passenger Terminal in the Port of Montreal will be provided by the province of Quebec and City of Montreal.

The April 25 announcement was made in the presence of Port Authority CEO Sylvie Vachon by Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security, Minister responsible for the Montreal region; Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for the Mauricie region; Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal; and Jean D'Amour, Minister for Maritime Affairs, Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

The project consists of restoring the existing infrastructures for receiving international cruises, located in the Old Port sector, a tourist zone annually frequented by millions of tourists, residents, and other visitors.

Alexandra Pier is more than a 100 years old. Iberville Passenger Terminal, remodeled for Expo 1967, has been welcoming cruise ships visiting Montreal for decades. Located in the heart of Old Montreal, the facilities, despite substantial maintenance investment, are showing signs of aging and operational obsolescence.

"The Port of Montreal is a real treasure for the city, and remains one of our main economic assets. I am very pleased that the City of Montreal is joining with the Government of Quebec and the Montreal Port Authority to launch this structuring project that will enable us to welcome a greater number of cruise passengers and by doing so, make the most of the ensuing economic benefits. The restored facilities of Alexandra Pier and Iberville Passenger Terminal will let us extend a magnificent welcome to the tourists and visitors who will come celebrate Montreal's 375th anniversary with us in 2017," said Mayor Denis Coderre.

The concept seeks to seamlessly integrate the terminal and the pier into the urban fabric of Old Montreal. More specifically, it is designed to allow better public access to their river by clearing the end of the pier so that the far end can be lowered closer to the river and by adding a green rooftop terrace to the terminal.

"The Montreal Port Authority wishes to express its deepest gratitude to its financial partners, the Government of Quebec and the City of Montreal, without whom this project would not have been possible. After being one of the leading players in the history of the city's creation, the Port of Montreal proudly continues to make this contribution by offering Greater Montreal modern, welcoming marine facilities for cruise passengers and citizens. These improved infrastructures will meet clients' needs and give Montrealers renewed access to our majestic St. Lawrence River for 2017, a year brimming with symbols and festivities for Montreal," concluded MPA President and CEO Sylvie Vachon.

The total cost of this project is estimated at C$78 million. The Government of Quebec is allocating C$20 million through the Maritime Strategy - Tourism Component, and the City of Montreal is allocating C$15 million.
Cruise tourism set records last year at Montreal - 72 ship calls, 71,285 passengers, and 19,650 cruise ship crew members.

Seattle: Nieuw Amsterdam Arrival Kicks Off 2016 Cruise Season

The Port of Seattle opened its the 2016 cruise season on April by welcoming Holland America Cruise Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam to the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91.  

"Holland America Line's headquarters have been in Seattle for more than 30 years, and we've been sailing from here even longer, giving us deep roots in this amazing city," said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's president. "As Seattle's Hometown Cruise Line it's always exciting to see our ships at Pier 91, and we're proud to have MS Nieuw Amsterdam kick off the Alaska cruise season, especially as it’s the ship’s first time ever in Seattle."

Smith Cove is one of the port’s two cruise terminals. The second is Bell Street at Pier 66.

This year, the port is expecting 203 cruise ship calls and almost 960,000 passengers, up from 192 calls and 898,057 passengers in 2015. Each homeported cruise vessel is estimated to pump $2.6 million into the local economy.

According to the port, Seattle’s cruise business generates more than 3,700 jobs, $459 million in annual business revenue, and $17.6 million annually in state and local tax revenue.

"Cruising to Alaska continues to be an economic driver for our region," said Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton. "With all the great things to see and do throughout Washington State, we are working to increase the economic impact by having passengers stay for an extra few days."