Cruise: Montreal, New Orleans

Iberville cruise terminal is located in the Old Port, in the heart of Montréal.
Photo/ Montréal' Port Authority

Montreal’s 2015 cruise season ended October 29, four and a half months after it began, with the sailing of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Navigator.

During that time, the port hosted 73 cruise ships calls (29 more than in 2014). Preliminary numbers indicate that more than 92,000 passengers and crew members transited through the cruise terminal, a nearly 30 percent increase from the 2014 season and a 94 percent jump since the Montréal Cruise Committee was created in 2011.

"Much to the delight of local business owners, a flood of tourists poured through the city's streets this year. Hotels also benefitted from this high-value clientele, as many travelers extended their trips and stayed a few extra nights in Montréal," said Yves Lalumière, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal. "I would like to applaud the excellent work we've seen from the Montréal Cruise Committee, whose main objective is to attract international-caliber cruise lines to Montréal."

The Montreal cruise season generally extends from May to November, with the busiest time coming during the fall foliage months of September and October. According to data collected by the Montréal Cruise Committee, cruise passenger clients are primarily American (72 percent), Australian (8.5 percent), Canadian (7.5 percent) and British (4.5 percent).

Montréal is expecting another strong season in 2016.

"Once again, the numbers prove that Montréal's cruise market is growing rapidly, generating significant economic spinoffs for the entire city," said Sylvie Vachon, president and chief executive officer of the Montréal Port Authority. "I'd like to thank the Montréal Cruise Committee, as these results are in large part thanks to their efforts. At the Montréal Port Authority, we continue to work on the restoration of the Alexandra Pier and the maritime terminal, which will position Montréal as an international port of call that offers outstanding quality to cruise lines and travelers."

Holland America Line’s Westerdam maiden visit to New Orleans’ Julia Street Cruise Terminal on October 27 was the first a series of unique cruise ship calls the port is expecting through 2016.

Port officials celebrated the ship’s maiden voyage to New Orleans with a plaque exchange aboard the Westerdam, which was be attended by Carnival Corp. President and CEO Arnold W. Donald. Holland America Lines is a Carnival Corporation brand.

AIDA Cruises’ AIDAvita returns to New Orleans November 27 for the first of 11 overnight calls through December 2016. P&O Cruises will also have a significant presence in New Orleans next year, with its Oriana scheduled for three overnight calls and its Oceana and Azura for one overnight call each at Julia Street Cruise Terminal.

Overnight New Orleans port calls are also scheduled next year for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa 2 (October 10-12) and Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest (October 25-26).

New Orleans currently hosts three home-ported cruise ships. Carnival Cruise Lines offers a wide variety of itineraries with the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation sailing year-round four- and five-day itineraries from New Orleans and the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream sailing year-round seven-day itineraries to both eastern and western Caribbean destinations. In April, Carnival Cruise Lines will increase its capacity for four- and five-day itineraries by 34 percent with the Carnival Triumph replacing the Carnival Elation. In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,340-passenger Norwegian Dawn will return November 13 to sail seasonal seven-day cruises from November through May from the Julia Street Cruise Terminal.

Coastal and River cruises are also available from New Orleans throughout the year on American Cruise Lines’ sternwheelers Queen of the Mississippi and American Eagle and American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Queen.

"New Orleans is an international destination and cruise lines see it as an attractive call on their itineraries to market to potential passengers," said Port President Gary LaGrange, PPM®. "Unique cruise ship calls have a big impact on the local economy, as thousands of passengers at a time, who are often international, have the opportunity to explore everything New Orleans and the surrounding area has to offer."