Port of Halifax Launches Earliest, Longest and Biggest Cruise Season Ever
April 7, 2004
Today, the Port of Halifax welcomes the first of 190,000 cruise passengers expected to visit throughout the record-breaking season.The earliest and longest season ever, lasting until November 3rd, will see 120 ships from 18 lines.
The first day of the season begins with a visit from the Norwegian Crown. Her 994 passengers can be sure they are safe with the port's conditional approval from Transport Canada for its Cruise Ship Facility Security Plans in accordance with the new ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) regulations.
Halifax has become a three-season cruise destination. Spring through fall, our local economy benefits from a growing cruise business, and passengers enjoy the friendliness and beauty Nova Scotia offers," says Patricia McDermott, VP Marketing, Halifax Port Authority.
- Halifax will host nine inaugural calls, up from four last year.Two of those include the world's largest ships.
- The Queen Mary 2 will make two overnight visits with her inaugural call on September 25th and a second visit on October 7th.
- Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, is the largest ship in passenger capacity and will make her inaugural call on May 19th and visit 12 times throughout the season.
- Halifax will also welcome two new lines, Swan Hellenic, and its discovery cruising ship, Minerva 2, will call once this season. The second new line, Travel Dynamics International and its ship, Orion, will also visit once this season.
- Another first for Halifax this season is the turnaround that the Deutschland will complete September 26, 27 and 28th. Passengers will disembark the vessel and return to Europe via air. Upon her leave, passengers arriving via air from Europe will embark the ship.
- 60 percent of cruise calls (equating to 66 ships) occur between September and October.
The Halifax Port Authority is a government business enterprise mandated by the Federal Ministry of Transport. The HPA leads in the development of the Port of Halifax, serving as a catalyst for the local, regional and national economies and has a mandate to be financially viable. The Port of Halifax has a total annual income impact of almost $700 million and an employment impact of over 9,000 direct and indirect jobs.
For more information, please contact:
Michele PeverilManager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Halifax Port Authority
Telephone: (902) 426-1060
Cell: (902) 229-3236
