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Port of Halifax Cruise Season Begins
Local Spending Expected to Top $23 Million

May 16, 2005

The Port of Halifax's 2005 cruise season kicked off today with an estimated $23 million forecast to be spent in the local community by cruise passengers and crew visiting Halifax during the six-month cruise season. Three new cruise lines will call the Port of Halifax in 2005, bringing to 19 the total number of cruise lines calling the Port, with six vessels making inaugural visits.

"This season we will top $23 million in local economic passenger and crew spending from the cruise ships calling the Port of Halifax from the Spring through the Fall," says Patricia McDermott, Vice President, Marketing, Halifax Port Authority. "This season, we will welcome over 190,000 cruise passengers and over 50,000 crew who will enjoy Halifax hospitality and attractions, leaving behind significant economic benefits to our local area."

Two recent studies confirm the impact of spending by cruise passengers and crew. A Cruise Passenger Study revealed cruise passengers spend an average $107 per visit. This year's 190,000 cruise passengers will spend an estimated $18.3 million in our region.

The impact is strengthened by crew member expenditures. Based on a recently tabulated Crew Study, crew members spend an estimated $90 per visit. This year, 81,000 crew members are expected, with approximately 51,000 disembarking the cruise ships, equating to an estimated $4.6 million in crew spending.

Highlights of the 2005 cruise season:

• Third year for 100+ scheduled cruise vessel calls
• Currently, 105 scheduled calls (visit www.portofhalifax.ca for updates to the cruise schedule)
• 19 cruise lines to call the Port of Halifax, including the major international cruise lines
• 3 new cruise companies to call this season - Saga Holidays, Holiday Kreuzfahrten, Institute for Shipboard Education
• Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 to revisit in October along with her sister vessel, the Queen Elizabeth 2 in September.
• The Institute for Shipboard Education's, MV Explorer will complete a turnaround
• ResidenSea's luxury liner, The World, will spend three days in port.
• Inaugural visits include:
  • Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Dawn
  • Institute for Shipboard Education - MV Explorer
  • Saga Holidays - Saga Ruby
  • Holiday Kreuzfahrten - Mona Lisa
  • Royal Caribbean International - Enchantment of the Seas
• From June 15th to 17th, Halifax will host a major international cruise industry event - The 7th Annual Canada-New England Cruise Symposium. The event will be hosted by the Halifax Port Authority and industry partners from Destination Halifax; Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage; Parks Canada; the Sydney Ports Corporation; and the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA).

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About Halifax Port Authority

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 9000 direct and indirect jobs.

For more information please contact:

Michele Peveril
Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Telephone: 902.426.1060
Cell: 902.229.3236
E-mail: mpeveril@portofhalifax.ca

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