Thirtieth Annual Cruise Season at Port Saint John Predicts 19% Increase
SAINT JOHN (NB) – The 30th cruise season at Port Saint John starts with the May 1st arrival of Oceania Cruises’ Marina and continues to the final cruise ship of the season on November 2nd with Regent Cruises’ Seven Seas Navigator.By the time the last ship casts off its lines, 75 ships will have visited, bringing with them approximately 176,000 passengers and 70,000 crew, for a total of 246,000 passengers and crew. This represents a 19% increase in passengers over the 2017 season and a 13% increase in the number of cruise ship calls.“In 2018 we will experience our fourth consecutive year of growth in cruise and a significant increase in the number of cruise guests who will visit, contributing to the visitor economy in Saint John and Southern New Brunswick. With one in ten jobs in the Bay of Fundy region attributable to the tourism sector, we are pleased to be a crucial component of this sector’s sustainability and ability to contribute to our economy,” Jim Quinn, President & CEO.Cruise activity represents an annual $49.9 million boost to New Brunswick’s economy. This figure was taken from an economic impact study entitled “International Cruise Industry in Canada (2016)”, which was conducted by Business Research & Economic Advisors, and carried out in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association.The total impact included direct spending by cruise lines, passengers, and crew in New Brunswick of $21.5 million, 298 direct jobs in the Province, and $12.5 million in personal income.Highlights of Cruise 2018:
- 14 double cruise ship days (June 5, July 3, September 4, 14, 18, 27, 29, 30 and October 2, 4, 10, 17, 20, 24)
- 2 triple cruise ship days (September 26 and October 11)
- 5 inaugural calls NYK Cruises’ Asuka II (May 24), Noble Caledonia’s Hebridean Sky (May 27), Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Adventure of the Seas (June 5), AIDA Cruises’ AIDAvita (June 27), and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Escape (September 20)
- New cruise lines to call in 2018 include: NYK Cruises, Aida Cruises, and expedition-class cruise line Noble Caledonia and Pearl Seas
- Notable ship visit: Queen Mary 2 (July 3)
The full 2018 cruise schedule is now posted at www.sjport.com.Port Saint John is Canada’s third largest port by tonnage and has a diverse cargo base, including dry and liquid bulk, break bulk, containers, and cruise.
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Media contact: Paula Copeland, Director, Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility, Port Saint John, Cell: (506) 650-5288, Email: pcopeland@109.199.110.97