Cruise season is in full swing

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 5, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Between September 1 and November 2, the Port of Montréal will welcome 42 international cruise ship visits to the city's main facility, the Grand Quay, as well as the docks located east of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, for a total of 75 docked days.

Two days will be particularly busy during the high season:
- September 19: The ships present will include the Viking Sea (930 PAX) and the Marco Polo (848 PAX) at the Grand Quay, the Seabourn Quest (450 PAX) at Terminal 3, and the Hamburg (408 PAX) at Terminal 4.
- October 6: The ships present will include the Veendam (1,348 PAX) and Viking Star (930 PAX) at the Grand Quay, the Silver Spirit (540 PAX) at Terminal 3 and the Hamburg (408 PAX) at Terminal 4.

By the end of the season, which concludes on November 2, nearly 128,000 passengers and crew members will have visited Montréal, representing an anticipated 12% increase over 2017.

"Looking at how busy 2018 has been, we anticipate that cruise passengers will spend more than $28 million during their stays in Montréal, which is more than $300 per passenger. The cruise industry provides a significant boost to the local economy, and Montréal is a premier destination that serves as a wonderful start or end port for cruises," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.

"The 2018 cruise season is enjoying excellent success. In particular, it stands out for its diversification. Between international and domestic cruises and its place in the Great Lakes offering, Montreal is now a must-visit stop on the cruise-tour circuit, whether as a destination, a stopover or a starting point for round-trip travel," said Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority.

To see all scheduled arrivals and departures for the 2018 season, go to: cruises/schedules

About the Montréal Cruise Committee
The Montréal Cruise Committee works closely with the Montréal Port Authority and Tourisme Montréal, as well as five other local organizations: Aéroports de Montréal, the Old Port of Montréal Corporation, the Old Montréal Business Development Corporation, the Hotel Association of Greater Montréal and the City of Montréal. For more information about cruises in Montréal, go to: cruisesalamontreal.com  

About the Port of Montréal
Operated by the Montréal Port Authority (MPA), the Port of Montréal is the second largest port in Canada and a diversified transshipment centre that handles all types of goods. It is a leading container port served by the largest shipping lines in the world. Port activity supports 16,000 jobs and generates $2.1 billion in economic benefits annually. Ideally located at the intersection of the Saint-Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, the Port of Montréal is the second largest port along the Saint-Lawrence River. Every year, it welcomes tens of thousands of passengers and crew members travelling on ships destined for international and domestic destinations, including the Great Lakes.    

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is a private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. The organization leads innovative tourist welcome strategies with a twofold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a quality experience and maximizing the economic benefits of tourism. Uniting more than 800 tourism professionals, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development.

For more information, go to: www.mtl.org  

SOURCE Tourisme Montréal