Cruise Traffic In Atlantic Canada Exceeds Expectations In 2022
SAINT JOHN — Atlantic Canada’s cruise ship traffic has bounced back from the pandemic pause, an industry group has found.
Cruise Atlantic Canada says that 474 ships and 622,811 passengers visited the four Atlantic provinces in 2022, an increase of 24 percent from the 2019 figures, the last year cruises were active in the region.
The increase would have been even bigger if it hadn’t been for Hurricane Fiona which did impact the last part of the season, cancelling some cruises and diverting others away from Atlantic Canadian ports.
“Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Fiona, 2022 was a strong cruise ship season in Atlantic Canada. More and more, visitors around the world are appreciating the culture, heritage and wide-open spaces found in Atlantic Canada. We saw more opportunity for sustainable growth and the economic impact it will bring to our communities,” said Mike Cochrane, chair of Cruise Atlantic Canada.
In Saint John, the port was busy with approximately 153,000 passengers and 77,000 crew arriving in 2022. The ships on average were 80 percent full.
Cruise ship passengers were delighted by Area 506 Container Village while in port, the first year for the exciting new tourist attraction right on the waterfront. Saint John also opened the Crew Lounge for cruise ship staff, as a part of the Container Village.
“We started the year with a lot of unknowns in 2022. Could we do this in a safe manner?” says Craig Estabrooks, the president and CEO of Port Saint John. “Working with public health, Transport Canada, and other players, I think we all really came together and understood how to bring back the cruise industry in a safe way.”
“The thing that brings us a lot of excitement in Saint John, and all the other cruise ports in our region, is that the demand for this market was high and people wanted to come to the Maritimes, to Atlantic Canada,” he says. “We have a very attractive region with lots of things to do, and people really enjoy being here. We’re very happy to welcome those folks back, and I think the future is very bright.”
In September, Port Saint John welcomed its 3 millionth cruise ship guest since 1989 when a ship en route to Bermuda was diverted to the city due to a hurricane. The industry now accounts for $68 million in annual economic impact in the region.
Looking to the future, investments and partnerships that were forged and strengthened over the fallow period of 2020-2022 are predicted to continue to grow and bear fruit for Atlantic Canadian ports.
“Atlantic Canada was making strong progress as a cruise ship destination before the pandemic shut the industry down. Our focus now is regaining that momentum and working with our community partners to build a sustainable industry that delivers real economic benefit to the region as cruise guests get a chance to experience the enviable quality of life we enjoy here,” said Sarah Rumley, the Cruise Atlantic Canada executive director.
Demand is high enough that Halifax is planning to open cruise berths on the Dartmouth side of the harbour, while Saint John continues to welcome bigger and bigger ships every year.
“I think cruising up the Bay of Fundy is a great way to see Saint John for the first time,” says Estabrooks. “And in the window that you’re here, I think you’re going to see enough that it’s going to entice you back.”
Alex Graham is a Huddle reporter based in Saint John. Send her your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].