Cruise: Halifax

The 2014 cruise season the Port of Halifax opened May 4 at with the arrival of the Celebrity Infinity.

2014 Cruise Season Underway at Halifax

Celebrity Infinity opens the 2014 cruise season at the Port of Halifax
Photo/Halifax Port Authority

The 2014 cruise season the Port of Halifax opened May 4 at with the arrival of the Celebrity Infinity. "This is going to be a great year for cruise," said Cathy McGrail, PPM®, manager, cruise development for the Halifax Port Authority. "Halifax has so much to offer in terms of tourism activities and experiences. We are looking forward to working with our tourism partners to building Halifax and Nova Scotia as an even stronger tourism brand."

This year, the port is anticipating a record 137 cruise vessel calls carrying approximately 230,000 passengers, as well as crew. The busiest cruise ship day will be October 7, when an estimated 9,200 passengers visit the city. This also will be the only five-ship day of the season. Other highlights include:

• Five visits from the Queen Mary 2 during the 2014 season. Her first call will be on June 11, 2014. 2014 year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Queen Mary 2.
• 10 inaugural calls in 2014, the first of was the Celebrity Infinity.
• The inaugural call of the Royal Princess on September 25. This is the cruise vessel that was christened by the Duchess of Cambridge on June 13, 2013. 

"Tourism is an important contributor to Nova Scotia’s economy, and cruise ship visits offer great potential to grow this sector," said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Michel Samson. "We need to leave a lasting impression on our visitors so they come back and stay longer, and I know government, the Port of Halifax and all of our tourism operators will work together to continue to deliver world-class hospitality and experiences."

The cruise industry in Halifax is responsible for an estimated C$50 million in economic benefits for the local economy.