AN EXCEPTIONAL WEEKEND FOR CRUISES IN QUÉBEC

10/02/2015

The Port of Québec welcomes nine ships and some 35,000 visitors

Québec, October 2, 2015 – The Port de Québec will be having exceptional days from today to Sunday as it experiences new traffic records over the next three days. From Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4, nine ships and about 35,000 visitors will be coming to Québec. This peak represents both a proud moment and a significant logistical challenge for the Québec Port Authority (QPA).

Of the nine ships, three will have embarkation/disembarkation operations: the Norwegian Dawn (wharf 21), the Eurodam (wharf 30) and the Queen Mary 2 (wharf 22). One highlight is that the Queen Mary 2 will be performing a partial embarkation/disembarkation in Québec for the first time in its history. The calling ships include the Caribbean Princess, the Maasdam, the Regatta, the Aurora, the AidaDiva and the Canadian Empress.

“Québec is a major destination on the St. Lawrence and has developed a logistics expertise to face the kind of heavy traffic we will experience in the coming days. This will require the involvement of several hundred workers pulling together to bring visitors a unique experience in our magnificent city. We want to thank everyone involved in making this possible: the City of Québec, tour operators, taxi services, the public transport network and emergency services,” said Mario Girard, President and CEO of the QPA.

An expertise that creates jobs

These high-traffic days require skilled and trained labour from various industries to provide cruise ship passengers with a welcoming experience worthy of the greatest worldwide destinations. To make this period a success, as many as 400 people a day will be mobilized to manage operations, logistics and passenger transportation and safety.

Growth that benefits the region’s economy

Over the years, the Port of Québec has made progress in leaps and bounds, and last year recorded the passage of 109 cruise ships and 180,000 visitors. The cruise ship industry is a major activity for the Québec region, tourism-wise and economically speaking. This year, the Port will reach a new record, with 117 calls by 29 different ships.

The cruise ship industry is a major activity for the Québec region, tourism-wise and economically speaking. According to a study from the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec, the international cruise ship industry creates $85.9 million worth of direct economic benefits for the province of Quebec. Note that for the Capitale-Nationale region, this represents $329 per destination passenger and $111 per stopover passenger.

Information about cruise ships

Citizens and cruise ship fans looking for more information about the ships and their location are invited to visit the Port of Québec website: Cruise ships schedule.

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Source:
Marie-Andrée Blanchet
Advisor, Public Relations and Events
Québec Port Authority
418 648-3640
[email protected]