CLOSING OF THE 2022 CRUISE SEASON: A POSITIVE REPORT FOR RESUMPTION OF CRUISE SHIP ACTIVITIES AT THE PORT OF QUÉBEC

Québec City, November 22, 2022 – The Port of Québec is proud to highlight having welcomed more than 92,000 cruise tourists during the 2022 season, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Overall, the Port received 96 ship visits from 23 cruise lines and 28 different ships over a season that ran from April 26 to November 1.

These statistics show that Québec City is a prime destination in the Canada-New England market. The Port of Québec even received eight ships on their maiden voyages: Viking Octantis (Viking Cruises), Norwegian Pearl (Norwegian Cruise Line), Ocean Explorer (Vantage Cruise Line), Bellot and Dumont-d’Urville (Ponant), Nieuw Statendam (Holland America Line), Ambience (Ambassador Cruise Line) and Zenith (Peace Boat). Of the 133,000 visitors stepping onto Québec City’s wharves, 41,000 were crew members and 92,000 were tourists.

“We are very satisfied with the positive outcome for this international cruise season – the first in two years. The successful resumption is largely attributable to the exceptional efforts of all stakeholders involved, whose commitment and collaboration have helped offer visitors a memorable experience. The Port of Québec continues to stand out as a choice destination for major international cruise lines, generating important windfall for the tourist industry,” said Port of Québec CEO Mario Girard.

A new wharf in service
The Port of Québec also expanded its cruise ship services with the commissioning of wharf 93 (the Coast Guard wharf) which had been under renovation for ten years, having last been used for cruise ships in 2012. Its location at the foot of the Petit-Champlain quarter made it ideal as a port of call. In all, three ships docked there during the season.

A second cruise terminal proves its worth
The Port of Québec also had its first opportunity this season to make the spacious modern facilities of its new Terminal 30 available to cruise ship passengers. Able to accommodate large ships and receive over 2500 passengers at a time, Terminal 30 has enhanced the cruise passengers’ customer experience and heightened the Port of Québec’s renown as a port of embarkation and disembarkation.

A season in line with a vision of balanced tourism development
The Québec City tourist region has cleared away the vagaries of recent years, reinvigorating tourists with the joys of their wanderlust. The glowing recovery has equally galvanized international cruise lines and eight ships visited Québec City on their maiden voyages. The season that has just ended also reflects the efforts that the Port of Québec and Destination Québec cité have taken to ensure the resumption of tourism while respecting the community, and in so doing, proactively ensuring sound management of days when multiple ships were docked.

“International cruises are a major promotional asset for our region, which is introduced via one of its crown jewels: the Saint Lawrence River! With the closing of this tourist season, we can be proud of the results seen, not only for the traffic generated, but also for the efforts made to further spread the tourist flow over the territory. That is why we are continuing the efforts already underway to responsibly develop the international cruise industry,” noted Destination Québec cité Director Robert Mercure.

Season 2022 in numbers:

96 ship visits
28 different ships from 23 different cruise lines
133,000 visitors: 92,000 cruise passengers and 41,000 crew members
8 ships on their maiden voyages visiting Québec City for the first time
Inauguration of the new cruise ship terminal at wharf 30

About Port of Québec
The Port of Québec is among Canada’s five largest ports in terms of tonnage handled and economic spinoffs. It is strategically located to serve North America’s industrial and agricultural heartland. Each year, cargo ships from or to some fifty countries call at the Port of Québec to connect the Great Lakes and Midwestern U.S. markets to the rest of the world. Twenty percent of the port’s territory, which extends from Beauport to the South Shore, is dedicated to recreational activities and tourism.

About Destination Québec cité
Destination Québec cité has over 825 members over a territory including Québec City, Ancienne-Lorette, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Wendake the regional county municipalities of Portneuf, Jacques-Cartier, Île d'Orléans and Côte-de-Beaupré.

For more information: https://www.quebec-cite.com/en
 

Zaandam
The Zaandam from the Holland America Line at wharf 93

– 30 –

Source:
Myriam Gagnon
Communications Advisor

Information and interviews:
Frédéric Lagacé
Communications Director
Port of Québec
418 929-5031
[email protected]