The Port of Quebec had a positive 2022 season, receiving 96 ship visits from 23 cruise lines and 28 different ships from April 26 to November 1, after a pandemic-related absence of two years.
The addition of Quebec’s newest cruise terminal, Terminal 30, expanded the port’s offerings with the ability to accommodate large ships and receive over 2,500 passengers at a time as it assisted in welcoming eight ships on their maiden voyages for its 2022 cruise season.
Quebec’s 2022 Cruise Season
The Port of Quebec in Canada has truly made a comeback after being apart from the cruise industry for over two years, returning to the market in 2022 with new facilities and welcoming more than 92,000 cruise tourists from April 26 to November 1.
Having received 28 different ships in the span of six months and eight ships on their maiden voyages has proven Québec City’s place as a prime destination in the Canada-New England cruise market.
The Port of Quebec was able to host the maiden voyages for the following ships during its past cruise season: Viking Cruise’s Viking Octantis, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 93,530 gross ton Norwegian Pearl, Vantage Cruise Line’s Ocean Explorer, Ponant’s Bellot and Dumont-d’Urville, Holland America Line’s 99,902 gross ton Nieuw Statendam, Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience, and Peace Boat’s Zenith.
The Port of Québec CEO, Mario Girard stated, “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,” Girard added.
As the port’s 2022 season comes to a close, the efforts that the Port of Québec and Destination Québec cité to restore and regain the tourism they have lost due to the pandemic have proven their effectiveness as the area received 133,000 visitors to Québec City’s wharves, containing 41,000 crew members and 92,000 tourists.
The Destination Québec cité Director Robert Mercure said, “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,” added Mercure.
Welcoming 23 cruise lines and 28 different ships this year, the port that connects the Great Lakes and Midwestern U.S. markets to the rest of the world has paved a way for increased economic success for its upcoming cruise seasons.
The Port’s Recent Additions
As the Port of Quebec expanded its cruise ship services with the commissioning of wharf 93 (the Coast Guard wharf) after ten years of renovation, it welcomed three ships for docking during the season due to its convenient location at the foot of the Petit-Champlain quarter.
One of Canada’s five largest ports in terms of tonnage, the Port of Quebec also inaugurated its new cruise terminal, Terminal 30, and had its first opportunity this year to make the newly designed facilities of its new state-of-the-art terminal available to cruise guests.
Terminal 30 received its first port visit by the 3,600-passenger Caribbean Princess on August 4, 2022, and cost a total of $31.9 million to build, funded by the Government of Québec ($15 million) and the Port of Québec ($11.9 million), with the City of Québec providing the remaining $5 million.
As the port’s second cruise terminal, Terminal 30 has the ability to accommodate large ships and receive over 2,500 passengers at a time, enhancing the cruise passengers’ customer experience and expanding the port’s offerings with a surface area of 9,447 m2 to accommodate a broader range of larger ships.
