The international cruise season began on April 25 at the Port of Québec with the arrival of Viking Octantis. Port of Québec President and CEO Mario Girard marked the occasion by proudly awarding Captain Jorgen Cardestig the medal honouring the first cruise ship of the year to dock at the Port of Québec. The ship’s visit marks a promising beginning to the Port of Québec’s longest ever cruise season, extending from April 25 to November 5.
During the 2023 season, the Port of Québec expects to receive a total of 124 visits from 41 different cruise ships, including a record-setting 30 boarding and disembarking operations by major cruise lines such as Princess Cruises operating between New York and Québec City.
“We are very pleased to inaugurate this cruise season with the arrival of the Viking Octantis. We are expecting close to a hundred ship stopovers again this year, which confirms that Québec City is a choice destination for cruises on the Saint Lawrence. With industry partners, we have prioritized sustainably developing the cruise industry in harmony with the community. The Port of Québec is bearer for a vast plan for sustainable development and destination management, and also contributes to the Cruise the Saint Lawrence Association Development Plan,” said Mario Girard, President and CEO.
Note that since 2014, the Port of Québec has limited the number of passengers and cruise ships visiting the city. At most 15,000 passengers can make a port stop any given day and a maximum of four ships can be docked at the same time. The various stakeholders involved adopted this practice, groundbreaking for North America, to ensure the best possible experience for cruise passengers and citizens alike.
Toward the sustainable development of the cruise industry
With the resumption of growth in the cruise industry comes the importance of adapting practices to the standards of sustainable development. The Port of Québec is currently evaluating options to electrify its main operating docks. The pandemic pause has finally allowed the industry to take stock and decide to move toward large-scale shore power. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has also made a clear commitment: by 2035, all ships equipped with the technology and calling at ports where shore power is available will plug in. The large-scale electrification of cruise ships arriving along the Saint Lawrence is promising, but government assistance for the Port of Québec and other ports will obviously be necessary. Discussions in this regard are underway. The continuous improvement of practices is a priority, and the Port of Québec will continue to position itself as an energy transition leader, including within the international cruise sector.
The Port of Québec to host the Cruise Symposium
The Port of Québec will host the 23rd Cruise Canada New England Symposium this year from June 19 to 21. This symposium on international cruises is an annual event gathering nearly 200 industry representatives to build business relations and discover the newest trends in cruising.
Québec City, always a top cruise destination
A prized attraction for visitors, Québec City has staked itself as a choice destination for many cruise lines and in the tourism media. This popularity of cruises generates major tourism and economic benefits for the region. At the end of the 2019 season, they were estimated by the Cruise the Saint Lawrence Association at more than $700 million annually for the province, including $106 million for the Québec City region alone.
“The arrival of the first ship at the Port of Québec always causes a certain frenzy in us because it also represents the beginning of the summer tourist season. Cruises are an important component for the Québec City region exposure, and they remain an incredible window to highlight the beauty of the Saint Lawrence River and the city, as many cruise passengers return to visit us after a stopover. With even more boarding and disembarking operations expected this year, the 2023 season promises to generate even greater tourism benefits for the destination. We applaud the work of all cruise industry partners ensuring that the season unfolds smoothly with a balanced approach to managing tourist traffic in the main neighbourhoods and in respect for the residents’ quality of life, as has been our practice since 2014,” said Robert Mercure, General Manager of Destination Québec cité.
