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Cruise calls now stretch through the summer at Québec's Gaspé

(Photo: Anne Kalosh)
Bird-watching off the Gaspé Peninsula at Bonaventure Island with its colossal colony of Northern gannets
The tip of Québec's Gaspé Peninsula will be busy with 54 calls throughout the 2017 cruise season. They range from tall ships to a return visit by Queen Mary 2.

The cruise marketing and operations organization Escale Gaspésie expects 31 calls by international vessels, 11 calls by a Canadian line and four tall ships. Potentially 40,154 passengers and crew could visit.

'This year's cruise season is going to be remarkable in more ways than one. With the international segment characterized by an increase year after year, the introduction of the domestic segment with the CTMA Vacancier and, finally, the presence of tall ships in Gaspé as part of RDV2017 in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, we have a full schedule that displays an attractive diversity,' said Bruno Bernatchez, acting chairman of the board, Escale Gaspésie.

Beginning May 24 with a call by Pearl Mist, the season will run through October.

'Six months of ship calls, without interruption, is very important for the visibility of our industry and its benefits,' noted Stéphane Sainte-Croix, executive director, Escale Gaspésie. 'From an organizational stand point, 2017 marks an important step forward in achieving our objectives for the development of the spring-summer season segment. It is a motivating factor and quite exciting for the organization.'

The season includes three inaugural calls: Ponant's Le Soléal will anchor in Percé on Sept. 23, followed by Silversea Cruises' new Silver Muse on Sept. 25, anchoring in the Bay of Gaspé. Princess Cruises' Crown Princess will call Oct. 7.

In addition, six dates have double-ship calls: July 19 and 26, Sept. 12 and 27, and Oct. 7 and 17. And, following its first visit in fall 2016, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 will return to Gaspé on Oct. 2.

Escale Gaspésie is a nonprofit corporation bringing together the towns of Gaspé, Percé and Chandler to develop, promote and operate international cruise calls on the Gaspé Peninsula within the Canada/New England circuit.