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Montréal wraps a record cruise season

Montréal wraps a record cruise season
A call by Seven Seas Navigator wrapped Montréal's cruise season which had a record 73 ship visits, 29 more than in 2014.

Montréal bundles passenger and crew numbers together and that total, approximately 92,000, was a nearly 30% increase over the 2014 season and a 94% hike since the Montréal Cruise Committee was created in 2011.

'Much to the delight of local business owners, a flood of tourists poured through the city's streets this year. Hotels also benefited from this high-value clientele, as many travelers extended their trips and stayed a few extra nights in Montréal,' said Yves Lalumière, president and ceo of Tourisme Montréal.

Lalumière applauded the 'excellent work' by the Montréal Cruise Committee, whose main objective is to attract international cruise lines to Montréal.

The city's cruise season stretches from May to November. The busiest months are September and October, when travelers come to see the fall colors and discover Québec's natural and cultural offerings. According to data collected by the Montréal Cruise Committee, cruisers are primarily Americans (72%), Australians (8.5%), Canadians (7.5%) and Britons (4.5%).

Cruise bookings indicate the 2016 season could be just as strong as this year's.

'Once again, the numbers prove that Montréal's cruise market is growing rapidly, generating significant economic spin-offs for the entire city,' added Sylvie Vachon, president and ceo of the Montréal Port Authority. She, too, acknowledged the Montréal Cruise Committee, and said the results are in large part thanks to its efforts.

The Montréal Port Authority continues to work on updating the Alexandra Pier and the Iberville Passenger Terminal, two major projects.

Vachon said the improvements will position Montréal as an international port of call that offers outstanding quality to cruise lines and travelers.