Atlantic Canada scores strong comeback cruise season

Regional ports handled 474 calls and 622,811 passengers.

This compares to 2019's 559 calls and 874,421 passengers.

The major ports tallied more than 360 calls with over 575,000 passengers visiting Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, according to the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association. 

Niche ports handled over 23,000 passengers, a 24% increase from the 2019 season.

Hurricane Fiona

The numbers would have been greater had it not been for Hurricane Fiona, one of the strongest storms to hit Atlantic Canada in decades, which struck in the peak autumn period.

Charlottetown and Sydney were the most impacted.

'Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Fiona, 2022 was a strong cruise ship season in Atlantic Canada,' ACCA Chair Mike Cochrane said. 'More and more, visitors around the world are appreciating the culture, heritage and wide-open spaces found in Atlantic Canada. We saw more opportunity for sustainable growth and the economic impact it will bring to our communities.' 

2023 projections

ACCA expects numbers to grow across all cruise ports in 2023.

'Atlantic Canada was making strong progress as a cruise ship destination before the pandemic shut the industry down. Our focus now is regaining that momentum and working with our community partners to build a sustainable industry that delivers real economic benefit to the region as cruise guests get a chance to experience the enviable quality of life we enjoy here,' ACCA Executive Director Sarah Rumley said.