by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:05 AM ET, Mon May 6, 2024
Cruise season is officially underway in Montreal.
Over the weekend, Holland America Line’s Volendam arrived at the Port of Montreal for the first time, kicking off the 2024 season.
"Every spring, we can't wait to see the first cruise ship of the season get here,” says Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. “It marks the start of an exciting time for tourism in Montreal. Cruise passengers are warmly greeted by our impressive Bonjour structure overlooking the green roof of the Port of Montreal's Grand Quay. As the gateway to the Americas, Montréal is a must-see destination on the St. Lawrence River. Tourisme Montréal is proud to collaborate with this sector, creating significant economic benefits for the restaurant owners and merchants of Old Montréal.”
This summer should be a busy one for the Port of Montreal, which expects to welcome roughly 50,000 passengers between now and the end of October. The port will see 41 operations, including 32 boardings/disembarkation and nine calls.
Nine ships will visit for the first time: Holland America Line's Volendam; Ponant’s Champlain and Lyrial; Villa Vie Residences’ Villa Vie Odyssey; Rivages du Mondes World Explorer; Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur; Oceania Cruises' Nautica; Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Borealis; and Azamara Cruises' Azamara Journey.
The port will also help cruise lines celebrate three milestones this fall. Regent Seven Seas Cruises will welcome its 25,000th passenger aboard the Seven Seas Grandeur on September 19; Viking will welcome its 30,000th passenger aboard the Viking Neptune on September 27; and Oceania will welcome its 40,000th passenger aboard the Nautica on October 6.
This year, the Port of Montreal is unveiling a new plaque design for vessels making their first port call. After a competition, a piece titled “All Aboard” was selected. It was created by Manon Sioui, a multidisciplinary artist from Wendake and member of the Huron-Wendat Nation.
The port also expects even more visiting ships to connect to shore power this year. Last year, a record 9 ships connected to the system, which led to a reduction of nearly 400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
"This new cruise season reflects Montreal's appeal as a world-class tourist destination,” says Julie Gascon, president and CEO of the Port of Montreal. “We are so very proud to offer an outstanding reception area with the Grand Quay and the Port of Montreal Tower, which have become iconic symbols for our city's tourism. This is also a great occasion to spotlight our commitment to innovation and sustainability at our port, as demonstrated by our shore power system."
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