SOMETHING DIFFERENT
European-based cruise ship will visit in 2019.
A European-based cruise line has scheduled its flagship vessel – the fourth largest in the world – to make Sydney a port-of-call twice in the fall of 2019.
Earlier this month, MSC Cruises announced the Meraviglia has three itineraries from New York in October 2019, which include two 10-day tours of the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada.
Cruise lines typically unveil upcoming itineraries 18 months to two years in advance to secure berths in the most popular ports. Cruise visits peak in Cape Breton through September to the end of October.
The Meraviglia, which translates to ‘Wonder,’ went into service on June 3 and can hold a maximum of 5,700 passengers, although it usually accommodates about 4,500. It has a crew of 1,536 people. The company markets itself as a “family friendly” cruise line with plenty of activities for children of all ages.
The port of Sydney is still booking cruise visits for 2019, and has yet to release its 2018 schedule, but it’s likely that when the Meraviglia does arrive it’ll be the largest cruise ship ever to visit Cape Breton.
Nicole MacAulay, acting manager of cruise marketing and administration at the Port of Sydney, said the Meraviglia has made Sydney a stop on its itinerary because of the pending construction of a second cruise ship berth.
“This ship is about 315 metres in length so our current dock wouldn’t be able to accommodate that vessel. It wouldn’t be able to dock without the second berth,” she said.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is currently attempting to secure the land for construction of the second berth. The $20-million expansion of the Sydney cruise terminal requires the municipality to purchase the land just north of the existing Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.
The land is owned by North Sydney businessman Jerry Nickerson, who is believed to be asking in the vicinity of $6 million for the parcel of waterside real estate.
The CBRM, on the other hand, has budgeted between $1.5 million to $2 million for the purchase.
Should the two sides fail to come to an agreement on the land transfer, the CBRM will expropriate the property.
Under the expropriation process, the municipality would pay 75 per cent of its appraised value of the land in question and immediately take over ownership.
The matter would then go before Nova Scotia’s Utility and Review Board and the regulatory body will investigate and make a determination on a fair value of the land.
CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke has stated the municipality would like to have tenders issued for the work sometime in January.
Once the land is acquired, it is expected that engineering and construction work will take between 14 and 18 months to complete.
MacAulay couldn’t confirm whether other cruise lines are choosing Sydney as a destination due to the construction of the second berth.
“I can tell you cruise lines are delighted when I say that I can place them at the second berth rather than having to go to anchor
when they’re the second vessel in port.”
More than 90 cruise ships visited Sydney between late April and the end of October. At capacity, the ships carried an estimated 135,000 passengers.
The MSC Meraviglia likely won’t be the fourth largest cruise ship for long. The company is undergoing an ambitious six-year, 9 billion-euro ($13.5 billion CAN) expansion program.
Some of the highlights on the Meraviglia include a Mediterranean-style promenade with the longest LED dome at sea at 80 metres in length, displaying a variety of digital skies 24 hours a day, and two Cirque du Soleil at Sea shows created specifically for the vessel.