Port Charlottetown cruising into busiest year yet for visitors

Season kicks off May 2; among highlights are first four-ship day

As the weather starts to warm up, the cruise season on Prince Edward Island is ramping up.

The 2018 season, which kicks off on May 2 with a call from Holland America’s Veendam, will be the first ever year to surpass 100,000 passengers.

In addition to a recordbreaking season, seven vessels will make their inaugural calls, including the Royal Princess, which will carry the most passengers ever to visit the Island on one vessel. The Royal Princess is set to arrive in Charlottetown on Oct. 2, which will also be the first four-ship day in Charlottetown. The season will wrap up with a call from the Silver Wind on Nov. 4.

It is estimated that 92 ship calls carrying over 117,000 passengers and 51,000 crew will arrive, making this the biggest cruise season yet for Prince Edward Island. And with that comes a significant impact to the Island economy.

“We have been focused on growing and expanding the cruise season and are pleased to see this growth year over year. With additional calls from existing cruise lines in the region, as well as new lines calling Charlottetown, this year stands to be our best on record,” says Corryn Clemence, business development manager for Port Charlottetown.

To have 117,000 passengers expected in a six-month season means a projected $19.5 million impact on the Island economy, the biggest impact to date.