Fewer cruise ships stopping in Port Colborne this year
Port Colborne will see fewer cruise ships stop in the city this season, but may see more passengers and crew members walking its streets.
Tourism co-ordinator Greg Higginbotham said there was a good reception from cruise ship lines about excursions — walking tours offered by Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum — in the city.
The museum offers several walking tours, including West Street, Main Street and the Old Humberstone Village, and Tennessee Avenue and the Humberstone Club, among others.
During a recent city council meeting, Higginbotham said the walking tours would be followed up by a wine tasting.
There are plans to offer 26 dates throughout the cruise ship season on the Great Lakes. The city was finalizing details with Viking Expeditions, which tours Antarctica, The Arctic, South America and other locations.
Viking Expeditions’ Viking Octantis opens the season on April 26 and marks the third year for the purpose-built, 202metre-long polar class cruise ship on the lakes.
“There are 54 stops in total, a bit of a decline from previous years but still headed very much in the right direction. We’re very happy to be one of the very few ports in the Great Lakes that enjoys a significant number of stops through the season,” said Higginbotham.
In 2022, cruise ships stopped at least 66 times in the city as they travelled the Welland Canal. In 2023, that number jumped to 80 stops.
Mayor Bill Steele said the reason for fewer stops is due to the bankruptcy of American Queen Voyages (AQV), which operated Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator (formerly Victory I and II, respectively).
On its website, the cruise ship company said it was “unable to rebound from the effects of the pandemic.”
Higginbotham said the city is working with St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. on getting smaller cruise ships, like Pearl Seas Cruises’ Pearl Mist, docked at Wharf 18-1 on the west side of the Welland Canal.
“We’re also working with Port Colborne Marine Terminal (Snider Dock) and their security company after receiving feedback from Viking and others.”
Port Colborne Marine Terminal is a working dock on the east side of the canal that brings in loads of road salt for the winter season and gypsum, among other items, and is a secure area.
Higginbotham said he was working with business improvement areas in the downtown core and Main Street to drive more foot traffic, passengers and crew members to the doorsteps of businesses.
He said the cruise ship stop schedule is posted on the city’s website for people to see when vessels will stop in the city.