Halifax 2026 cruise season kicks off with arrival of Viking Polaris

The Halifax cruise ship season kicked off on Tuesday.

With the 2026 cruise season beginning, the Port of Halifax is preparing for a strong season.

Passengers from the Viking Polaris made their way into Halifax on Tuesday, kicking off the cruise season which runs from April 7 to Nov. 5.

Halifax Port Authority says they already have a couple cruise lines scheduled to stop in Halifax throughout the season.

Norwegian Cruise Line is increasing their presence in spring and summer with the addition of a Bermuda itinerary which includes a stop in Halifax. Carnival Cruise Line will also return with new homeporting from Norfolk, Virginia.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Meraviglia is also set to offer a partial turn call in Halifax before a transatlantic crossing on April 21.

Halifax Port Authority says other standouts are pointing to a strong season ahead, including:

• 189 calls from 28 cruise lines
• about 363,000 guests
• overnight call of the Queen Mary 2 on July 7-8
• eight inaugural calls
• 14 tender calls

Cruise season contributes heavily to the tourism industry in Nova Scotia. Nearly 1,000 jobs and $200 million annually are generated from cruise in the province, according to a 2023 study by the Cruise Lines International Association.

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