HALIFAX - Earlier this week, four cruise ships pulled into Halifax Harbour on one single day, bringing tourists from far and wide into the city. It’s a clear sign of a booming cruise industry which has historically provided a major boost for the tourism industry. This month alone more than 60 cruise ships will dock in Halifax. That is not a record for visits, but it is close to it and a clear sign of a booming cruise industry. “It is our steady, consistent fall season,” said Port of Halifax Manager of Cruise Development, Robyn Stewart. This year’s boom is due in part to an increased presence of commercial cruise ships docking in Halifax. MSC Meraviglia from Brooklyn, N.Y, kicked off Halifax’s cruise season with a visit on April 21, prior to its transatlantic voyage to Barcelona. Norwegian Cruise Line increased its Halifax presence in spring and summer with the addition of Bermuda itineraries that included a stop in Halifax, while Carnival Cruise Line made its return to Halifax following its move to new homeport in Norfolk, Virginia. Based on the latest schedule, 2026 is expected to see 189 cruise ships dock in Halifax, with more than 350,000 visitors. “It has been the best season we’ve ever had in our company’s history,” said Ambassatours Gray Line’s revenue manager Peter McLaughlin, as he described the number of cruise ship visitors. “It has blown through all of our expectations.” According to the Cruise Lines International Association, when a tourist arrives on a cruise ship, each one usually disembarks, enjoys the Halifax boardwalk and then spends money, which provides a major boost for the tourism industry. “Cruise ships bring in about a $200 million economic impact for Nova Scotia and more than 1000 jobs every year,” said Stewart. Many cruise ship passengers in Halifax said they preferred going on a ship because they don’t like to travel by airplane and they enjoy a slow-paced vacation. “I don’t have to do my huge research to figure out what to see because it’s kind of packaged for you, and then you get to see it,” said cruise ship passenger Barb Atkin from Chicago. “I can walk onto a cruise ship and start my vacation,”said Margaret McGovern, visiting from Philadelphia. “The moment I am on board I get to visit all the different places.” Halifax’s busy cruise ship schedule is not about to wind down anytime soon with close to 100 vessels still expected to visit by time the season ends in November.
