Atlantic Canada Reflects on a Cruise Season Shaped by Notable Milestones and Regional Collaboration

December 16, 2025

Halifax, Nova Scotia – Atlantic Canada celebrated a dynamic 2025 cruise season defined by inaugural visits, significant milestones, and strong collaboration across the region. The 2025 season opened on March 10 with PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot making its first winter call in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, and concluded on November 19 when AIDA Cruises’ AIDAdiva departed Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Between the first and last calls, the region received 610 vessel visits and more than 845,000 passenger visits at ports across all four Atlantic provinces.

“Atlantic Canada has long been known as a premier cruise destination in the fall, and its central role in Canada New England itineraries, along with other sailings, continues to highlight the region’s appeal throughout the cruise season,” says Sarah Rumley, ACCA Executive Director. “While the beauty of autumn will always be a remarkable draw, guests are discovering the vibrancy of our summer season, the depth of experience offered across our ports, and the regional cuisine that makes Atlantic Canada welcoming in every season.”

First-time visits

Several cruise brands and vessels made their debut in Atlantic Canada this year. V irgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady called on both Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia for the first time, while ports also welcomed inaugural visits from:

These maiden calls highlight the expanding presence of luxury and premium cruise brands in the region.

Port Highlights

Saint John, New Brunswick
Port Saint John, on the Bay of Fundy, welcomed a record 83 cruise ships and more than 196,000 passenger visits this season. The port, working with community and tourism partners, also supported several weather-related diversions, contributing to its busiest week on record from September 29 to October 3, when 15 vessels and over 32,000 passenger visits arrived. These efforts underscored the region’s commitment to guest experience and operational readiness.

Halifax, Nova Scotia
From June 9 to 11, Halifax hosted more than 200 delegates for the Cruise Canada New England Symposium, set along the shores of Kjipuktuk, historically known by the Mi’kmaw people as Great Harbour. The event fostered meaningful collaboration among cruise lines, ports, tourism partners, and government stakeholders, with discussions focused on future opportunities and the responsible development of cruise tourism in the region.

Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Island welcomed more than 100 cruise ships in 2025, with the Port of Sydney managing several busy days that included multiple double, triple, and even quadruple ship arrivals. Sydney continues to serve as an important entry point to the Cape Breton Island’s breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural experiences.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Port Charlottetown marked a significant milestone in 2025, welcoming its two millionth cruise visitor during Holland America Line’s Volendam call on July 4. At the heart of Canada’s Food Island, Charlottetown connects guests with the Island’s celebrated culinary culture, coastal landscapes, and welcoming communities.

St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador
The Port of St. John’s enjoyed a successful 2025 cruise season, highlighted by nine inaugural calls, eight turnarounds, and several overnight stays that allowed guests to fully experience the destination. As North America’s easternmost and oldest city, St. John’s delivers a truly distinctive guest experience, offering immediate access to a lively waterfront, colourful historic streets, the unmistakable spirit and cultural richness that define Newfoundland and Labrador.

Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
The 2025 season in Corner Brook began with PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot winter call and later saw Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 return for a third visit to western Newfoundland and Labrador. Through partnerships with local tour providers, the port offered guests opportunities to experience the region’s dramatic landscapes, cultural traditions, and renowned hospitality that defines Canada’s East Coast.

The Increasing Value of Cruise Tourism in Atlantic Canada

Cruise tourism remains an important contributor to Atlantic Canada’s visitor economy, supporting businesses and communities throughout the region. A recent economic impact study prepared by Tourism Economics for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reported that cruise activity generated 402 million dollars in total economic output and supported 2,100 local jobs in 2023. The continued collaboration among ports, tourism operators, industry partners, and communities across Atlantic Canada provides a strong foundation for the sustainable development of the region’s cruise industry in the years ahead.

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For more information:

Sarah Rumley
Atlantic Canada Cruise Association
director@cruiseatlanticcanada.com | (902) 229-4304

About Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA)

Atlantic Canada offers a cruise experience rooted in real communities where culture is lived and hospitality comes naturally. Across the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the region’s ports bring together spectacular scenery, living history, vibrant cities, charming coastal communities, exceptional culinary experiences, and the warmth of the people who call these places home. The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA) is a partnership of ports, tourism organizations, cruise lines, the four provincial governments, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. ACCA supports the responsible growth of cruise through coordinated marketing, business development, and community-focused destination stewardship. Find out more at www.www.cruiseatlanticcanada.com.