128 The St. Lawrence NTES.LAWRENCE ST. ON THE MOREPORTS SHIPS, MORE long thinsanddunesandthewide openspaces. Indians. Everpresent breezes sweepoverthebeaches, aptly named“islandsbrushedbythewaves”Micmac Home toover100speciesofbirds, thearchipelago was islands are asafeplayground forwater sports.Kayak The manylagoonsandprotected watersensure the a uniquearchipelagoshelteredbytheGulfofSt.Lawrence. Another destinationontheSt.LawrenceisÎlesdelaMadeleine, Îles delaMadeleine Meadows, HollandAmerica’s executivevice-president of ports thatfeature outstandingattractions,”saidRichard is thefirstinternationalcruiselinetovisitSept-Îles. America, whichhasstrictcriteriafornewdestinations, cruise withBaie-Comeaureplacing Sept-Îles.Holland and Sept-Îles.InOctober, itdepartsonasimilar13-day Lauderdale toMontreal hasstopsinQuebecCity, Gaspé Maasdam arrivesinMay. The15-daycruisefrom Fort lines willcallin2009and2010. passengerswiththeannouncementthatthree international Havre-Saint-Pierre are busyasbeavers upfor gearing cruise ofGaspé,The ports Percé, Sept-Îles, Baie-Comeauand Prince AlbertII,arrivesinSeptemberwith132guests. over 1,600passengers,whileSilverseas’expeditionship, September duetothemildmaritimeclimate. profound isolation.Here summer continuesrightinto possesses auniqueMadelinotculture andahistoryof Visitors canparticipateinmany outdooractivities. Nature andculture takecentre stageyear-round. “Gaspé, Baie-ComeauandSept-Îlesare fantasticnew Kicking offthe2009season,HollandAmerica’s In July, HollandAmerica’s Maasdamwilldockwith Shaped likeahalfmoon,thered-cliffed islandchain home toNorthAmerica’s largest colonyofgannets. bake willtakeplace. where re-enactments oftribalcustomsandasalmon train alongtheMoisieRivertoanativeInnucommunity fall foliagecruiseorenjoyingasummerfamilyvacation.” and culturalexperiencesonthesecruises,whethera introduce gueststoawiderangeofnewoutdooractivities marketing, salesandguestprograms. “Ourgoalisto and hospitality. islanders. You’ll becharmedbytheirgenuinewarmth gered birds likethepipingplover. Wildlife ReserveofEastPoint,whichprotects endan- Île-Brion IslandEcologicalReserveortheNational biking alongtheoff-road pathsor bird watchingatthe ing are otherpopularactivities.There’s alsohikingand surf competition.Kiteflying,swimmingandscubadiv- around theworldtocompetein IslandCupWind- along thepanoramicroadways. Corps MortIsland.Hikethepicturesque trailsorstroll relentless seaorsnorkelamongtheharboursealsby or paddlethrough thecavesandtunnelscarvedby In Gaspé,themainattractionisBonaventure Island, At Sept-Îles,excursionpassengerswilltravelby Take thetimetostrikeupaconversationwith the Due totheconstantwinds,surferscomefrom By KATHLYN HORIBE By KATHLYN HORIBE

Photo: Michelphoto53 Photo: Philippe Delisle Photo: Photo: Pierre Rambaud Pierre Photo: Photo: Sept-Îles Port Authority Sept-Îles Port Photo: Baie-Comeau Havre-Saint-Pierre Percé Sept-Îles

In Baie-Comeau, passengers can visit the Garden of lead time to effectively market and promote in the cur- the Glaciers, an interpretation, exploration and research rent economic environment, we’re postponing the pro- attraction about the Ice Age and climate change, or par- gram until 2010,” said Terry Thornton, Carnival’s ticipate in a variety of outdoor activities. Also calling at senior vice-president of marketing planning. “We antic- the port this year is the Balmoral of U.K.-based Fred ipate that this move will ensure strong consumer Olsen Cruise Lines. demand for these itineraries and, in fact, have opted to Another welcome two-time caller to Gaspé and utilize a larger ship, the Carnival Glory, when we do Percé in 2009 is Travel Dynamics’ Clelia II, a yacht-like commence the program in 2010.” vessel that accommodates 100 passengers. The general manager of the City of Baie-Comeau Next year will be another exciting year for St. and vice-president of Croisières Baie-Comeau, Paul Jon- Lawrence ports. After years of negotiations between cas, sees Carnival’s decision as a vote of confidence in Carnival Cruise Lines and Quebec cruise organizations Baie-Comeau. “The fact that they have confirmed their such as the St. Lawrence Cruise Association, the world’s arrival in 2010 with an even bigger ship is a clear sig- biggest cruise ship line will visit Baie-Comeau, Havre- nal,” he said. “Nonetheless, we were ready to welcome Saint-Pierre and Quebec City for the first time ever. visitors starting this summer with the official opening “Carnival is always seeking exciting new itinerary of the Garden of the Glaciers slated for June 2009, and choices,” said president and CEO Gerry Cahill. “These our newly completed port infrastructures.” Baie- new nine-day sailings provide guests of all ages an Comeau still expects to welcome some 4,000 cruise opportunity to experience and explore the natural won- passengers in the coming season. ders of Quebec, one of North America’s most historic In Havre-Saint-Pierre, port authorities and develop- and fascinating cruising regions. And when combined ment organizations are confident in the potential of their with a departure from New York – a convenient home tourist attractions, such as Mingan Archipelago National port and an exciting destination unto itself – these voy- Park Reserve, and are continuing their efforts to develop ages are even more attractive.” their offerings and ensure cruise passengers arriving this Carnival has designed a special itinerary – without season take away lasting memories of their stopover. stops in either Maine or Atlantic Canada – called Que- bec: After the Glaciers to feature these three ports of Government investment call. The program had been scheduled to launch this To handle the increase in larger cruise ships on the St. year but was pushed back to 2010 because of the cur- Lawrence, the Canadian and Quebec governments will rent unstable economic situation. invest approximately $100 million over the next five years “It’s in everyone’s interests to ensure the arrival of to upgrade port facilities and enhance tourist attractions Carnival in 2010 is a resounding success rather than it in Baie-Comeau, Gaspé, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Saguenay, CANADIAN SAILINGS being only moderately so in these tough economic times Sept-Îles and Îles de la Madeleine. The municipal govern- of 2009,” said Ross Gaudreault, president and CEO of ments of these ports will also contribute funding. the Quebec Port Authority. It will be money well spent according to a study “Because this is a new program requiring ample compiled by Business Research and Economic Advisors.

The St. Lawrence 129 Since 2003, the Canadian cruise industry had grown by the Port of Saguenay. It was a proud moment for almost 28 per cent nationally in four years. The Saguenay last September when Holland America’s research was conducted for the NorthWest CruiseShip Eurodam tied up to the new pier. Association and its Canadian cruise port partners. In Baie-Comeau, the upgrade to the wharf will cost The study shows that Quebec recorded the biggest $10 million. In addition, Croisières Baie-Comeau will growth in cruise line spending, up to $51 million from conduct a study to identify port facility needs and $49.5 million. By 2014, Quebec could welcome tourism packages for cruise companies. approximately 400,000 passengers from 300 calls, an In the Gaspésie, l’escale Gaspésie, comprising the average annual growth rate of 17 per cent, with over- ports of Gaspé, Percé and Chandler, was formed to all tourist spending reaching $1.4 billion. position these cities as ports of call for international According to René Trépanier, executive director of cruise lines, said Stéphane Sainte-Croix, executive direc- the St. Lawrence Cruise Association, the study confirms tor of the Gaspé tourism and convention bureau. to the government partners that it is worthwhile to Projects for the region include a train connecting invest in the development of ports of call along the St. the three destinations, construction or upgrade of var- Lawrence River. And the investments are already paying ious reception areas for passengers and extension of dividends. This year, the SLCA expects approximately Gaspé’s Sandy Beach dock. In Percé, a rail station by the 203,300 cruise passengers, a whopping 39.1-per-cent beach will be constructed this year, said Marie Leblanc, growth from last year’s 123,683, with most of the nine who is responsible for tourism for the City of Percé. ports of call registering increases. At the end of January, the Port of Sept-Îles, in the In 2008, major projects to benefit the cruise indus- presence of its major partners, the City of Sept-Îles, the try included the modernization of Quebec City’s Jean- Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-Utenam Band Coun- Lesage International Airport and the inauguration of a cil, and Destination Sept-Îles Nakauinanu, announced 370-metre (1,214-foot) dedicated cruise pier in Sague- the awarding of a $356,000 contract to Axor Experts- nay that can accommodate ships as large as the Queen Conseils for detail engineering and the preparation of Mary 2. For embarking and disembarking passengers tender specifications for a cruise ship dock. at the port, a covered walkway was constructed. It is Following preliminary studies that began last May, suspended on a floating steel platform. Once the cruise this latest step will result in the production of final terminal is completed in September, the cost, including plans for the dock, including cost estimates. It will the pier, will total $34 million, said Richard Thibault, allow the port to launch a call for bids for the con- business development and major project manager for struction of the dock, which could begin this summer.

Photo: Brent Frederick

Port of Montreal Photo: Quebec Port Authority Quebec Port Photo: The St. Lawrence

130 CRUISE NORTH AMERICA 2009 With the preliminary engineering phase complete, the 55,000 square metres (592,000 square feet), said Port of Sept-Îles also unveiled the final conceptual plans Jacques Paquin, the port’s vice-president of marketing for the cruise ship dock. It will be located at the Mon- and business development. Other plans include modern- seigneur Blanche wharf and will be able to accommodate izing and developing facilities and equipment to the tune ships up to 315 metres (1,033 feet) long and with a of $146 million. Financing will be divided among the 2,500-passenger capacity. “With an 18-month schedule, Trois-Rivières Port Authority ($55 million), its partners this project of almost $20 million is one of the largest ($41 million) and the federal government ($50 million). infrastructure investments to take place at the port since As part of its Vision 2020 strategic development work on the Relance wharf in 1986,” said Pierre Gagnon, plan, the Montreal Port Authority has proposed the president and CEO of the Sept-Îles Port Authority. transformation of Alexandra Pier, which welcomes To accommodate cruise ships of 2,500 or more cruise ships in Montreal, into a recreational, tourism, passengers, dredging in Havre-Saint-Pierre will artistic and cultural hub. About $150 million would increase the water depth to 9.5 metres (31 feet), said need to be invested in that project. Charlotte Cormier, cruise ship development agent for Last September, Montreal welcomed for the first the Port of Havre-Saint-Pierre development and man- time the Royal Princess cruise ship, operated by Princess agement corporation. In addition, funding was granted Cruises. The vessel arrived from Stockholm. At a cere- to market and promote Havre-Saint-Pierre as a cruise mony to mark the occasion, Patrice Pelletier, president port and organize tourism activities. and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, said, “Your As for Îles de la Madeleine, it received $14 million in route to Montreal shows just how important a tourist federal funding for a breakwater restoration project at its and cultural attraction our metropolis is for cruise lines Cap-aux-Meules port, which should be completed by on the St. Lawrence and the U.S. East Coast.” 2010. Dredging will also continue to increase water depth. In 2008, a total of 33,314 cruise passengers arrived Trois-Rivières’ niche market is the smaller cruise in Montreal, up 13.9 per cent over the previous year. lines. Following an agreement with the city, the Trois- Quebec City, which held year-long celebrations to Rivières Port Authority will provide public access to the mark the 400th anniversary of its founding, had area between its administrative building and the har- another banner year with 84 cruise ship calls and more bourfront park as well as relinquish two other sections. than 112,000 passengers and crew members, up more With the cohabitation of commercial activity and urban than 24 per cent over 2007. Of these passengers, more life, the space devoted to recreational activities for citi- than 17,700 from the Eurodam and the Sea Princess zens and tourists has increased 15 per cent to over chose Quebec City as an embarkation/debarkation site. Holland America’s Maasdam made 16 scheduled stopovers in the provincial capital and 20 other calls Port of Quebec were made by the line, the port’s largest international cruise ship customer. Three ships were welcomed in one day in September and four vessels, including the Royal Princess and the Eurodam, made inaugural visits to the city in 2008. When the latter arrived on Sept. 10 for the first of two calls, a marching band and costumed actors were dockside to greet it. In addition, due to its retirement from service, the Queen Elizabeth 2 was welcomed for the last time. Despite the absence of Carnival Cruise Lines in

2009, Quebec is anticipating a busy cruise season, with CANADIAN SAILINGS eight major turnaround operations scheduled, including the Crown Princess, as well as inaugural visits by Euro- pean cruise line Costa Cruises and the newest Cunard ship, the Queen Victoria, on Oct. 4-5.

The St. Lawrence 131