Carnival Cruise Lines will be sailing a new nine-day itinerary from New York to Quebec in 2009, featuring three calls on the Saint Lawrence – Quebec City, Baie-Comeau and Havre-Saint-Pierre, according to the Feb. 12 issue of the Cruise Saint Lawrence newsletter.

In Baie-Comeau, the city’s new Garden of Glaciers will offer three different tour programs, from one to eight hours, accommodating up to a 1,000 passengers at time, to illustrate the impact of both the last ice age and global warming.

Other tours offered in Baie-Comeau including flight-sightseeing; wildlife and nature observation by kayaks or zodiacs; city tours; introductions to the history of the region and the life of local pioneers; and much more.

Baie Comeau’s new port facilities will also be ready this summer (2009) and for the 2010 arrivals by Carnival. Downtown has also undergone a facelift.

Havre-Saint-Pierre is in the heart of the Mingan region allowing passengers easy access to explore the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, home to unique local flora and an extraordinary collection of monoliths. Tours also include surrounding villages; hiking, kayaking, wildlife observations, introduction to the Inuit culture and more.

The Port of Quebec has been a key driver in getting the cruise traffic, and will see 2009 calls by among others Holland America Line, NCL, Travel Dynamics, American Canadian Caribbean Line, Silversea, Crystal, Fred. Olsen,, Princess, Canadian Sailing Expeditions. In addition, AIDA and Costa Crociere are also sailing on the Saint Lawrence, bringing European passengers to this region of Canada.

Carnival’s Vice President of Marketing Planning Joan DiPietro, commented to Cruise Industry News that the area is like Alaska was 25 years ago in terms of the dramatic scenery and attractions.

Quebec recorded more than 81,000 passengers and 31,400 crew members on ships visiting ini 2008, a 20 percent increase over 2007.