The 2013 Cruise Canada New England Symposium opened in Boston on Tuesday at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal with a cocktail reception featuring opening remarks from Thomas Glynn, CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority; Pat Moscaritolo, president and CEO and the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau; Nick Billows, deputy port director, sales and marketing for the Massachusetts Port Authority; and Rene Trepanier, chairman of the Cruise Canada New England Alliance.

The opening remarks featured Trepanier gathering the Canadian ports to sing a song highlighting both Boston and Quebec.

Furthermore, a donated cruise from Holland America Line on the St. Lawrence paired with air from Porter, a one-night pre or post stay in Boston, and a helicopter tour of Quebec is being raffled for charity for the Boston bombing victims. Tickets are available to attendees for $20.

The opening of the Symposium was followed by a traditional New England dinner featuring clams, lobsters and more as ports casually dined to live music and sat with cruise media and various cruise lines.