The Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador said that the 2016 cruise season totaled 66 port calls to 22 member ports by 16 cruise lines and 22 ships, adding up to 33,933 passengers and 16,515 crew.

“The province has positioned itself well within the cruise industry as a premier destination that offers world class, ‘bucket list’ experiences,” said Dennis O’Keefe, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Cruise Association and Mayor of St. John’s. “Newfoundland and Labrador is becoming a must see destination in the Canada New England region, for cruise lines around the world, and expedition lines in particular.”

In Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon there were nine port calls by five different cruise operators with seven ships.

The six-month Newfoundland and Labrador cruise season kicked off on in St. John’s with a visit by Fred Olsen’s the Balmoral on May 13, and it ended on the West Coast in Corner Brook when Oceania’s the Regatta visited on October 18.

Cruise Newfoundland and Labrador is looking forward to a record breaking cruise season in 2017, according to a prepared statement, almost doubling expected passenger and crew numbers.

Current plans see the province welcoming 30 ships making 120 port calls, with an expected 99,266 passenger and crew. Of these 120 port calls, we will welcome 10 new ships and/or cruise lines. Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon are expected to welcome 20 port calls, a big jump from their nine calls in 2016.