Cruise Newfoundland and Labrador, an association representing ports in the region, is expecting a record year with an 80 percent increase in cruise passengers, according to Marketing Manager Deborah Cook.

2017 is seeing 20 ports in the region being visited a total of 105 times by 29 ships and 24 cruise lines.

“It is a wide variety of cruise operators, making up 64,000 passengers,” she told Cruise Industry News. “2018 is also looking very strong.”

She said the growth was a mix of big ships coming to St. John’s combined with expanded expedition capacity in the region from Adventure Canada, Ponant, Hurtigruten and OneOcean – a number of which use St. John’s as a turnaround port.

“Three cruise lines are making their first calls to Newfoundland and Labrador,” Cook said. “TUI is calling, Viking Cruises is coming for the first time, and we have the Disney Magic scheduled. It’s exciting to have these new companies calling at the port.”