The cruise ship season in Saint John is officially shifting into high gear. Following a quiet spring and summer, your port city is preparing for a massive influx of visitors over the next two months. According to a recent report from CTV News Atlantic, Port Saint John will welcome a ship nearly every other day this fall.

A Surge in Fall Arrivals

Port Saint John saw only seven cruise ships between April and August. Now, 51 boats are scheduled to arrive before the season ends. This brings the total to 58 ship visits for the year. The city will host its first double cruise ship day of the season on Wednesday and its first triple ship day on September 8.

Local Businesses Rely on Tourist Traffic

If you walk through uptown Saint John, you will notice the sudden increase in foot traffic brings a welcome boost to local businesses. Many shops and museums depend heavily on these visitors to keep their doors open.

Greg Marquis is a board member for the New Brunswick Historical Society. He notes that July and August were slower than usual. He emphasizes the importance of the cruise ship season for small museums like Loyalist House.

“We tend to make slightly more than half of our revenue at the door during cruise ship season,” Marquis says. “As an organization that doesn’t get a lot of external funding, we really look forward to having those visitors.”

Vendors at the Area 506 Container Village also feel the impact. This spot serves as the first stop for most passengers stepping off the boats. Ryan Crozier works at the Water Yeti Co. booth. He says tourist spending is critical for vendors to make the season profitable.

“A lot of passengers from all over the world are visiting us,” Crozier says. “And it’s exciting to hear why they’re here, why they chose Saint John, and we’re excited to greet everybody.”

Susie Hines owns Hats on the Square in Market Square. She calls the cruise ship season her favorite time of year because passengers arrive ready to spend. However, she admits she hoped for a longer season of ships to help retailers get through the slow winter months.

The Push for a Longer Season

Port Saint John president and CEO Craig Bell Estabrooks acknowledges the overall passenger volume is lower than in previous record breaking years. To counter this, the port secured 12 overnight cruise ship stays for this season. These overnight visits give passengers more time to explore your city and spend money in the local economy.

Bell Estabrooks says the port aims to extend the Saint John ship season into the summer months to match the traffic seen in Halifax.

“Really we have two months where it’s just a tremendous amount of vessels,” Bell Estabrooks says. “If we can spread that over a longer period in the summer, that’ll help us grow our numbers and be really good for vendors that can set up for a longer period of time.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cruise ships are visiting Saint John this year?

Port Saint John expects a total of 58 ship visits this year. Seven ships arrived between April and August, and 51 are scheduled for the fall.

When are the busiest days for cruise ships in Saint John?

The port will see its first double cruise ship day on Wednesday and its first triple ship day on September 8.

How do cruise ships impact the local economy?

Cruise ship passengers provide a major boost to local businesses, museums, and vendors in uptown Saint John. Many retailers rely on this fall surge to sustain them through the slower winter months.

Are there any overnight cruise ship stays?

Yes. The port has planned 12 overnight cruise ship stays this season. This allows passengers more time to explore the city and support local businesses.