Record-setting cruise liner visits Halifax

A thick coat of fog and drizzle didn’t stop the buzz of excitement at the Halifax Port Authority Wednesday.

A record was set with the inaugural call of the Norwegian Breakaway.

“In terms of cruise guests this is the largest capacity cruise vessel to call on Halifax with about 4,000 passengers on-board,” Lane Farguson of the Halifax Port Authority said.

The ship docked at Pier 22 and there was a steady flow of passengers loading up on tour buses and heading for the city.

It’s the first multi-cruise ship day of the season with Grandeur of the Seas also arriving.

The huge spike in downtown foot traffic is eagerly welcomed by small businesses.

“There’s two massive cruise ships in at the Halifax Seaport so it’s amazing for local businesses when up to 7,000 people come to the city,” Alex MacLean said, owner of East Coast Lifestyle Clothing.

Farguson says tourism dollars brings millions of dollars in growth to the economy.

“It’s worth over $100 million in terms of economic benefit for the local community,” Farguson said.

This year’s Halifax Port schedule is expected to bring over 200,000 passengers ashore.

“We’re expecting about 135 vessel calls, carrying about 240,000 passengers, and for us, that’s a pretty solid year,” Farguson said.

Cruise ship season runs between April and October and this year there’s 11 inaugural calls carrying international passengers.

For more information on the cruise ship schedule visit the Port of Halifax website.