PortsToronto welcomed its first cruise ship of the 2023 season on April 28. The Viking Octantis officially launched what promises to be another record-breaking cruise ship season, which will see 54 ships and 22,000 passengers visit Canada's largest city between May and October.
Toronto has become a popular Great Lakes cruising destination. As one of the key ports of call, passengers aboard Octantis and other cruise ships will remain in Toronto for one to three days, boosting the local economy by enjoying restaurants, attractions and shopping.
In addition to supporting local tourism, entertainment and hospitality sectors, cruising is moving international travellers and their spending into smaller towns and ports in Northern Ontario.
According to Cruise the Great Lakes, an initiative led by the Conference of Great Lakes Governors and Premiers, cruising in the Great Lakes generated an economic value of over US$120 million to the region's ports and communities in 2022.
"The Port of Toronto is a popular urban jumping off point for cruising adventures throughout the Great Lakes. From the cruise ship terminal, passengers are a quick five-kilometre drive to downtown, which has the shopping, theatre, sporting events and restaurants you would expect in a world-class city," said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, PortsToronto.
"With the growing trend of 'exploration cruising', the Great Lakes cruising sector has seen a steady increase in both the number of ships as well as the number of passengers choosing to visit our region, and we expect to see this growth continue."
To view the Port of Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal's full 2023 schedule, click here.
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