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Prince Rupert's Northland Cruise Terminal will see its first passengers in two
years come this May as a 26 port call schedule highlights the 2022 season |
Prince Rupert Harbour watchers will want to be watching the horizon on May 29th, that's when the Windstar vessel Star Breeze is anticipated to arrive at the Northland Cruise Terminal, a 7AM berthing serving as the return for the Cruise Industry to Prince Rupert.
The Star Breeze the first of what will be 26 port calls in the city this Spring, Summer and into fall as the Ships small and large once again put Prince Rupert on the travel Itinerary.
The 2022 schedule was released by the Prince Rupert Port Authority today, with the Port forecasting the prospect of close to 14,010 passengers to arrive in town over the course of the four months.
Some for a short stopover, others for a day of extended exploration.
With a range of industry led safety measures in place, the hope is that with the first vessel calls since Covid shut things down two years ago, that the local Tourism sector will begin to see some recovery from challenging times.
Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority put the accent on that safe return with today's announcement.
“PRPA and our partners are looking forward to safely welcoming back cruise passengers to Prince Rupert after a de-stabilizing couple of years in the tourism industry. Cruise has historically played a pivotal role in the local economy and it is our hope that the 2022 summer season marks the return of a vibrant local tourism sector, with the opportunity to increase its strength in the future.”
As the Port and Tourism Prince Rupert noted in todays launch of the new schedule, the impact on the local economy was significant as the region rebuilt its profile in the industry over the last decade.
Cruise tourism offers significant economic benefits to Prince Rupert and the surrounding area. Between 2004 to 2019, Prince Rupert welcomed approximately 655,000 passengers with an estimated direct economic impact of over $50 million.
Even with Prince Rupert’s modest 2019 levels of cruise activity, there was an estimated $1.8 million of economic revenue brought to businesses in the community.
Tourism Prince Rupert's Executive Director Ceilidh Marlow, also noted as to the work that has gone into securing the port visits in Prince Rupert for 2022.
"Tourism Prince Rupert is thrilled to welcome cruise passengers back to the Northland Terminal in Prince Rupert to experience all of the excitement and adventure our community has to offer.
As the only port-of-call in Canada [for the ships on the 2022 itinerary], Prince Rupert offers passengers a unique glimpse into the wild Canadian landscape and our friendly small towns.
We are working closely with PRPA to prepare for the upcoming season and are actively searching for new tour operators or businesses interested in offering an experience for cruise passengers."
The Full 2022 Schedule can be reviewed below, though the Port does note that it is subject to vessel itinerary changes as the season moves forward.
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Of some significance from today's announcement is the appearance of some large industry players and the pocket tourism providers that make for the return for 2022, particularly important for the local industry
as Alaskan politicians continue to push towards a bypass of British Columbia ports for American cruise providers, part of their apparent ongoing frustration with federal and provincial officials from last season.
Lining up the industry names for 2022 includes:
Widnstar, Seabourn, National Geographic, Ponant, Holland America and Princess, as well as a newcomer to the port in Hurtigruten, all will give Prince Rupert a continued foothold in the competitive Alaska Cruise industry.
The National Geographic vessels of Lindblad make for the smallest of the ships to call on the city, while the Holland America and Princes Ships will bring the largest volume of visitors in one port call.
And as the Prince Rupert Port Authority notes in their information release today, One day in late September may be a memorable one for the local tourism industry.
A double-vessel call from Holland America and Princess Cruise Lines planned for September 23rd has the potential for an all-time record-setting day for cruise passengers visiting Prince Rupert.
It will be a port call that could deliver 4,706 passengers and 2,024 crew members to the city from 7AM to 6PM.
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