Port of Toronto Caps Off Record 2023 Cruise Season
PortsToronto has capped off another record year at the Port of Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal, with 45 ships bringing nearly 18,000 passengers to Toronto in 2023, representing another record season for Great Lakes cruising.
The Port of Toronto hosts ships from a range of cruise lines including Viking, Hapag-Lloyd, Ponant, Plantours, American Queen and Pearl Seas. New this year, the port welcomed for their inaugural visits the Viking Polaris and Hanseatic Inspiration.
On the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto has become a popular urban destination and convenient jumping off point for cruise adventures throughout the Great Lakes, viewed by many as “untapped gems” to discover. Located next to the heart of downtown Toronto, passengers arriving at the Port of Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal are a quick five-kilometre drive to the shopping, theatre, sporting events and restaurants you would expect in a world-class city. As a hub – or turnaround – port, passengers arriving and departing their cruise itineraries remain in Toronto for several days, enjoying all our city has to offer.
In addition to supporting local tourism, entertainment and hospitality sectors, cruising is moving international travellers and their spending into the far reaches of the Great Lakes and into smaller towns and ports in Northern Ontario – investment worth celebrating. 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 $120 million USD to the region’s ports and communities in 2022[1].
With the growing trend of exploration cruising, the Great Lakes cruising sector has seen steady growth in both the number of ships as well as the number of passengers, and PortsToronto expects to see another strong year for cruise in 2024.
View a summary video of the Port of Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal’s record 2023 season, here.
Quotes
“I am thrilled to cap off another record season at the Port of Toronto Cruise Ship Terminal, welcoming thousands of visitors to Toronto through the harbour’s scenic Eastern Gap. We are proud to be connecting visitors to Toronto through our city’s remarkable waterfront and to operate a transportation network that brings connectivity, tourism and investment to our city.”
“The growing Great Lakes cruise market brings international visitors to Toronto who often extend their trip, making their way into the city’s many diverse neighbourhoods for food, culture, entertainment and more. We look forward to the continued growth of the cruise market that helps support a thriving visitor economy.”
-30-
[1] Record-Breaking Year for Great Lakes Cruising, Cruise the Great Lakes, June 2022.
The Toronto Port Authority owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomes approximately two million passengers and generates approximately $2 billion in economic impact per year; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada’s largest freshwater marinas; and the marine Port of Toronto, which facilitates businesses such as marine shipping, cargo services and passenger cruises to generate approximately $460 million in economic activity annually. Since 1911, and in its role as a city builder, the Toronto Port Authority has worked with partners and every level of government to enhance Toronto’s transportation infrastructure and economic growth. The Toronto Port Authority is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities, and has invested more than $30 million in recent years to fund charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond.
The Toronto Port Authority is a federal agency and operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act. It is guided by a Board of Directors that includes representation from all three levels of government.