The 2006 cruise season in Canada’s British Columbia contributed more than $1.25 billion to the BC economy and almost $90 million in direct and indirect taxes.
Almost 1.3 million passengers visited BC ports as 2006 continued the trend of growth for ports along the West Coast while the overall strength of the industry remained consistent with 2005.
Celebrities ranging from pop star Celine Dion and husband Rene Angelil to actor Robert DeNiro and wife Grace are among the increasing number of couples choosing to renew their wedding vows in recent years.
Celebrity Cruises is keeping pace with the trend by introducing a new vow renewals program, which the line launched in a particularly meaningful way.
In 1958 Holland America Line embarked on its first Grand World Voyage, circumnavigating the globe on the beloved Statendam IV. Fifty years later in 2008, four Grand Voyages will commemorate the premium line’s golden anniversary of worldwide cruising with two sailings each aboard the flagship ms Amsterdam and the intimate ms Prinsendam.
As the popularity of longer cruise voyages grows, Holland America Line is expanding its Grand Voyages program with four extensive itineraries in 2008 that boast a total of 320 days of cruising, 118 ports of call and 74 countries, and will sail more than 95,000 nautical miles. A 114-day true circumnavigation voyage aboard Amsterdam anchors the offerings.
C&O Tours, through the Norwegian shipping company Hurtigruten, is now offering an interesting and marvelous trip to the Chilean fiords and the Antarctic. The 15-day cruise teed off its new 2006-2007 season on October 17.
The trip starts either in Ushuaia or in Punta Arenas, and ends on either point’s opposite side. The innovation this time around –the company says- is that the trip includes the city of Puerto Natales.
The countdown is on for the much-anticipated arrival of MSC Lirica in Fort Lauderdale on November 15, marking the launch of MSC Cruises’ 2006-2007 Caribbean season.
Time is also running out for travelers to take advantage of fantastic savings on MSC Cruises’ 11-night cruises on board the stylish MSC Lirica and MSC Opera, which arrives in January.
When the Mercury set sail from Canada Place last Sunday, it signaled the end of the 2006 Vancouver-Alaska cruise season, which saw an estimated 858,500 passengers depart or arrive through the port on 253 vessel calls.
While the passenger total for 2006 stands for a six percent decrease over the previous year, the Port of Vancouver is projecting an increase of 100,000 passengers in 2007.