Volendam kicks off cruise season in Montreal – cruise industry news

The Port of Montreal officially kicks off its 2024 cruise season with the arrival of Holland America's Volendam.

The season promises to top last year's expected success with 41 operations covering nine calls and 32 circuits, with 50,000 passengers from May 4 to October 28.

Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the Port of Montreal, highlighted the city's appeal as a world-class tourism destination and highlighted the port's commitment to innovation and sustainability through its coastal power system.

In addition, Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, said that Montréal is a must-see destination along the St. Lawrence River and is proud to collaborate with the sector to create significant economic benefits for restaurant owners and merchants. Old Montreal.

Nine cruise ships will arrive in Montreal for the first time. The first and biggest ship of the season “Volendam” is from Holland America. There are two Ponant ships, Le Champlain and Lyrial, for 180 and 264 passengers, and Villa Vie Residences, Villa Vie Odyssey, for 924 passengers. Other first-timers include World Explora, Seven Seas Grandeur, Nautica and Azamara Journey.

Three milestones will also be celebrated that demonstrate Montreal's commitment as a port of choice for major cruise lines. Regent welcomes its 25,000th passenger on Sept. 19 aboard Seven Seas Grandeur, and Viking Cruises sees its 30,000th passenger on Sept. 27 aboard Viking Neptune. Oceania welcomes its 40,000th passenger aboard Nautica on October 6.

In addition, according to an agreement between the government of the Netherlands, the city of Rotterdam, and Holland-America, Volendam has become a refuge for 1,500 Ukrainian citizens for six months from April 2022. In memory of this humanitarian act, a permanent exhibition was installed on board the ship. It contains photos of Ukrainian refugees, pictures of children and other testimonies.

The exhibition was officially opened in the presence of the President and CEO of the Port of Montreal, Julie Gascon, the Volendam crew, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal, Yevgeny Tsolii, and the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Montreal, Michael Polak.