Viking Octantis, the first ship of Viking EXPEDITIONS, arrived at Quebec City on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the international cruising season at Port Quebec (Canada).
Mario Girard (the Port's President and CEO) presented the ship's master - Captain Jorgen Cardestig, with a medal in recognition of being the first cruise ship to dock in the city this year.
The cruising season is scheduled to last until November 5th, and the port is anticipating 124 visits from 41 different cruise ships in 2023, including 30 homeporting operations (boardings and debarkations).
Since 2014, the Port of Quebec has restricted the number of daily passengers and ships to maximum 15000 passengers and 4 docked vessels simultaneously.
The port is currently considering adding shore power connections to its main operating docks in response to the COVID crisis and aims to have all ships equipped with the necessary technology to plug into shore power by 2035 at ports with the required infrastructure.
According to Robert Mercure (Destination Quebec's General Manager), the arrival of the first ship at the Port of Quebec always caused a certain frenzy in them because it also represented the beginning of the summer tourist season.
“Cruises are an important component for the Quebec City region exposure, and they remain an incredible window to highlight the beauty of the Saint Lawrence River and the city, as many cruise passengers return to visit us after a stopover. With even more boarding and disembarking operations expected this year, the 2023 season promises to generate even greater tourism benefits for the destination.”
In addition to Viking, other companies with stops in Quebec City scheduled for this spring and summer include HAL-Holland America, RSSC-Regent Seven Seas, Princess, Silversea, and Seabourn.