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A record number of cruise ships will visit Prince Edward Island in 2013, says Minister of Tourism and Culture Robert Henderson.

“Our department works very closely with the Charlottetown Harbour Authority and the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association to promote Prince Edward Island as a top cruise ship destination on the eastern seaboard,” said Minister Henderson. “We have invested a great deal of time, effort and capital to provide the facilities necessary to host large cruise ships, and to show cruise ship operators the benefits of a stop on Prince Edward Island. It’s great to see that effort paying off.”

A total of 75 cruise ship visits are currently booked for 2013. That’s 24 more ships than last year, and almost double the number of ships that visited in 2011 when 39 ships docked in Charlottetown. The first ship will dock on May 8 and the last will leave port on October 27. Tourism PEI’s objective was to increase cruise ship passenger visitation by 30 per cent in 2013 and that goal has been surpassed.

“We are so pleased to see our numbers continue to increase year over year. Having these additional calls from cruise lines provides a great opportunity for local operators to capitalize on this growing market,” explains Corryn Morrissey, manager of Marketing and Communications with the Charlottetown Harbour Authority. “Not only do we have the opportunity to showcase our island to passengers when they’re here, but we also give them a reason to return again for a longer stay.”

The cruise ship sector adds approximately $13.4 million to the provincial economy annually and provides a boost for local businesses in the spring and fall shoulder seasons.

For more information regarding cruise ship visits to Prince Edward Island, visit www.tourismpei.com/pei-cruise-tours or www.historiccharlottetownseaport.com.