Montreal (Quebec Canada)

Montreal is a major port city in Canada's Quebec Province and by population (around 1,7 million, metro over 3,5 million) is ranked the country's 2nd largest city (after Toronto). As cruise port, Montreal handles over 100,000 passengers annually. Midway between Montreal and Toronto is Kingston ON (on Lake Ontario/St Lawrence Seaway).

The city features a distinct 4-season climate, with cold and snowy winters and hot summers. Montreal is Canada's 2nd-largest economy and Quebec's largest by GDP. The city is a major center of industry, commerce, finance, technology. Industries include electronics, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, software, printed goods, telecommunications, textile manufacturing, petrochemicals, tobacco, transportation, media (French-language TV productions, radio, movies, print publishing).

The city is best-known for its world-class productions in music, theatre, dance, visual arts. Local cultural life (particularly in the summer) is prompted by many festivals, the largest being Montreal International Jazz Festival (world's largest). St Joseph's Oratory (Canada's largest church) has the world's second-largest copper dome (after Rome's St Peter's Basilica). The Old Town features narrow cobblestone streets.

Port Montreal

Port's cruising season runs from May through November. High-season is September-October when Canada's "Fall Foliage" cruises are scheduled. Port's statistics show that most cruise ship tourists are Americans (72%), followed by Australians (8,5%), Canadians (7,5%) and British (4,5%). The largest cruise ship in Montreal so far is AIDALuna (LOA length 251 m, passenger capacity 2500).

Port Montreal is one of all 9 St Lawrence cruise ports of call - together with Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, Gaspe, Havre-Saint-Pierre and Magdalen Islands. In 2015, Port Montreal handled a total of 73 cruise ship visits, which was 29 more (over 2014). These vessels brought over 92,000 passengers and crew to the city, which was a nearly 30% increase over 2014.

In 2016, when Montreal celebrated its 375th anniversary, the cruise port reported an increase of 28% (over 2015) in passenger shipping volumes. Another factor was the opening (in May) of the refurbished cruise terminal. In 2017, the port handled over 110,000 cruise passengers and reported a revenue of around USD 30 million in cruise-related operations.

In August 2017, Montreal Port Authority (MPA) announced the completion of its shorepower supply project (total cost USD 11 million). The new cruise terminal now offers shoreside power (electricity) for all berthed vessels. The first liner to connect was Holland America's MS Veendam. The project's first phase resulted in shore-side power supply for wintering ships only, while phase 2 was for cruise vessels. Port's all 4 shorepower stations were inaugurated in 2016 - at berths 25, 27, 29 and M2 (wintering vessels). Shore power allows docked ships to shut down completely their diesel engines, thus reducing bad emissions. Of the project's USD 11 million, USD 5 million were contributed by the Canadian Government, USD 3 million by the Quebec Government and USD 3 million by MPA.

Based on its 2018 cruise schedule (berth bookings), the seaport announced a record year with expected ~130,000 tourists. This was a 14% increase over 2017's 52 ship calls and 114,000+ passengers. In 2018, the cruise port handled 101,504 passengers (10% over 2017) plus 25,383 crew (11,8% increase / 22,888 in 2017) to a total of 127,087 tourists (11% increase over 2017). In 2018, the port welcomed its 80,000th passenger of AIDA Cruises. Maiden calls were made by the liners AIDAvita, Star Pride, Silver Spirit, Victory II. The port handled 25 ship calls from 18 different cruise shipping companies.

Following the Canada-Europe free-trade agreement CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), in 2018, Port Montreal also projected a record year for its cargo shipping traffic. This is Canada's second-largest cargo port (following only Port Metro Vancouver / handling over 1/2 of Canada's containerized cargoes). In January 2017 was opened the new containership terminal with annual capacity ~600,000 TEU-containers. Port Montreal is also Quebec's only container port. It is ranked Eastern Canada's largest (1,7+ million TEUs handled in 2018) providing the shortest direct lines between Europe and North America.

• There are plans for building another (larger) container terminal (in Contrecoeur) with annual capacity 1,15 million TEUs, with completion by 2021-2022.
• In August 2019 CIB (Canada Infrastructure Bank) joined the Contrecoeur port development/expansion project by developing its financial structuring. The signed with MPA deal included designing, construction works, financing, as well as terminal operation and maintenance.

In March 2019, Montreal Port Authority and LOGISTEC Corporation announced that Viau Terminal (annual capacity ~350,000 TEUs, operator Termont Montreal Inc) will be further expanded. This (second phase) follows Phase 1 which was completed in 2016. In 2018, for a 5th consecutive year, the port's container shipping volume increased 9% (to ~1,7 million TEUs). When completed (in December 2020), Phase 2 will add annual capacity 250,000 TEUs, thus bringing Viau Terminal's capacity to 600,000 TEUs and Port's total TEU capacity to 2,1 million. Since January 2021, Viau Terminal will generate around 2500 jobs and contribute ~CAD 340 million to the state's economy.

On June 10, 2021, MPA signed an agreement with Greenfield Global Inc (1989-founded, Toronto-based company which specializes in biofuel production) for supplying hydrogen fuel for the Port's shoreside power facility (in operation since 2017).

In 2022, following the 2-year hiatus due to the COVID crisis, the cruise port had scheduled a total of 46 ship calls/booked berthings, with estimated 40-50,000 visiting tourists.

In 2023 (April 29-October 30), the Port handled a total of 48 cruise calls (+33% over 2022) from 23 different ships (15 brands/companies) and ~67000 tourists (~51000 passengers plus ~16000 crew). The port's cruise schedule listed 5 new vessels (making maiden calls) - Hanseatic Inspiration (Hapag-Lloyd), Oceania Vista, Pacific World (Peace Boat) Viking Neptune and Viking Mars (Viking OCEAN).

In 2024 (May 4-October 28), the Port had scheduled a total of 41 cruise ship calls/booked berdings and expected ~6% growth in passengers (~54000). Of all operations, 9 were transits and 32 homeporting. Of the visiting vessels, 9 were new ships (making first-time calls) - MS Volendam (HAL-Holland America Line), Fred Olsen Borealis, Le Champlain and Le Lyrial (Ponant), Oceania Nautica, Azamara Journey, Seven Seas Grandeur (RSSC-Regent), World Explorer (Rivages du Monde), Villa Vie Odyssey (Villa Vie Residences).

Montreal cruise terminal

Montreal tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Montreal Biosphere: dates from 1967. It was built for the World’s Fair. Now, it houses an environmental museum.
• Montreal Skyline: take a tour along St. Lawrence River and explore the amazing mixture of the impressive architecture in the Old Montreal and the modern skyline.
• Smoked Meat: try the giant sandwiches with smoked meat at the famous Schwartz’s Deli eatery.
• Montreal Museums: the biggest one is Château Ramezay. You will discovery the local history for 500 years.
• River Surfing: St. Lawrence River offers a few spots with standing waves.
• Atwater Market: the best place to find and taste local baked goods, cheese and fresh fish.
• Bixi Public Bikes: in Montreal biking is a very popular way of transportation. This is the most successful system for renting a bike in the world.
• Montreal Street Art: you will find interesting kinds of street art, graffiti and murals in every neighborhood in the city.
• Centaur Theatre: located in Old Montreal. It was and Old Stock Exchange Building. Now you can enjoy plays in English.
• Montreal Poutine: typical for French Canada snack for the night. It is French fries with gravuy and cheese curds.
• Habitat 67: dates from the 1960s. It is an amazing housing complex built by Moshe Safdie, a famous architect.
• Street Musicians: almost everywhere trough Place des Arts area.
• Notre-Dame Basilica: dates from 1829. The massive cathedral is a famous landmark.
• Rue Saint-Paul: the oldest street in Montreal