Sydney NS (Nova Scotia Canada)

Sydney, Canada is situated on the eastern coast of Cape Breton Island, north-eastern Nova Scotia. Cape Breton's craggy coast has been carved through the ages by the Northumberland Strait and the Atlantic Ocean. On this remote Nova Scotia isle, picturesque valleys and massive rolling hills still harbour Gaelic speaking descendants of Acadian French and Scottish settlers.

Located in a coal-producing region of great importance, Sydney is a major industrial area and a seaport on Sydney Harbour. The community, settled in early 1780s by United Empire Loyalists, is christened in honour of British statesman Thomas Townshend, First Viscount Sydney. It served as Cape Breton Island's capital between 1784-1820, and then after the isle became part of Nova Scotia Province.

Port Sydney NS

In 2016, a total of 99,370 cruise passengers visited Sydney NS, boosting the local economy with CAD 22,9 million. In January 2017 started construction works on Sydney Harbour's second cruise ship berth (read more in the terminal section below).

In 2017, the cruise port had 82 scheduled ship calls and handled a total of 118,361 passengers plus 63,759 crew ( 67% increase over 2016). The port's projected budget was nearly 1/2 of its revenue - CAD 936,000 from passenger tax. The 2017 season started on April 30 with the Holland America Line's ship ms Veendam. Initially, in 2017 there were 90 ship bookings, but due to weather and efforts to slow down vessels navigating in Gulf of St Lawrence resulted in itinerary changes and 8 booking cancellations.

Port's 2018 cruise ship schedule (officially announced on February 1st) showed a record berth booking with a total of 90 ship calls and estimated 149,231 passengers plus 64,779 crew. Season 2018 (May 1 thru Nov 5) featured 11x 2-ship days and 3x 3-ship days.

In 2023 the cruise port reported a record year with scheduled 112 ship calls/booked berthings (estimated 200,000+ tourists).

For 2024, the cruise port had booked a total of 115 ship berthings (including 7 maiden). For summer 2024 (June-July-August) was reported a 17% increase in cruise calls (over summer 2023).

Sydney NS cruise terminal