Newfoundland and Labrador Wraps Up a Record-Breaking 2025 Cruise Season
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Newfoundland and Labrador wrapped up a record-breaking 2025 cruise season, marking the longest cruise season in the province’s history, running from January 16 through October 22. The extended season reinforced the province’s growing role as a premier cruise destination in Atlantic Canada.
Throughout the season, Newfoundland and Labrador hosted a diverse mix of contemporary, expedition, and luxury cruise lines operating Canada New England, Arctic, transatlantic, and circumnavigation itineraries, reinforcing the province’s position within both established and emerging global cruise routes.
During the 2025 season, Newfoundland and Labrador welcomed over 180 cruise ship calls across 24 ports and destinations, including 22 calls to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, bringing nearly 100,000 passengers and more than 40,000 crew members ashore. From major urban centres to smaller, rural, and remote coastal communities, cruise activity supported local businesses, tour operators, and service providers across the province.
“Cruise continues to be an important driver of economic activity for communities across Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Katelyn Budgell, Managing Director of Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador. “The 2025 season demonstrated the strength of our product, the value of collaboration across ports and communities, and the growing demand for immersive, place-based experiences that our province delivers so well.”
“The 2025 cruise season was a very positive one for the Port of St. John’s, with strong vessel activity highlighted by nine inaugural calls, eight turnarounds, and several overnight stays,” said Bob McCarthy, Vice President, Development, Port of St. John’s and Past Chair of Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador. “These extended visits allowed guests to fully experience the destination and continue to reinforce St. John’s role as a key gateway delivering a high-quality guest experience.”
“Cruise visitors in 2025 brought a welcome boost to Corner Brook, with several ships making their inaugural visits and supporting local businesses, restaurants, and tour operators,” said Glenda Simms, Supervisor of Tourism, City of Corner Brook and Director of Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador. “These visits showcased our city as a vibrant and welcoming destination, and we’re especially proud to host our first-ever winter cruise, giving more visitors the chance to experience all our region has to offer.
The 2025 season marked several important milestones for the province, including Newfoundland and Labrador’s first winter cruise, with calls in Corner Brook and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon; a record-breaking season in St. Anthony driven by increased ship calls; the addition of two new certified ports—Trinity and Bonavista; the season also featured a province-wide circumnavigation itinerary with Adventure Canada, showcasing 15 destinations across Newfoundland and Labrador in one sailing.
The season also introduced a remote digital clearance pilot program, working with federal partners to streamline vessel clearance and expand cruise access to remote and northern communities. Early uptake supported new and expanded calls in Labrador and improved itinerary flexibility and operational viability for cruise lines.
Interest in the destination continues to build beyond the 2025 season. Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador is already seeing confirmed and prospective bookings extending into 2026, 2027, and 2028, reflecting strong confidence from cruise lines in the province’s ports, experiences, and long-term growth potential. New and evolving itineraries are creating expanded opportunities for communities across the province to participate in and benefit from cruise tourism.
The success of the 2025 season was supported by strong collaboration among ports, municipalities, Indigenous and community partners, tour operators, volunteers, and the growing membership of Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador. Together, these partnerships continue to strengthen the province’s cruise offering while supporting responsible growth and long-term sustainability.
As Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador looks ahead, the momentum of the 2025 season positions the province for continued growth, deeper economic impact, and expanded opportunities for communities to share their stories with cruise visitors from around the world.
For more information on cruising in Newfoundland and Labrador, visit www.cruisenl.ca.
Katelyn Budgell
Managing Director, Cruise Newfoundland & Labrador
director@cruisenl.ca | (709) 693 4450
Cruise NL is your definitive source for cruising Canada’s easternmost province – from planning to logistics and everything in between. It’s our mission to bring the global cruise industry to Newfoundland & Labrador by showcasing the variety of unique offerings at our ports and the rugged beauty that our province is known for – in the coves, around the bends, and across the world.