PORTLAND, Maine — New England ports see a bright spot on the horizon as they prepare for what they expect will be a record number of cruise ships during the tourism season this year.
New England and eastern Canada have been growing in popularity among cruise lines, and this year could be the busiest yet with passengers who are drawn to the region’s beauty, culture and history.
Maine ports are expecting 335 cruise-ship calls, up from 281 last year. Ports in the Canadian Maritimes and in Newfoundland are projecting 467 calls, 84 more than in 2009. Boston is anticipating a record 300,000-plus cruise-ship passengers to pass through its port.
“The last two or three years, we’ve really spiked,” said Charlie Phippen, harbor master in Maine’s Bar Harbor, which expects 119 cruise-ship visits.
The cruise-line industry has been growing worldwide for decades, from fewer than 4 million passengers in 1990 to more than 13 million in 2008, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.
