Cruise ship stops in Saint John for first-ever December visit in Atlantic Canada
When most people book a winter cruise, they don’t expect to end up in Canada. However, due to a weather-related reroute, nearly 2,900 passengers aboard the MSC Meraviglia found themselves in Saint John, New Brunswick on the first day of December, marking the latest day in the year a cruise ship has ever visited Atlantic Canada.
Passengers were informed of the itinerary change just a day before departure, given the option for a cruise credit or to proceed with the new route. Despite the last-minute nature of the change, many decided to embrace the adventure and set sail towards Canada.
We were actually all packed up and winterized as the season ended on November the seventh, explained Natalie Allaby, the Port Saint John cruise excellence director. Our team pulled together over the last couple of days, we got a bunch of Christmas decorations, brewed a bunch of hot chocolate, and are ready to have a great day with the passengers.
The MSC Meraviglia docked in Saint John at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning and is scheduled to depart at 7 p.m later that day. To welcome the unexpected visitors, carolers from Saint John High School serenaded the ship upon its arrival in the harbor.
However, passengers soon discovered that winter in Saint John is quite different from the Bahamas, the original destination. With temperatures feeling like -13 degrees Celsius (-8.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Port City, reactions were mixed.
I was disappointed because I wanted to get down to warm weather, said passenger Mike Connor. But you can’t control it.
Others chose to view the unexpected change as an opportunity to explore a new place.
I mean, we were surprised, but he (my friend) has never been to Canada, said passenger Rebecca Lubin. I was there when I was really little, so we’re excited to be around here.
When asked about their plans in Saint John, passengers mentioned popular attractions and activities in the area.
We are going to the reversing falls, looking to just go uptown and see what there is here, said Lubin.
Couple of breweries, found that out already, added Chris O’Connor. Then we’ve got the market place and then just walking around and trying to stay warm.
Natalie Allaby emphasized that this deviation from the usual cruise route was a one-off occurrence and not something that would become a regular holiday feature. Typically, cruise ships tend to stay within a certain geographic area.
This decision for them to come north, to change the whole itinerary and come to Canada this time of year is certainly a first, Allaby said. It could happen again, but I wouldn’t bank on it.
As the MSC Meraviglia concludes its brief visit to Saint John, the 2024 cruise schedule for Port Saint John will be released in the New Year, giving travelers a glimpse into future opportunities for unforgettable voyages.
Although a detour from their tropical cruise plans, the unexpected stop in Saint John provided MSC Meraviglia passengers with an unexpected and adventurous experience in Canada’s Atlantic region.
