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Massport Breaks Cruise Ship Record, 73 Ship Calls This Year; 100 Scheduled for Next Year

The Massachusetts Port Authority announced today a record-setting 1999 cruise season during which the port counted 73 cruise ship calls and 128,028 passengers passed through the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal. These figures represent a 17 percent increase in the number of passengers over the previous year.

The economic impact to the region is estimated at $40 million over the eight month season (April - November). The cruise ship industry pumps millions of dollars into the local Boston economy when passengers visit restaurants, retail stores, hotels and historic sights. Thousands also use taxis and other forms of public and private transportation. The cruise ships themselves depend on a variety of other Boston businesses for flowers, fresh food, and beverages.

Since Massport renovated the terminal and began marketing Boston as a cruise port, ship calls have soared from 13 in 1985 to this years 73 -- more than a 450 percent increase. "Massports cruise terminal provides New England residents with a convenient gateway to fun and sunny vacations," said Massport Executive Director and CEO Virginia Buckingham. "It also brings millions of dollars into the Boston area, boosting our economy and helping revitalize the waterfront. Years of hard work and investment have paid off."

The Black Falcon Cruise Terminals location at the edge of Summer Street in South Boston is within minutes of downtown historic, retail, restaurant and entertainment sites, as well as Logan International Airport. The terminals proximity to the airport allows tourists to fly into Logan and quickly transfer to their cruise ship via the Ted Williams Tunnel or water taxi. A growing number of visitors from other American cities and Europe have come to Boston for cruise embarkations.

"Originally, the Boston to Bermuda cruises were the foundation of our cruise business. Norwegian Majestys 26 weekly Bermuda cruises annually sell out," said Massport Director of the Port of Boston Michael Leone. "That success and our marketing led to new itineraries and new cruise lines scheduling to New England, Canada and across the Atlantic next year." The QEII is scheduled for four transatlantic embarkations from Boston to Southampton next year. Carnival Cruise Line brings its Destiny, the worlds second largest cruise ship, to Boston for four embarkations to Canada.

Recently, Premier Cruise Line announced it will make Boston its embarkation port for the Sea Breeze, during the May through October 2000 cruise season. The 605-foot Sea Breeze carries 840 passengers and will have two cruises weekly-- one two-night and one five-night. To date, Boston has more than 100 ship calls scheduled for 2000 cruise season.

"These new shorter trips introduce cruising to another segment of the population," said Buckingham. "The variety of lines and itineraries underscores Bostons desirability as an embarkation and port of call venue."