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400 years of cruising! And that’s just a beginning…

We are pleased to present to you this very first edition of the newsletter bearing the colours of the new Cruise the Saint Lawrence Website. Every quarter, you will receive this newsletter, which presents the latest news released by the Association and its members. 

Happy reading, and talk to you soon!

www.croisieresaintlaurent.com a site for you to add to your favourites!

Cruise the Saint Lawrence has launched its new Website in Québec City, at www.cruisesaintlawrence.com. 

This informative and functional site boasts excellent visual quality and presents Québec as a cruise destination that is simply not to be missed. The site includes descriptions of nine ports-of-call along the Saint Lawrence that comprise offer undeniable potential for development and marketing. 

The Website presents all of the itineraries of the international cruise lines that frequent the Saint Lawrence in the vast Atlantic region known as Canada/New England. The site also represents a comprehensive information tool for the industry and a planning tool that is ideal for both consumers and travel professionals.

400 years of cruising! And that's just a beginning...        

2008 promises to be one of the busiest years in international cruising on the Saint Lawrence, but even more is in store for 2009!

Following the route discovered by Viking explorers, the Basque fishermen, and, 400 years ago, French explorer Samuel de Champlain, the biggest international cruise lines are heading for our magnificent river to share the experience with tens of thousands of passengers of all origins. In 2008, 13 cruise lines and 18 different vessels will visit one or another of the ports-of-call on the Saint Lawrence.

Among the upcoming innovations: the presence, for the first time on the Saint Lawrence, of Canadian Sailing Expeditions with the Caledonia vessel and the AIDA Cruises with the AIDAaura. The Royal Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, the Eurodam, the new ship in the Holland America fleet, and the Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas, should not be missed!

Cruise the Saint Lawrence forecasts for 2009 are even more impressive than those for 2008, with the arrival of new ships that will make several stops at ports that are under development along the Saint Lawrence River.

Major investments planned for the development of ports-of-call along the Saint Lawrence!

Over the past five years, the governments of Québec and Canada will invest to develop the cruise industry along the Saint Lawrence.

The objective of the addition of ports-of-call in towns east of Québec Cit, is to attract more cruise companies and increase tourism revenues in these regions.

The funds invested will be used to improve the port infrastructures and tourist attractions for visitors. The towns of Saguenay, Sept-Îles, Baie-Comeau, Gaspé, Havre-Saint-Pierre as well as the Îles de la Madeleine will benefit from the investments in light of their promising development potential. According to Tourism Minister Raymond Bachand, the development of these destinations will also benefit the cities of Québec, Montréal and Trois-Rivières.

The investments required for the implementation of the strategy are evaluated at $156 million and will be covered by financing based on a partnership between the government of Québec, the government of Canada, and local communities. The support of the government of Québec in the implementation of this strategy totals $52.5 million and that of the government of Canada totals $46 million.