Cruise the St. Lawrence (CSL) closed 2025 with significant advances for more responsible cruise tourism. In a changing global context, CSL completed a first year of cruises over four seasons, totaling more than 350,000 passenger days, 269 stopovers, 55 embarkations/disembarkations and 6 inaugural calls. The association’s 25th anniversary was celebrated with concrete benefits for the nine ports of call and the province as a whole.
Thanks to the mobilization of ports of call, in addition to the support of the Fonds d’action québécois en développement durable and the Ministry of Tourism, the destination has reached important milestones: installation of water stations, sorting islands, awareness panels.
The deployment of a network of screens now makes it possible to raise awareness among cruise passengers on the river thanks to a partnership with the St. Lawrence Action Fund, and to provide information on the Indigenous nations of the territory in collaboration with Indigenous Tourism Quebec. Consultation forums have also strengthened local consultation in our ports of call.
Highlights – 2025 Season
- Cruises from January to November
- 353,180 passenger-days
- 269 calls
- 55 embarkations and disembarkations
- 6 inaugural stopovers: Le Commandant Charcot, Brilliant Lady, Celebrity Silhouette, Seven Seas Splendor, Majestic Princess and the Allura
- 1 new operator: Virgin Voyages
- 1 new cruise pavilion in Sept-Îles
- The results of our 2024 economic impact study have been released, with $329.3 million in expenses with an added value of $192.2 million
- $6 million in spending generated for winter cruises in 2025, with an added value of $4.2 million
Strong leadership in sustainable tourism
CSL launched a monthly business watch for its members to analyze international best practices and created the “Sustainable Currents of the St. Lawrence” initiative, a monthly sharing table on sustainable tourism related to the cruise sector. A system for measuring the social acceptability of cruises has been put in place, including a survey of 500 Quebecers and ongoing citizen consultations in the nine ports of call. In addition, since the spring, CSL has been actively participating in the Ministry of Tourism’s Climate Transition Resource Network.
Looking to the future
“Our ambition is clear: to make the St. Lawrence an exemplary destination for sustainable tourism, where the traveller experience is combined with environmental and social responsibility,” said René Trépanier, Executive Director of CSL, who also celebrated 20 years at the helm of the association last fall.
Every action counts to preserve the richness of the river and offer future generations tourism that inspires, respects and brings people together, while bringing considerable benefits to Quebec and its regions.
(Image from CSL)