Port Colborne Makes Its Mark In Cruising

The iconic, small Ontario town of Port Colborne is playing a increasingly larger role in cruising.

The Lake Erie-fronting city, home to a little over 20,000 people, is hosting a growing number of visitors who arrive by cruise ship, with Port Colborne one of many Great Lakes cities benefitting from a growing number of cruises that sail those large bodies of water.

Port Colborne serves as a gateway location for cruise ships crossing Lake Ontario and Lake Erie through the Welland Canal.

During the 2022 cruise season, six cruise lines berthed ships in Port Colborne over 60 times, and passengers and crew spent an average of six hours onshore, exploring the city and visiting popular tourist attractions throughout the Niagara region.

Greg Higginbotham, tourism coordinator for the City of Port Colborne, says the cruise calls are certainly appreciated by locals.

“Just as much as it loves seeing visitors from the Niagara region and southern Ontario flock to Port Colborne to watch the cruise ships berth at the wharf, the local community can’t get enough of watching them pass under Bridge 21 (Clarence St. Bridge),” he says.

For the full story, check out the latest issue of CANADIAN TRAVEL PRESS.

Photos courtesy of the City of Port Colborne