Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist
GASPÉ – Escale Gaspésie reports that their first winter cruise season in Gaspé “Exceeded all expectations.”
The Commandant Charcot, a ship owned by Le Ponant, made five stopovers at the Sandy Beach wharf, helping Gaspé stand out as the second port of choice on the tour.
This winter 527 passengers and 758 crew members visited Gaspé, generating direct economic spinoffs of approximately $140,000. This represents an average of $271.11 per passenger, more than double the average for the 2024 regular summer season, estimated at $107.62 per passenger.
Winter cruise passengers paid a weekly average of $30,000 for access to the ship, and a total of 842 excursions were booked, demonstrating a strong interest in the region’s winter offerings.
“We were nervous at first.” admitted Escale manager Igor Urban. “On January 21, we had no ice or snow. We started with an atypical winter that required a lot of adjustments, but thanks to that, we demonstrated the full potential and, above all, the flexibility of our winter destination. We offered six tours instead of three,” explains Mr. Urban. A highlight of this season: winter stopovers lasted an average of 35 hours, much longer than the usual 6 to 10 hours in summer. The last stopover of the season took place on March 8 and 9.
Escale Gaspésie is already preparing for future winter seasons, with three stopovers booked for 2027. “For now, they’ve booked a 24-hour slot. What’s likely to change is a shift in the direction of stopovers toward weekends, allowing for the opportunity to take advantage of the facilities at Mont Béchervaise, for example. There were 145 crew members who enjoyed the mountains during two different stops. This proved that it might be worthwhile to come on weekends,” says Mr. Urban.
If the ships arrived on weekends, the stopover could be extended to 48 hours. “That’s our wish, and that’s what the captain and the excursion manager have observed.” They realize that 24 hours isn’t enough. There’s so much to do that they realize it’s worth staying, and it makes the passengers happy. It’s a unique experience. 24 hours was already out of the ordinary, and now we’ve managed to average 35 hours at our destination. The goal is to get people to stay longer,” hopes Mr. Urban.
Another first-of-its-kind outcome was the delivery of 32 pallets of supplies that the ship received during three of its stops. In addition, some of these supplies included locally sourced products from Gaspé. “It’s a big first for us. A big step forward. It’s proof that we’re capable of doing it. It also helped create ties with Gaspésie Gourmande and put Gaspé products on their plates.” This can help ensure a much greater interest in cruises, within the community,” emphasizes Mr. Urban.
Among the activities most appreciated by cruise passengers: snowshoeing in Forillon Park and discovering Mi’gmaq culture, including Mi’gmaq shows and traditional Quebec music on board the ship.
Commandant Charcot’s visit to Gaspé has resonated as far away as Europe. “The media coverage is incredible. We hope to increase sales for 2027. Other cruise lines were also following what was happening. With what we’ve just achieved, maybe we’ll have other ships,” dreams Mr. Urban.
Escale Gaspésie is now gearing up for the 2025 summer cruise season, which will feature 19 confirmed ships and an expected 12,579 passengers.
“We’re looking forward to a slightly milder season.” Cruises sell out three years in advance. In 2022, we had a lull at Escale Gaspésie. We have 19, compared to the 22 or 24 we were used to. We see that in 2026, we already have 25 ships planned,” says the station manager.