St. John's Waterfront Welcomes Cruise Ships To Historic Port City

Cruise ships visiting Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, dock at one of two terminals in Uptown Saint John: the Marco Polo terminal or the Diamond Jubilee terminal. If there are three ships in port, a third ship will dock at the Long Wharf terminal, also located in the heart of the city.

Cruise terminals in Saint John

Saint John, New Brunswick, is a popular cruise destination in Canada. The city has two cruise terminals in the heart of Uptown Saint John: the Marco Polo terminal and the Diamond Jubilee terminal. If there are three ships in port, a third ship can dock at the Long Wharf terminal, also located in the downtown area.

The Marco Polo terminal offers free WiFi, and there is an ATM located within the terminal that dispenses Canadian dollars. The cruise terminals are within walking distance of Uptown Saint John, which has various shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Saint John is a walkable city, and it is possible to travel on foot between many attractions in the Uptown area, such as the City Market, Brunswick Square Mall, Market Square, and the Canada Games Aquatic Centre. The city also offers a public transportation system with buses, and taxis are available by the cruise port.

Port Saint John is known for its cleanliness and infrastructure and is the largest port in Atlantic Canada by volume. The port handles millions of tons of cargo annually and is a popular stop for cruise ships travelling along the coast of Canadian New England.

Attractions near the cruise port

Cruise ships dock at Port Saint John, conveniently located next to the uptown area of the city. From here, it's a short walk to the city centre, where you'll find unique shops, boutiques, art galleries, and cafes.

The cruise port is also within walking distance of several attractions, including:

• The Saint John City Market, the oldest continuing farmer's market in Canada, with food and handicrafts.
• King's Square, with its two-story bandstand and garden area.
• The Loyalist House, one of the few buildings to survive the great fire of 1877.
• The Loyalist Burial Ground.
• Barbour's General Store, a building dating back to 1867.
• The Carleton Martello Tower, a national historic site built in 1813.
• The New Brunswick Museum, with exhibits on the history, culture, and art of the province.

A short taxi or bus ride away, you'll find:

• The Irving Nature Park, a great spot for nature lovers, with trails, forests, volcanic rock, and salt marsh.
• The St. Martins Sea Caves, accessible twice a day at low tide.

History of Saint John

Saint John, New Brunswick, is Canada's oldest incorporated city, with a history that extends back thousands of years. The area was inhabited by the Maliseet and Miꞌkmaq First Nations before the arrival of European colonists in the 17th century. The mouth of the Saint John River was discovered by Europeans in 1604, during a reconnaissance of the Bay of Fundy led by French cartographer Samuel de Champlain. The city was named after the river, which was visited on St. John the Baptist's Day.

During the 17th century, a French settlement was established, and the area became known as 'Acadia'. In 1631, the mouth of the river was fortified by Charles de la Tour, who built Fort Sainte Marie (AKA Fort La Tour) on the east side of the river. In 1642, a blockade of St. John took place, led by Charles de Menou, Sieur d'Aulnay, who wanted to claim the area as Governor of Acadia. The conflict ended in 1643 when La Tour returned from Boston with four ships and 270 men to repossess the fort.

In 1758, the British took control of the area, renaming the fort 'Fort Frederick'. However, this was destroyed by American revolutionaries in 1775. The settlement continued to grow, and in 1783, Loyalists fleeing persecution in the aftermath of the American Revolution settled on both sides of the harbour, founding Parr Town and Carleton. In 1785, these two communities amalgamated to become Saint John, Canada's first incorporated city.

In the 19th century, Saint John saw an influx of Irish migrants escaping the Great Famine, and by 1851, the city was the third-largest in British North America, after Montreal and Quebec. However, in 1877, a great fire ravaged the city, destroying two-fifths of it and leaving 13,000 people homeless. The city rebuilt, switching from building with wood to brick and stone.

In the 20th century, Saint John became a trans-shipment point for the British Empire during World War I. The city was also at the centre of the Maritime Rights Movement in the 1920s, a broad-based protest movement demanding better treatment from the government. During World War II, the port declined in importance due to the U-boat threat, and manufacturing, particularly of veneer wood for aircraft, expanded.

In the post-war period, urban renewal projects transformed the city, with former railway lands redeveloped and historic industrial buildings turned into shops and museums. Today, Saint John is Canada's third-largest port by tonnage, and its cruise shipping business generates millions of dollars for the local economy.

Port facilities and location

Cruise ships typically dock at Port Saint John, which is conveniently located next to the popular area of uptown Saint John. The Saint John cruise port is home to two terminals: Marco Polo and the newer Diamond Jubilee. From Port Saint John, it’s a short walk along Lower Water Street to the city centre.

On days when three ships are in port, the third ship docks at Long Wharf Terminal, which is also located in the heart of the city.

Port Saint John is Canada's 4th busiest cruise port and the country's 3rd largest cargo port by shipping volume. It is widely known as the "Fundy City" because of its location on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy, at the mouth of the St John River. The city has a population of around 70,000 (metro over 128,000).

The cruising season in Saint John runs from April through November. The port's cruise business contributes around $50 million annually to New Brunswick's economy.

Saint John is the oldest incorporated city in Canada. It was created by royal charter in 1785 during the reign of King George III of England. The city was originally supposed to be the capital of New Brunswick, but this was vetoed by King George III (the capital is now Fredericton).

Saint John is known for its shipbuilding industry, which helped the town to prosper. Today, the port of Saint John is Canada's third-largest port by tonnage. In addition to cruising, the port frequently hosts cargo ships carrying dry and liquid bulk, break bulk, and containers.

The AREA506 Waterfront Container Village opened on the Saint John waterfront in June 2022. The village consists of 60 shipping containers where local food and drink vendors, as well as retailers, provide a unique shopping, dining, and entertainment experience.

Transportation in Saint John

Saint John, New Brunswick, is a very walkable city, with many attractions located in Uptown, in the city centre. If you're staying in Uptown Saint John, you can walk to over 100 shops and restaurants in just 10 minutes.

If you want to travel further afield, there are several transportation options available to you.

Taxi

There is a ground transportation kiosk located at the cruise terminals, where staff will arrange transportation for you. Taxis in Saint John are not metered and instead operate on a zoned fare system. It's a good idea to ask how much the ride will cost before you set off. Another quirk of the taxi system in Saint John is that you might share the taxi with other passengers.

Car

If you want to explore the area independently, there are several car rental companies in Saint John, including Avis, Budget, and Discount Car and Truck Rentals. However, parking in the city centre can be expensive, and gas is generally more costly in Canada than in the US.

Bus

Saint John Transit operates over 20 bus routes throughout the city. Routes 1 and 3 pass through Uptown and stop at King's Square. These routes operate every 15 to 30 minutes from early morning until late at night, seven days a week. A one-way bus fare costs CA$2.75 for adults and CA$2.50 for seniors and children.

Ferry

Ferries run daily between Uptown Saint John and Digby in Nova Scotia. Digby is a quiet harbour town, and the journey offers beautiful views across the Bay of Fundy.

Frequently asked questions