Royal Caribbean Docks In Saint John, New Brunswick

Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock at Port Saint John, located on the Bay of Fundy in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The port is conveniently located next to the uptown area of Saint John and has two terminals: Marco Polo and Diamond Jubilee. When three ships are in port, the third ship docks at the Long Wharf Terminal, also in the city centre.

Royal Caribbean docks at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal

The Marco Polo terminal is one of two terminals at the Port of Saint John, the other being the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal, which is located next door. The Port of Saint John is Canada's third-largest port by tonnage and the country's fourth busiest cruise port. It is also known as the 'Fundy City' due to its location on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy, which is famous for its unique rock formations and extreme high tides.

The Bay of Fundy's high tides are considered the highest in the world, and at low tide, it is possible to walk on the ocean floor. Saint John is a popular stop on Canada and New England cruises, and the best times to visit are April to May and September to October, when the weather is mild and there are fewer crowds.

The Port of Saint John has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and the downtown area is within walking distance, although there are some hills. The city offers a range of attractions, including historic sites, shopping, and dining. Visitors can explore the quaint streets of downtown Saint John, visit landmarks such as the Carleton Martello Tower, or stroll along the recreational Harbour Passage Trail to see the port in action.

The Marco Polo terminal offers various amenities, including free WiFi, and there are plans for further development to support tourism and local businesses, such as the AREA506 Waterfront Container Village, which opened in June 2022. This village consists of 60 shipping containers where local vendors provide a unique shopping, dining, and entertainment experience.

The Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal is next door

The Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal is conveniently located next door to the Marco Polo terminal, in the downtown area of Saint John, New Brunswick. This means that passengers disembarking here are just a short walk from the city centre, with its brick walkways, historic churches, town squares, and well-maintained sidewalks.

The Diamond Jubilee terminal is one of two located at Port Saint John, which is Canada's fourth busiest cruise port and the country's third-largest cargo port by shipping volume. The port is also known as 'the Fundy City' due to its location on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy, where the bay meets the mouth of the Saint John River.

The Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal is a relatively new addition to the port, with cruise ships now able to access and dock there during both low and high tides. This means that cruise companies can lengthen their ships' port times, giving passengers more time to explore the city.

The downtown area of Saint John is easily walkable, although there are some hills. For those who would prefer not to walk, taxis are available, and there is also a local public bus service. However, it's worth noting that taxis in Saint John are not metered and operate a zoned fare system.

Within a 10-minute walk of the Diamond Jubilee terminal, there are over 100 retail shops, including modern, indoor malls such as Market Square and Brunswick Square. The King Street area is also lined with quaint shops, cafes, and galleries, and there are historic churches and architecturally significant buildings on Germain Street and Prince William Street.

Long Wharf Terminal is further into the harbour

Long Wharf is also used as a cruise terminal if there are three ships in port. A large tent is set up for passengers, and a welcome kiosk is available where you can pick up a city map, meet your excursion group, or arrange ground transportation. There are more than 100 shops within a 10-minute walk of the terminal, and vendors selling artisanal crafts and other goods can be found outside the terminal doors.

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

Saint John is Canada's third-largest port by tonnage

Saint John, New Brunswick, is Canada's third-largest port by tonnage. It is also the country's fourth busiest cruise port and the largest port city in New Brunswick. The port is located on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy, at the mouth of the Saint John River. The city has a population of around 70,000, with over 128,000 in the metropolitan area.

The Port of Saint John is a complex of marine facilities on both sides of the river, occupying 120 hectares (300 acres) of land along 3,900 metres (12,800 feet) of waterfront. The port is known for its extreme tidal range and river currents, with slack water occurring at approximately half tide. The port's main businesses are bulk cargo, TEU-containers, and cruise passenger shipping. It handles a variety of products, including oil, forest products, and potash.

The history of the port dates back to the 17th century when it was first visited by Samuel de Champlain on his voyage to the New World in 1604. Due to its strategic location, it became the site of a French stronghold known as Fort La Tour. The port developed rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries as a result of the timber trade and shipbuilding. Saint John became the province's leading industrial centre, with many shipyards concentrated on Courtney Bay outside the main harbour area.

In recent years, the Port of Saint John has invested in modernization and infrastructure projects, including deepening the main navigation channel to accommodate larger cruise ships. The port's cruise business contributes significantly to the local economy, generating around USD 50 million annually and supporting hundreds of direct local jobs.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal on the east side of the harbour in the downtown area of Saint John, New Brunswick. There is additional cruise docking at the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal and Long Wharf, which is further into the harbour but still within the downtown area.

The city has a long shipbuilding history

Saint John NB (New Brunswick, Canada) is the country's fourth busiest cruise port and its third-largest cargo port. It is also known as the 'Fundy City' due to 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, with over 128,000 in the metropolitan area.

Under Irving, the shipyard was used to construct oil tankers, freighters, and other cargo vessels, as well as passenger ferries. It was the site of the largest shipbuilding order in Canadian history: the construction of nine warships for the Royal Canadian Navy's Halifax-class frigate program in the early 1990s. Flush with revenue from this contract, Irving Shipbuilding went on a buying spree, purchasing several shipyards in eastern Canada to assist with the work.

However, changing global economic conditions and shifts in federal government policies left Saint John Shipbuilding with little work after the Halifax-class frigates were completed. The yard was mothballed in 2000 and, in 2003, Irving announced that it had signed an agreement with the federal government for $55 million in economic readjustment funding, provided that Saint John Shipbuilding be closed permanently. The dry dock remains and can be seen adjacent to the Irving wallboard factory, which now occupies the site.

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