THUNDER BAY— The Viking Octantis is set to arrive in Thunder Bay on Sunday, while its sister ship the Viking Polaris will arrive just hours behind.
The 665-foot ships are a four-year old Polar Class 6 expedition ship, designed for navigating various regions and diverse temperatures.
“We have a really busy week ahead of us and we are excited to welcome all these guests to the city,” said Paul Pepe manager of tourism Thunder Bay.
Pearl Mist, Victory Line Cruises and more will land in Thunder Bay this season, for a total of 13 port calls.
Cruise ships are valuable to the city in an economic stand point, providing a stream of revenue and employment opportunities for local community members, he said.
Pepe said cruise ships contributed over $4 million to Thunder Bay's economy last year.
“It's all about partnership, and here in Thunder Bay, we're really privileged,” Pepe said.
“Even though the number of passengers might be small overall when you look at our tourism economy, the media value and the lens that it puts on Thunder Bay in a positive light is really, really important to us as well,” he said.
Community members who wish to view the cruise ships this season are advised to park at the city's waterfront and walk to the terminal.
“We would love to have the community come on out and welcome the ships in this year,” said Pepe.