Cruise ship season starts Sunday in Charlottetown

The first cruise ship of the season arrives in the Charlottetown Harbour Sunday.

Holland America's Maasdam will carry up to 1,258 passengers.

Charlottetown will host 73 ships this year, with a handful staying in port overnight for the first time.

"I think it's a great opportunity for local businesses to capitalize on having these passengers overnight," said Corryn Morrissey, the Charlottetown Harbour Authority's business development manager.

"Typically they are not here to enjoy dinner and theatre, so I think there is a lot of opportunity to really grow that market. And we are encouraging [cruised] lines all the time to [stay] overnight here."

More than 90,000 passengers and 40,000 crew members will visit the Island throughout the season, which runs to Oct. 25.