Halifax welcomes 1st cruise ship of season, MS Amadea

The first cruise ship of the season Germany-based Phoenix Reisen's MS Amadea docked in Halifax on Monday.

The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association says more than 600,000 passengers will visit Atlantic Canada in 2015 12 per cent more than last year.

Cruise lines will also visit more small ports, such as Pictou and St. Andrews by-the-Sea in New Brunswick.

The industry is expected to bring almost $80 million to Atlantic Canada this season.

The first scheduled cruise call for the Port of Halifax this year was cancelled due to bad weather earlier this month.

The Regal Princess, a vessel operated by Princess Cruises, was to arrive in Halifax on April 19. A storm in the Atlantic Ocean forced the ship to cancel its stop in Halifax.

Last year, the first cruise ship docked in Halifax on May 4.