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Welcome to Halifax
Stroll through the lush Public Gardens. Tour the impressive collection at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Explore a museum… welcome to Halifax. Nova Scotia’s vibrant capital city hums with culture and history just waiting to be explored.
Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada, or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for a crash course on the region’s past.
Find a ton of restaurants and shops steps from the ship. Feast on some of the freshest seafood you’ll find anywhere in the world, including famous Nova Scotia lobster.
Halifax’s central location makes it easy to enjoy many of Nova Scotia’s world-famous shore excursions such as Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Bay of Fundy, the Annapolis Valley, and much more. Like everywhere else in Atlantic Canada, the only thing more beautiful than the scenery is the good nature of the people you’ll meet on your travels.
Contact
Robyn Stewart
Manager, Cruise Development
Halifax Port Authority
PO 336
Halifax, NS B3J 2P6
Phone: (902) 229-4466
Email: rstewart@porthalifax.ca
Website: www.porthalifax.ca
Port Specifications
The Port of Halifax is committed to further develop our destination and overall cruise experience in a sustainable way that complements the surrounding community. When discussing sustainable cruising at the Port of Halifax, the focus is on achieving a balance among economics, community integration, and the environment.
The Halifax Seaport offers more than 611m (2000 ft) of continuous berth space. Piers 20 & 22 are the principal cruise berths offering passengers direct ship to shore access through the Port’s cruise passenger terminals. Pier 23 is the optimal berth for expedition, boutique luxury vessels, 205m (672 feet) or less in length.
Piers 20 - 22
Berthage: 611.5 metres (2,006 ft)
Depth: 12.5 metres (41 ft)
Tidal Range: 1.5 metres (4.92 ft)
Shore Power
Pier 23
Berthage: 213 metres (699 feet)
Depth: 10 metres (33 feet)
Tidal Range: 1.5 metres (4.92 feet)
Tendering at Berth 24
- Four (4) tenders alongside
- Two (2) anchorage locations (0.8 nm & 1.1 nm)
- Freeboard: 1m (3.28 ft)
Available Services
- Designated Cruise Ship Operations (CSO) port (Canadian customs clearance provided by Canada Border Services Agency)
- Dedicated, on-site port operations & security personnel and Halifax Regional Police.
- Pilotage Services (compulsory)
- Gangways (powered and manual)
- Passenger turnaround operations
- Fresh water
- Hot work
- Provisioning
- Hospital (8-10 minute drive)
- International airport (45-60 minute drive)
- Ship building/repair
- Ship chandler (marine supplies)
- Stevedoring
- Tugs
- Waste removal
Vessel Agents
The partners in the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association are ready to welcome your ships to our harbours. These vessel agents can help you secure the berths you need. For more information please visit Halifax Port Authority.
Things to do
The Incredible Annapolis Valley
Take a trip to the scenic Annapolis Valley, Atlantic Canada’s richest agricultural region, a patchwork quilt of fields, orchards and vineyards. The power of nature is apparent here with the world-famous Bay of Fundy tides and ever-changing landscape of rocky shores, fertile farmlands, salt marshes and broad sandy beaches.
Explore wine country and charming villages. Go whale watching or golfing. Visit Grand-Pré National Historic Site and discover the unique history of l’Acadie, its people, and its culture.
Halifax Citadel – A National Historic Site
Take a guided tour from a uniformed interpreter and explore musket galleries, ramparts, garrison cells, guard rooms, and more at this star-shaped fort originally built to protect the British Naval Station.
Discover the 78th Highland Regiment and Royal Artillery that fire a noonday cannon—yes, a real cannon! This living history museum — the fourth of four Citadels— was built between 1828 and 1856 and was never attacked. You’ll be doing lots of walking on an incline (they don’t call it Citadel Hill for nothing!), so wear comfortable shoes.
The Lovely Lunenburg
Old Town Lunenburg is one of only two urban communities in North America designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Seventy percent of the original colonial buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries continue to greet visitors with their colourful façades.
Wander the distinctive waterfront with its colourful buildings and listen for salty tales of seafaring and rum-running, and discover a charming town filled with amazing restaurants, distilleries, breweries, artisans and unique shops.
Canada’s Oldest and Largest Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a valuable historical, cultural and educational institution. It is the largest site in Nova Scotia that collects and interprets various elements of Nova Scotia’s marine history. From the age of steamships, local small craft, the Royal Canadian and Merchant Navies, World War II convoys and The Battle of the Atlantic to the Halifax Explosion of 1917, and Nova Scotia’s role in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster.
Picture Perfect at Peggy’s Cove
Shop, dine, and see the sights at the tiny fishing village below one of Nova Scotia’s most famous, breathtaking, and photographed places, Peggy’s Cove.
Send friends and loved ones postcards of this recognizable beacon perched atop massive granite rocks.
Explore the rocks by foot but be careful not to slip! Before you leave, take a minute to visit the Swiss Air Flight 111 memorial.
Charming South Shore Towns
A visit to the South Shore is sure to satisfy the solitude you seek or adventure you crave. Spend the day exploring the colourful waterfront and narrow streets of Lunenburg. Stop by the home of the Bluenose, famous racing schooner. Snap a photo or two at the iconic Peggy's Cove lighthouse. Hike the canopied forest trails. Spend your day strolling the incredible white sand beaches, capped with a delicious fresh seafood dinner.
Explore the Ocean Floor at Burntcoat Head
Experience the highest tides in the world, stunning shoreline vistas, and secrets of the ocean floor at Burntcoat Head Park. Immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty of the Bay of Fundy, spanning 400 kilometers with an average depth of 246 feet. Marvel at the daily spectacle of 160 billion tonnes of water flowing in and out—a Guinness World Records feat since 1975. At Burntcoat Head, encounter an average high tide of 47.5 feet and an extraordinary range of 53.6 feet, ensuring an unforgettable connection with nature's grandeur.
For more on this incredible experience visit Tourism Nova Scotia's website.
Georges Island
Board the ferry at the Cable Wharf and venture to Georges Island, a National Historic Site in the heart of Halifax Harbour. This charming island is a place the Mi’kmaq called Kjipuktuk or “The Great Harbour.” Enjoy the scenic views from a new perspective and immerse yourself in the rich history of Halifax.
Harbour Hopper
All aboard the Harbour Hopper for a fun, fast-paced adventure that shares the best of Halifax by land and sea. Drive through the city streets, with an exclusive view of historic sights like the Grand Parade and Citadel Hill. Next, your driver becomes your captain as you set sail in the harbour towards Georges Island and along the Halifax waterfront. Bonus - this is a fully guided tour, so you're sure to learn lots about the beautiful city!
Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour
See the highlights of Halifax in a single, flexible day tour aboard a hop-on hop-off bus. You'll be able to tick all the must-see sights off of your list and focus on the attractions that interest you. Hop off whenever you like to explore further on your own at stops such as Province House, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Fairview Lawn Cemetery, the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, and others.
Local Tourism
Keep the trip planning going, explore the local tourism sites for more itineraries and trip ideas: