Cunard Cruises Queen Elizabeth will bring a visit to Halifax in Canada later this year. The company’s latest luxury liner will be on her inaugural visit to Canada when she docks at Halifax on the 25th of September 2011.

Halifax last year saw cruise passengers increase to a record number of 261 000. This year things will be a bit slower, but passengers numbers are still expected to be between 230 000 and 240 000, which is more than the 228 000 of 2008.

The cruise development manager at Halifax, Cathy McGrail, said in a press release on Monday that they were looking forward to another promising cruise year.

She continued: "We look forward to welcoming Queen Elizabeth this season, as well as the other inaugural calls." Six other cruise ships will bring maiden visits to Halifax during 2011.

Halifax also expects to welcome three new cruise lines in 2011 and a total of 126 cruise ships. The 2011 cruise season will open with the arrival of the Princess Danae on 16 April.

There are of course strong historical ties between Halifax and the UK. Shipping magnate Samuel Halifax, who founded Cunard Cruises in the UK in 1839, was born in Halifax. A hundred and seventy two years later, a majestic cruise liner belonging to the same company he created will sail into Halifax harbour for the first time.

Cruise passengers account for about eight percent of tourist income for Nova Scotia. This represents an amount of $50 million dollars in revenue for the local economy.