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.