The 2017 cruise season officially kicked off on April 11 at the Port of Vancouver with the arrival of the Star Princess at Canada Place cruise terminal. Approximately 840,000 cruise passengers on 237 vessel visits are expected in Vancouver this year, a 2% increase in passenger volume over 2016.
“Vancouver cruise passenger volumes have been strong and steady since 2013. This year, we are forecasting our highest passenger volumes since 2010,” said Robin Silvester, President and CEO of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “We are thrilled to welcome even more visitors this year to our cruise terminal at Canada Place.”
The Vancouver cruise industry stimulates on average nearly $3 million in direct economic activity for each vessel that visits Canada Place, and the 2016 cruise season directly generated nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada, $300 million in wages, and contributed $840 million to national GDP.
As a top global destination, Vancouver continues to attract a wide spectrum of cruise lines and passengers from around the world. This year, 33 different vessels from 15 cruise lines will be visiting Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver ranging from luxury and smaller expedition style ships designed to carry small groups of passengers, to some of the largest vessels in the Alaska cruise market.
Highlights for 2017
– The Port of Vancouver’s Canada Place cruise terminal welcomes the return of Holland America, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent, Disney Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Crystal Cruises and Silversea Cruises. These cruise lines all have vessels that use the Port of Vancouver as a home port, which is where the cruise begins and ends its journey.
– More than 840,000 passengers are expected on 237 vessel visits in Vancouver in 2017. This represents a two per cent increase in passenger volumes compared to the 2016 season. Each cruise ship that docks at the Port of Vancouver contributes, on average, $2.85 million to the local economy.
– Golden Princess will be overnighting in Vancouver on July 1 to enjoy the Canada Day celebrations at Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver and fireworks for Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.
– The World, the largest private residential ship, will visit the Port of Vancouver during three stops on its world-wide itinerary.
– Some of the largest vessels that visit the Port of Vancouver include the Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess, Crown Princess and the Celebrity Solstice.