2018 Cruise Season Starts Today: Vancouver Will Welcome The Most Passengers And Largest Ship To Date
The 2018 cruise season kicks off today at the Port of Vancouver with the arrival of the Star Princess at the Canada Place cruise terminal. Approximately 895,000 cruise passengers on 241 vessel visits are expected in Vancouver this year, a seven per cent increase in passenger volume over 2017.
“We always look forward to the start of the cruise season and are thrilled this year to welcome even more visitors to our cruise terminal at Canada Place,” said Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Vancouver cruise passenger volumes have been strong and steady over the past five years, with 2018 forecasting the highest passenger volumes since 2010. This year, the Port of Vancouver is welcoming the Norwegian Bliss, which accommodates more than 4,000 passengers, the largest ship to date to come to Vancouver.
As a top global destination, Vancouver continues to attract a wide spectrum of cruise lines and passengers from around the world. This year, 32 different vessels from 14 cruise lines will be visiting Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver ranging from luxury smaller expedition style ships designed to carry small groups of passengers, to some of the largest vessels in the Alaska cruise market.
The Vancouver cruise industry stimulates on average nearly $3 million in direct economic activity for each vessel that visits Canada Place.
Highlights for 2018:
• The Port of Vancouver welcomes the Norwegian Bliss, the largest cruise ship to date to visit Vancouver, accommodating more than 4,000 passengers.
• The 2018 season includes several new vessels including Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend luxury cruise ship and the Norwegian Jewel, which will be replacing the Norwegian Sun.
• 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 home port to begin and end each cruise.
• More than 895,000 passengers are expected on 241 vessel visits in Vancouver in 2018. This represents a seven per cent increase in passenger volumes compared to the 2017 season. Each cruise ship that docks at the Port of Vancouver contributes, on average, nearly $3 million to the local economy.
• The Port of Vancouver will welcome its 25 millionth cruise passenger this year on a Holland America cruise ship. A celebration will be held in May at Canada Place.
(Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)
