Vancouver Cruise Ship Season Begins April 10, 2018

While playing pitch and putt down at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver one summer my back-swing was interrupted by a ship belting out the first few notes of When you wish upon a star. “Oh yes, Disney Cruises come through Vancouver now!” John exclaimed. The quiet weekends of winter in Downtown Vancouver are about to give way to a swelling population of visitors, who will bring life to the city’s core and to whom I will gladly give directions.

Although one time in the spring of 2015 some cruise ship passengers asked me for directions to the Expo Line and I mistakenly told them how to get to the Canada Line. My Canadian guilt still eats at me to this day.

But I digress.

Vancouver Cruise Ship Season Begins April 10, 2018

The first ship of the season will be Star Princess at 7:30am. View the full schedule, ship by ship, here »

According to the Port of Vancouver, more than 895,000 passengers are expected on 241 vessel visits in Vancouver in 2018. This represents a 7% 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.

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 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. We’ll also see the largest ship to date to come to Vancouver, the Norwegian Bliss, which accommodates more than 4,000 passengers.

Follow the Port of Vancouver on Twitter and Facebook for more info on cruise ships and visitors arriving by sea this cruise ship season.