The final cruise ship of the 2023 season, Holland America Line's Koningsdam, will depart from the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver today, marking the end of a record-breaking year for the local cruise industry.
The Port of Vancouver is expected to have welcomed an estimated 1.25 million passengers in 2023, a new record and a 54% increase compared to 2022. This includes 15 of Canada Place's 20 busiest days ever for cruise passengers, all occurring in the past six months.
Vancouver's skyline. (Photo Credit: LeonU / Getty Images / E+)
There were 332 cruise ship calls between April and October 2023, a new record for the Canada Place cruise terminal and an increase of 9% compared to 307 visits in 2022.
"Cruise returned to Vancouver emphatically this year after several seasons impacted by the global pandemic-with 2023 seeing record passenger numbers, near-record cruise ship visits and the Canada Place terminal getting further international recognition as a world-class cruise facility," said Peter Xotta, VP of operations and supply chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Cruise ship occupancy rates averaged 95% for the season and peaked at an average of 96% over the summer, as occupancy rates returned to pre pandemic levels. This year was the first full season without any COVID-19 related restrictions, following the gradual easing of federal travel restrictions in 2022.
Holland America Line will join with the port authority today to celebrate the Koningsdam's departure and mark the end of a successful cruise season.
This season, Holland America Line had 76 calls in Vancouver with five ships carrying more than 168,000 guests. In 2024, more than170,000 guests will visit Vancouver on six Holland America Line ships across 77 calls throughout the season.
Koningsdam passes under the Lion's Gate Bridge as it enters Vancouver. (Photo Credit: Holland America Line)
Guests can set sail from Vancouver to destinations like the Pacific Coast, Mexico, Japan, Hawaii and the South Pacific, the Panama Canal and East Caribbean, and -- of course -- Alaska. Currently, with Holland America Line’s ‘Explore with More’ promo, guests can receive a shore excursion credit valued up to $400 and bring the kids free on select Alaska cruises and cruisetours departing from Vancouver.
"We are honoured to have been part of the Port of Vancouver's biggest cruise season ever, with 25% of guests sailing on five Holland America Line ships," said Beth Bodensteiner, HAL’s chief commercial officer.
"We see this as further evidence that the cruise industry has rebounded in a remarkable way. We're proud to call Vancouver a homeport and look forward to another great season in 2024."
The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver was recently recognized as North America's Leading Cruise Port 2023 by World Travel Awards and North America's Best Cruise Terminal in the World Cruise Awards.
"Indications based on preliminary bookings are that the 2024 cruise season will see a similar number of cruise ship visits, demonstrating the underlying strength and popularity of the cruise industry in Vancouver and its unique access to B.C.'s prestigious Inside Passage," said Xotta.
The port authority continues to work alongside the broader port and cruise communities to achieve its goal for the Port of Vancouver to be the world's most sustainable port and commends the cruise industry's focus on shore power and environmental sustainability.
In 2023, nearly 75% of cruise calls were shore power enabled, compared to 70% in 2022 and 50% in 2019. Demand for shore power has steadily increased since 2009, when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise.
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