The first cruise ship of the season, the Disney Wonder, arrives in Vancouver today, kicking off what is expected to be another record season. There are 329 cruise ship visits currently scheduled for the Canada Place cruise terminal from now through October 29.
This could mean a record 1.27 million passengers would travel through the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 2024, about 2% more than last year's record.
"We expect 2024 to be another strong season for the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal, as we solidify Vancouver as a premier homeport servicing the popular Alaska market," said Mandy Chan, manager of cruise services at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
"Cruise is an important part of Vancouver's vibrant tourism sector that supports countless local hospitality and tourism businesses and jobs. We look forward to working alongside our cruise line and industry partners to ensure another successful season."
Vancouver is expecting another record cruise season.
Vancouver has been a homeport for Alaska cruises for more than 30 years, acting as the base for one-way and round-trip cruises through the Inside Passage. As a homeport destination, the Vancouver cruise industry injects an average of almost $3 million into the local economy for each ship visit, supports nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada and $300 million in wages, and contributes $840 million to Canada's GDP.
"A key focus right now is continuing to work in partnership on initiatives to protect our environment and it is great to see our cruise line partners eager to embrace programs such as using shore power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slowing their ships while travelling through critical local habitat of at-risk whales as part of ECHO," said Chan.
"The allure of an Alaska cruise is the natural beauty of the journey, and we know more can be done to create a sustainable cruise market while enabling its growth. We want to thank everyone for the collaborative progress made so far and look forward to continuing this important work in 2024."
The suite of environmental programs and initiatives for cruise at the Port of Vancouver includes:
· Shore power, which offers shore power-enabled visiting ships to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and plug into B.C.'s low-emission, hydro-powered electrical grid. In 2023, nearly 75% of cruise calls were shore power-enabled, compared to 50% in 2019. It was 2009 when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise ships.
· ECHO Program, a world-leading program that encourages cruise ships and other large commercial ships to slow down or move away from key areas of critical habitat for at-risk whales such as the southern resident killer whales.
· EcoAction Program, which provides discounts of up to 75% off harbour dues for ships that are cleaner and quieter, including by using alternative, low-emission fuels or plugging into shore power.
· Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor, which will be the world's first cruise-led, zero-emission green corridor and connect Washington, Vancouver and Alaska. The green corridor is being advanced in partnership with global cruise lines, ports, governments and environmental groups.
· Discharge restrictions that prohibit cruise ships from discharging scrubber wash water while at berth or at anchor within the Port of Vancouver, in addition to restrictions on black and greywater.
Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wonder. (photo via Disney Cruise Line Media)
Highlights for Vancouver’s 2024 cruise season:
· The first ship of the season, the Disney Wonder, will arrive at the Canada Place cruise terminal west berth at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, March 11. The last cruise ship of the season, the Norwegian Jewel, will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, October 29. Full 2024 details are available in the cruise schedule.
· The following five ships will visit Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver in 2024 for the first time: Explora I, Silver Nova, Celebrity Edge, Pacific World and Hanseatic Spirit.
· The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver welcomes the following cruise lines in 2024: Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise, Explora Journeys, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America, Hurtigruten, Norwegian Cruise, NYK Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Peace Boat, Ponant, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, Victoria Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises.
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