The Canada Place cruise terminal at Port Vancouver (BC Canada) has concluded its 2023 season on a high note, achieving notable milestones in passenger numbers and ship visits. On October 24, the final cruise ship of the season, HAL-Holland America's ms Koningsdam, marked the successful conclusion of a strong year for the local cruise industry.
In 2023, the Port of Vancouver is expected to have welcomed an estimated 1.25 million passengers, setting a new record and marking a significant 54% increase compared to the previous year. This remarkable growth included 15 of the busiest cruise passenger days ever at Canada Place, all occurring within the past 6 months. Moreover, there were 332 cruise ship calls between April and October 2023, setting a new record for the Canada Place cruise terminal, with a 9% increase compared to the 307 visits in 2022.
Cruise ship occupancy rates, an indicator of the level of ship capacity utilization, averaged a commendable 95% for the season and reached an impressive peak of 96% during the summer, returning to pre-pandemic levels. This year marked the first full season without any COVID-19-related restrictions, following the gradual easing of federal travel restrictions in 2022.
It's worth noting that the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver received prestigious recognition as North America's Leading Cruise Port 2023 by the World Travel Awards and North America's Best Cruise Terminal in the World Cruise Awards.
The Port Authority remains committed to its goal of making the Port of Vancouver the world's most sustainable port and applauds the cruise industry's continued focus on shore power and environmental sustainability.
Key highlights of the 2023 cruise season include:
- The departure of the Koningsdam, marking the end of the season on October 24, 2023.
- The season's opening by Sapphire Princess.
- An average cruise ship passenger occupancy rate of 95% in 2023, a significant increase from the 69% seen in 2022. Pre-pandemic occupancy rates typically ranged between 93% and 99%, including 98% in 2019.
- Nearly 75% of cruise calls in 2023 were equipped with shore power, compared to 70% in 2022 and 50% in 2019. The demand for shore power has been steadily increasing since 2009 when the Port of Vancouver introduced shore power for cruise vessels, reducing port-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 38,000 tonnes since its inception.
- In 2023, Canada Place welcomed 6 inaugural vessels, including the Norwegian Encore, Brilliance of the Seas, Silver Whisper, Hanseatic Nature, Fridtjof Nansen, and Seabourn Venture.