Preliminary forecasts indicate another potentially record-breaking year for cruise passenger visits to Port Vancouver's Canada Place Terminal, as collaborative sustainability efforts progress.
The season's first vessel - Disney Wonder, is scheduled to dock on Monday, March 11th, marking the start of what is anticipated to be another exceptional season for the local cruise industry.
Between March 11th and October 29th, there are currently 329 cruise ship visits planned for the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver.
This projection suggests that a record 1.27 million passengers could pass through the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 2024, representing a modest increase of approximately 2% compared to last year's record figures.
As winter-deployed cruise ships from other regions return to the West Coast in March and April to prepare for the Alaska season, the Disney Wonder will commence its voyages, initially heading to San Diego before returning in May to commence its weekly itinerary from Vancouver to Alaska.
Vancouver has served as a homeport for Alaska cruises for 3+ decades, serving as the launching point for both one-way and round-trip voyages through the Inside Passage. As a homeport destination, the Vancouver cruise industry injects an average of ~$3 million into the local economy for each ship visit, supporting ~7,000 jobs across Canada and contributing ~$300 million in wages, as well as ~$840 million to Canada's GDP.
The Port of Vancouver's suite of environmental programs and initiatives for the cruise industry includes:
- Shore power, enabling visiting ships to connect to B.C.'s low-emission, hydro-powered electrical grid and reduce port-related greenhouse gas emissions by 38,000+ tonnes since its introduction in 2009.
- The ECHO Program, which encourages cruise ships and other large commercial vessels to slow down or alter their routes away from critical habitat areas for at-risk whales such as the southern resident killer whales.
- The EcoAction Program, offering discounts on harbour dues for ships utilizing cleaner and quieter technologies, including alternative, low-emission fuels or shore power.
- The Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor, an initiative aimed at establishing the world's first cruise-led, zero-emission green corridor connecting Washington, Vancouver, and Alaska.
- Discharge restrictions prohibiting cruise ships from discharging scrubber wash water while at berth or anchor within the Port of Vancouver, as well as regulations governing black and greywater discharge.