Victoria BC’s 2025 cruise season is drawing to a close with the arrival of its final vessels this weekend. More than 300 ships have called at the Ogden Point terminal over the course of the year, marking another active season for the port. The concluding arrivals, each carrying approximately 4,000 passengers, are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
NCL's ships Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore, both operated by NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, are the final ships of the season. Each vessel will arrive from Ketchikan at 07:30 p.m. and depart for Seattle WA at 11:50 p.m. on 17th and 18th October respectively.
Season 2025 started in early April with the arrival of HAL’s ship Koningsdam, which started operations amid a period of heightened political tension between Canada and the USA.
Earlier in the year, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan indicated his intention to challenge the long-standing U.S. requirement for foreign-flagged cruise ships sailing to Alaska to make a stop in a Canadian port. His remarks followed discussions surrounding potential Canadian tariffs on commercial vehicles bound for Alaska during the trade disputes of the period.
More recently, Alaska Representative Chuck Kopp introduced a joint resolution in the state legislature affirming Canada’s sovereignty and acknowledging the shared regional history between the two nations. He noted that the state maintained deep cultural and historical ties with Canada and expressed a desire to preserve mutual respect between the neighbouring territories.
According to figures released by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, the 2025 season recorded 321 scheduled cruise ship calls, with 4 non-arrivals and 3 cancellations as of July. The year’s activity continues to underscore Victoria’s position as a key port of call on the Pacific Northwest cruise circuit.