The 2026 cruise season at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver was formally opened on February 26th, 2026 with the arrival of Disney Wonder, marking the first vessel call of the year as she made a short stop to disembark and embark passengers and restock supplies before continuing her southbound passage. This arrival initiates what the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority anticipates will be a record season in terms of vessel traffic and passenger volume, with nearly 360 ship calls and more than 1.4 million passengers expected to transit the terminal through to the autumn months. Disney Wonder’s initial call precedes the return of the vessel to Vancouver in May for weekly Alaska sailings, and the next scheduled ship visit at the facility, Nieuw Amsterdam, is due in April as part of the build-up to the peak season.
The projected cruise schedule for 2026 reflects both an expansion in frequency and diversity of ship visits. A number of cruise lines will deploy vessels that have not previously called at Canada Place, and in addition to Disney Wonder the operator will homeport a second ship, Disney Magic, in the summer season, thereby increasing the capacity for Alaska departures. Other first-time arrivals for the port in 2026 include ships from multiple companies, signalling Vancouver’s growing role as a Pacific gateway for coastal and expedition voyages.
The extended season is expected to see near-daily arrivals and departures during the busiest summer months. Port authority planning anticipates periods when multiple cruise ships will be berthed simultaneously, and with demand for shore excursions and travel in the region rising, passenger flow through the terminal’s embarkation and customs facilities will be high through spring and summer.
Port infrastructure improvements in recent years, including implementation of advanced passenger processing technologies at border control, are intended to streamline embarkation and disembarkation as volumes rise. The 2026 season will also coincide with large international events taking place in Vancouver, which the port authority has noted may further increase visitor numbers in the downtown harbour area.