The Port of Vancouver has reported a record cruise season in 2026, with Canada Place cruise terminal handling ~1.4 million passengers and 358 vessel calls between February and October. Passenger numbers increased by 18% compared with 2025, while cruise ship calls rose by 19%.
According to the port authority, the latest Cruise Passenger Survey indicates that visitors are increasingly incorporating stays in Vancouver into their cruise itineraries. The survey found that 76% of cruise passengers spent time in the city before or after their voyage, representing a 6-percentage-point increase compared with the 2023 survey.
Cruise passengers contributed an average of CAD 1,144 to the local economy through accommodation, dining, shopping, tours and visits to local attractions. Travellers spent an average of 1.4 nights in Vancouver before or after their cruises, while visitors from outside North America stayed for an average of 2.6 nights.
The port authority estimates that each cruise ship docking at Canada Place generates ~CAD 3 million in economic activity for the local economy, highlighting the importance of cruise tourism to Vancouver's hospitality, retail and tourism sectors.
Ahead of the 2027 cruise season, Canada Place is scheduled to expand its shore power capacity, enabling more vessels to connect to British Columbia's low-carbon electricity grid while alongside. The project is expected to prevent ~3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per cruise season, equivalent to removing ~770 gasoline-powered cars from the roads annually.