After last year’s cruise ship season didn’t end the way those in the industry were hoping for, 2026 is looking better.
The first ship arrives in Vancouver on Thursday morning, and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) says roughly 360 ships will come through the city this year, bringing more than 1.4 million passengers.
“We are expecting a record season,” Chance McKee, senior trade development representative at the VFPA, told 1130 NewsRadio.
“We’re also expecting to see a couple of new cruise lines call the Port of Vancouver this year, as well as Virgin Voyages, the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection and Disney Cruise Line is actually bringing a second ship to the Alaska market, home-porting out of the Port of Vancouver.”
McKee adds that the economic spin-off from a successful cruise ship season is badly needed.
“Every year, the cruise sector injects about $1 billion into just our local economy in Vancouver. When you split that apart, and look at it from the cruise ship side of things, cruise ships spend approximately, on average, roughly $660 million a year on things like local goods and services with local businesses, restocking their ships prior to their voyage and refuelling and maintenance as well.”
He says it’s crucial at a time when the province is currently swimming in debt. The industry, McKee says, plays a big part in keeping B.C. afloat.
“When you look at the passengers… [they], on average, spend around $450 each on things like hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours, local experiences, etc. while they’re in Vancouver. When you couple that with obviously what we’re expecting with the FIFA World Cup this year in Vancouver, we are really expecting a very strong tourism industry boost across the board.”
A bulk carrier cargo ship travels into port as a Harbour Air seaplane flies towards Stanley Park and the downtown skyline in Vancouver on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
McKee says the VFPA works closely with Destination Vancouver to market the city.
“We actually just conducted a survey of cruise passengers in 2025, which found that two of the biggest drivers for people to come to Vancouver is the natural beauty of Vancouver as well as the environmental protection mindset that… so that is something we are trying to promote.”
He says people also appreciate the various transportation options available in the city, making it easier for those unfamiliar with the area to get around.
“We have a pretty diverse range of transportation options, which suits a range of cruise passengers travelling in and out of Vancouver. So, all in all, I think what we’re really focusing on is the fact the City of Vancouver is truly a world-class international destination, and that’s something we like to talk about with our cruise line partners for them to communicate to their passengers.”
The VFPA says more than 17,000 jobs are sustained nationally by cruise operations in Vancouver.
—With files from Ben Bouguerra