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Cruise returns to the Port of Vancouver, within enhanced health and safety framework
The first cruise ship of the season will call at the Port of Vancouver on April 10, 2022, after a two-year pause to cruising in Canada
Vancouver, B.C.: The 2022 cruise season at the Port of Vancouver launches on April 10, 2022, with the inaugural visit of the Holland America Line ship, Koningsdam, to the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver. The cruise ship will first call at the Victoria Cruise Terminal on April 9, 2022.
“We’re delighted to welcome cruise back to the Port of Vancouver after what has been a long two years,” said Robin Silvester, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver. “Vancouver is a world-class travel destination and, together with industry and tourism partners, we’re looking forward to once again supporting great experiences for cruise passengers starting or finishing their cruise in our award-winning facility at Canada Place.”
The Port of Vancouver has welcomed cruise passengers to Vancouver for more than 40 years. However, in March 2020, as part of its COVID-19 response, the Government of Canada prohibited cruise ships in Canadian waters. That prohibition was lifted in November 2021.
In preparation for the return of cruise, the port authority, along with cruise lines and industry partners, has been working closely with Transport Canada to follow federal government guidance on the latest public health plans and regulations. Under Transport Canada requirements, cruise passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and test negative for COVID-19 before boarding ship.
“I’d like to thank the cruise industry, cruise lines and destination partners for their resiliency and focus during this challenging time, and for all the efforts to prepare for the return of cruise,” Silvester said. “A tremendous amount of care and consideration has gone into planning this restart, under our federal health framework, to help ensure the safety of passengers, crew and the community.”
Vancouver has been a leading homeport for cruises to Alaska for more than 35 years and is the only homeport to offer both one-way and round-trip itineraries through Canada’s scenic Inside Passage. This year, more than 300 cruise ships are expected to call at the Port of Vancouver, representing approximately an 8% increase in cruise ship visits from 2019.
“The return of cruise ships to Canada is a significant milestone in restarting our economy and reopening our tourism sector,” said Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra. “Our government has been working closely alongside partners during these challenging times, and I appreciate the time and energy from all partners on improving and innovating operations for a safe restart. We look forward to welcoming cruise ships and travellers back to Canada and to our continued collaboration with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to support the tourism industry.”
“All aboard! The return of the Holland America Line to the Port of Vancouver is an important milestone for tourism and for B.C.’s economy,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “The cruise ship industry supports thousands of people whose jobs rely on the regular arrival of ships and brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to B.C. each year. We are excited cruise bookings for 2022 include 600 scheduled calls in Vancouver and Victoria and indicate a very promising future for the sector.”
The Vancouver cruise industry continues to be a key contributor to the local economy. In 2019, each cruise ship that called at Canada Place generated an estimated $3.17 million in direct economic activity and the industry generated $2.2 billion in total economic impact that year.
“Seeing cruise ships return to Canada Place is the surest sign that Vancouver’s visitor economy is rebounding and rebuilding, said Royce Chwin, president and CEO of Destination Vancouver. “The cruise industry has such a significant impact on local businesses and supports so many jobs – what a long two years it’s been for everyone whose livelihood has been affected by the absence of ships in the harbour. It’s gratifying how closely all of the partners have worked together to ensure a safe start to the season so that we can welcome passengers back to the city again.”
“We are thrilled to be the first cruise line back into Canada after such a long absence, and we look forward to celebrating a great moment for everyone who loves to travel and for those in Canada and Alaska whose livelihoods depend on tourism,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Making it extra special is the debut of Koningsdam at Vancouver to sail a cruise to Hawaii and then a season of Alaska departures.”
Highlights for 2022:
- For the 2022 season, more than 60% of all cruise ship calls are expected to be shore power enabled. Since 2009, shore power, which allows ships equipped with shore power compatible technology to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and plug into low-emission electrical power, has helped reduce more than 24,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases. The port authority is working on increasing shore power capacity at the Canada Place cruise terminal, so that every cruise vessel operator who wants to plug-in has the option to do so by 2030
- The 2022 season includes several new cruise lines coming to Vancouver including Aurora Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, Scenic Tours, and Victory Cruise Lines
- New ships to Vancouver in 2022 include the Discovery Princess, Koningsdam, Majestic Princess, National Geographic Orion, Norwegian Spirit, Ocean Victory, Quantum of the Seas, Scenic Eclipse, Silver Whisper, Star Breeze, and the Zenith
- The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority welcomes the return of Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Peace Boat, Princess Cruise, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, and Windstar to the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver
- The first ship of the season, the Koningsdam, will arrive at the Canada Place cruise terminal west berth at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 10, 2022. The last cruise ship of the season, the Crown Princess, is scheduled to depart Canada Place on Wednesday, November 2, 2022
- Holland America Line was the first cruise line to call at the new Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 1986
For more information:
Media contact:
Arpen Rana
Media relations advisor
604.340.8617
[email protected]
About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Port of Vancouver:
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the federal agency responsible for the stewardship of the Port of Vancouver. Like all Canada Port Authorities, we are accountable to the federal minister of transport, and operate pursuant to the Canada Marine Act with a mandate to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver, while protecting the environment and considering local communities. The port authority is structured as a non-share corporation, is financially self-sufficient and does not rely on tax dollars for operations. Our revenues come from port terminals and tenants who lease port lands, and from port users who pay various fees such as harbour dues. Profits are reinvested in port infrastructure. The port authority has control over the use of port land and water, which includes more than 16,000 hectares of water, over 1,500 hectares of land, and approximately 350 kilometres of shoreline. Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia in Canada, the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of several Coast Salish First Nations. The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest port, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo. Enabling the trade of approximately $240 billion in goods with more than 170 world economies, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada.
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