Vancouver Poised for Record 2026 Cruise Season With Massive Passenger Surge
Key Aspects:
Vancouver’s 2026 cruise season is expected to break records with more than 1.4 million passengers.
Nearly 360 ship calls are projected at the port, which serves as a gateway to Alaska’s Inside Passage.
The surge in cruise traffic includes five inaugural ship calls from five different cruise lines.
Vancouver’s 2026 cruise season is officially underway, and if its port schedule remains on track, the British Columbia city will shatter its own passenger records.
The first cruise ship of the 2026 season arrives at Port of Vancouver on February 26, when Disney Cruise Line’s 1,750-guest Disney Wonder calls during a repositioning sailing from Hawaii to San Diego.
While its first visit may be brief, the ship will return in May to begin weekly Alaska departures from Vancouver, becoming a part of the port’s busiest travel period.
More than 1.4 million passengers are expected to pass through the Canada Place cruise terminal at Port of Vancouver this year, putting 2026 on track to surpass the previous record shared with Cruise Hive in 2024 by about 5 percent.
Nearly 360 cruise calls are scheduled throughout the season, an increase from about 300 calls and nearly 1.2 million passenger visits recorded in 2025.
“We expect to see record cruise ship visits bring record numbers of visitors to Vancouver this year, injecting more than $1 billion into the economy,” said Cliff Steward, vice president of operations and supply chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, which manages the port.
As Steward revealed, officials estimate cruise activity will inject more than $1 billion into the economy and support more than 17,000 jobs.
New Ships, Upgrades, and a Busy Summer Ahead
Officials cite several factors as drivers of the higher cruise volume in Vancouver in 2026, including new cruise line arrivals, additional homeported ships, and continued investment in port infrastructure.
Five ships will make their first-ever visits to Vancouver in 2026, including Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Pursuit, Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker, Virgin Voyages’ brand-new Brilliant Lady, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Luminara.
It will be the first time Virgin Voyages and Ritz-Carlton Collection send a vessel to Vancouver.
Disney Cruise Line will also homeport a second ship alongside Disney Wonder, with Disney Magic arriving for the first time with its 1,750 passengers to increase capacity for Alaska sailings.
Said Disney Cruise Line’s Vice President, Port Strategy, Development and Operations, Jose Fernandez, “Our Alaskan cruises have long been a favorite among guests seeking adventure and unforgettable experiences. We’re excited to continue working with the Port of Vancouver, and we look forward to welcoming more families to discover Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes this season.”
The 2026 cruise schedule runs through October 13, 2026, when Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore departs Vancouver on the final sailing of the year.
From late April through September, Canada Place will see almost daily cruise calls, with the majority tied to Alaska itineraries. Each ship, according to port officials, generates an average of $3 million in local spending from passengers, crew, and cruise line provisioning.
Technology upgrades will continue to play a role in managing the rising passenger numbers. Canada Place introduced facial biometric screenings in 2024, which the port says has reduced processing times for guests clearing border controls and allowed the terminal to handle higher volumes during peak embarkation days.
Environmental initiatives are also continuing alongside the port’s growth, and the port authority plans to expand shore power infrastructure in late 2026 so more ships can connect to British Columbia’s hydroelectric grid while docked.
More than 80 percent of cruise ship calls in Vancouver were already shore-power enabled in 2025.
Vancouver Poised for Record 2026 Cruise Season With Massive Passenger Surge