By
Alex Smith |
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder has arrived at the Canada Place cruise terminal in the Port of Vancouver, kicking off the 2025 cruise season.
There are 301 cruise ship calls currently scheduled between 5 March and 21 October, with more than 1.2 million passengers expected to pass through the cruise terminal in 2025.
“We are thrilled to see Vancouver’s cruise sector continue to thrive—attracting visitors from across the globe for a once-in-a-lifetime Alaska experience while injecting more than $1 billion into our local economy,” said Captain Shri Madiwal, vice president of operations and supply chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in Vancouver cruise – to so successfully service upwards of 300 ship calls and 1 million passenger visits every year is a huge feat and one that supports jobs and businesses across the region.”
Though cruise calls are marginally lower than Vancouver’s record 2024 season, numbers are projected to remain above the historical average. Among the arrivals will be Villa Vie Residences’ Villa Vie Odyssey, making the residential cruise line’s first visit to Vancouver. Seven more ships will visit Canada Place for the first time in 2025, including Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jade; Silversea’s Silver Moon; Oceania Cruises Ocean Riviera; Seabourn’s Seabourn Quest; Viking’s Viking Venus; and Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas.
"Vancouver is one of the premier gateways to the breathtaking beauty of Alaska and the start of the 2025 cruise season is an exciting milestone," said Bud Darr, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association. "Through the collaborative efforts of the cruise industry and our partners in Vancouver, we are enhancing the passenger experience and driving sustainability advancements, strengthening the Pacific Northwest’s position as an exceptional cruise market. We thank the Port of Vancouver and all the local businesses, services and residents that will help deliver a successful Alaska cruise season and welcome travellers from around the world.”
Canada Place joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme in 2025, aiming to improve the accessibility of cruising from Vancouver by increasing the support available for those with a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is also working with the Canadian government to explore expanding shore power access at Cana Place and enable more visiting to plug into British Columbia’s hydro-powered electrical grid. More than 80 per cent of cruise calls to the port were shore power-enabled in 2024.
Cruise operations at the Port of Vancouver supports more than 17,000 jobs across Canada, with an average of CAN$3 million ($2.08 million) spent locally by cruise lines, passengers and crew every time a cruise ship calls at the Canada Place terminal. In total, around CAN$1.1 billion ($763 million) is spent in Vancouver and the surrounding area.
As we embark on another exciting cruise season, SSA Marine remains committed to delivering a seamless and exceptional experience for all passengers traveling through the Canada Place cruise terminal," said Elise Ferguson, Vice President of Canada Place Cruise for SSA Marine, which manages day-to-day operations at the Canada Place cruise terminal on the port authority’s behalf. "Through enhanced passenger flow initiatives and continued collaboration with our industry partners, we are proud to continue supporting Vancouver’s position as a world-class cruise destination.”