By
Alex Smith |
The Port of Vancouver is on course for a record cruise season, according to mid-year stats released by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
According to the released data, 554,546 passengers passed through the Canada Place cruise terminal between 30 March and 30 June. This represents a record mid-year performance for the port, up 13 per cent on the previous mid-year record of 490,119 passengers set in 2023.
The cruise terminal also recorded its second busiest day ever on 29 April, when almost 20,000 passengers moved through the terminal. In total, five of Canada Place’s 10 busiest days ever occurred over April, May and June this year.
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority also partnered with US Customs and Border Protection in June to launch facial biometrics for cruise in the first half of 2024 to help improve the terminal’s ability to move high numbers of cruise passengers.
“Cruise continues to thrive in Vancouver—and this is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the local industry as much as it is to the region’s natural beauty,” said Peter Xotta, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “Being a homeport destination where cruise lines base their ships for the Alaska season means benefits are spread throughout the region, from local food and beverage suppliers to ship fuel and repair providers to downtown restaurants and hotels.”