Vancouver Port Welcomes First Cruise Ship of Busy 2026 Season
Port of Vancouver Gears Up for Record-Breaking 2026 Cruise Season
The Port of Vancouver is getting ready for its busiest cruise season ever. The action kicks off on February 26, 2026, when the first ship arrives at Canada Place. Officials expect more than 1.4 million passengers to pass through the terminal this year.
Disney Wonder Leads the Charge
The Disney Wonder will be the first cruise ship to dock at Vancouver’s Canada Place this season. The ship arrives at 7 a.m. on Thursday, February 26. It’s making a quick stop during a repositioning cruise from Hawaii to San Diego.
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After reaching San Diego, the Disney Wonder will return to Vancouver in May. The ship will then offer weekly Alaska cruises throughout the summer season.
Nearly 360 Ships Expected This Season
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam will visit next on April 11. From late April onward, cruise ships will arrive almost daily as the Alaska season starts. The cruise season wraps up on October 13, when Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Norwegian Encore makes its final departure.
Vancouver expects nearly 360 cruise ship calls during the 2026 season. This beats the previous record from 2024 by 5%. It also marks a 19% jump from 2025’s 300 cruise calls and 1.2 million passengers.
Big Economic Impact for the City
The cruise industry brings serious money to Vancouver. Port officials expect cruise visitors to pump more than $1 billion into the local economy this year.
“The Vancouver cruise sector and Canada Place cruise terminal continue to provide a powerful economic boost, as passengers visit shops, restaurants and local attractions, and cruise lines re-stock ships using Canadian suppliers,” said Cliff Stewart, VP operations and supply chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Stewart added: “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. Collaboration and technology are going to play a crucial role delivering another successful local cruise season, as we look to welcome historic numbers of cruise tourists to our beautiful city.”
New Ships and Cruise Lines Coming to Vancouver
Two cruise lines will make their Vancouver debuts this season. Virgin Voyages and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will both visit Canada Place for the first time.
Disney Cruise Line is expanding its Vancouver presence. The Disney Magic will join the Disney Wonder as a second homeport ship at Canada Place.
Five ships will visit the port for the very first time. These include Azamara Pursuit, Disney Magic, Star Seeker, Brilliant Lady, and Luminara.
Book Hotels Early This Summer
Cruise passengers planning to stay in Vancouver should book hotels as soon as possible. The city will host seven FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches during the summer. These games will create high demand for hotel rooms during the peak cruise season.
“Vancouver will experience something of a perfect storm this summer when it comes to accommodation, with the height of a very busy cruise season overlapping with the city hosting FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches,” said Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver.
The combination of record cruise traffic and World Cup visitors means hotels will fill up fast. Planning ahead will help ensure you find a place to stay before or after your Alaska cruise.
