Vancouver cruise terminal sets monthly record with nearly 290,000 passengers expected in July
Canada Place hits all-time high as peak summer season drives over 1.4 million total cruise visits for 2026.
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Vancouver's cruise ship terminal at Canada Place is on pace for its busiest season ever, with nearly 290,000 passengers expected in July 2026 alone—a new all-time monthly record.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority expects a combined total of just under 600,000 cruise passengers during the peak summer months, with July and August tracking at similar levels. This trajectory supports the port authority's projection of over 1.4 million cruise passengers for the entire 2026 season.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 passengers will move through the terminal almost every weekend—defined as Friday through Monday—during peak season. For the final summer weekend, 56,000 passengers are expected.
"The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver continues to demonstrate its importance as a vital driver for Canadian tourism year-over-year," said Chance McKee, a senior account representative at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. "We are seeing these strong cruise volumes translate into ongoing meaningful benefits for local and regional businesses and communities."
Cruise visitors are spending an average of $1,144 locally on stays, dining, shopping, excursions, and attractions. More than three-quarters of cruise passengers are spending time in Vancouver either before or after their sailing. Annual volumes of more than 1.2 million passenger visits and over 300 cruise ship calls have become the new normal at Canada Place. For 2026, the port estimates about 360 cruise ship visits—a 30 per cent increase in passenger volumes compared with 2019, before the pandemic disrupted the global cruise industry.
