Vancouver cruise season hits record with 1.4 million passengers, $3M per ship
Port of Vancouver saw nearly 20 per cent more cruise arrivals and passengers through October 2026, with visitors spending an average $1,144 on hotels, restaurants and tours.
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Vancouver's cruise ship season reached record heights in 2026, with the Port of Vancouver announcing Friday that 1.4 million passengers passed through Canada Place between February and October — an 18 per cent increase over 2025. The terminal received 358 cruise ships, a 19 per cent jump from the previous year, and nearly 20 per cent more passenger and cruise ship visits overall.
The surge brought significant economic activity to the city. Cruise passengers averaged spending of $1,144 per person in Vancouver across hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours and local attractions. The Port estimates that each cruise ship docking at Canada Place brings an average of $3 million to the local economy. Seventy-six per cent of cruise passengers spent time in Vancouver before or after their cruises, up from 70 per cent in 2023, with an average stay of 1.4 nights — extending to 2.6 nights for passengers arriving from outside North America.
The port is preparing for continued growth. Shore power capacity at Canada Place is set to expand ahead of next season, allowing more cruise ships to plug into British Columbia's low-carbon electrical grid while docked. The expansion is expected to prevent 3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each cruise season — equivalent to removing 770 gas-powered cars from streets annually.
The facts
How many cruise passengers used Vancouver's Port between February and October 2026?
1.4 million passengers passed through Canada Place during that period, representing an 18 per cent increase over 2025.
How much money did each cruise ship bring to Vancouver's economy on average?
Each cruise ship docking at Canada Place brought an average of $3 million to the local economy.
How much did cruise passengers spend per person in Vancouver on average?
Cruise passengers averaged $1,144 per person across hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours and local attractions.
What environmental benefit will the shore power expansion provide?
The shore power capacity expansion at Canada Place is expected to prevent 3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each cruise season, equivalent to removing 770 gas-powered cars from streets annually.
