Vancouver's Cruise Season Delivers Vital Boost to Regional Economy

Strategic Insights -

Vancouver's cruise sector has wrapped up another successful year, with the final cruise ship of the season, Coral Princess, departing from the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver. The 2025 season saw 301 cruise ship visits and 1.2 million passengers, generating a significant boost to the regional economy. The cruise sector is a vital economic engine, with each sailing injecting millions of dollars into local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, and suppliers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2025 cruise season saw 301 cruise ship visits and 1.2 million passengers, marking a successful year for the regional economy.
  • Cruise activity through the Port of Vancouver contributes more than $1 billion annually to the local economy, with each ship visit injecting an average of nearly $3 million into local businesses and services.
  • Cruise lines spend up to $660 million each year on local goods and services, and passengers spend an average of $450 each on hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours, and local attractions.
  • The Canada Place cruise terminal was named 'North America's Leading Cruise Port' and nominated for 'World's Leading Cruise Port 2025' by World Travel Awards.
  • The cruise season highlights the sector's importance to the regional economy, with each sailing delivering measurable benefits supporting local jobs, visitor spending, and the local economy.
  • The port authority commends the cruise industry for its leadership in sustainability, with over 80% of cruise calls at the Port of Vancouver being shore-power enabled and a strong participation rate in the ECHO Program's voluntary slowdowns to protect at-risk whales.
  • Preliminary bookings for 2026 point to another strong year, with even more cruise ship calls and cruise passenger visits expected at the Port of Vancouver.

Statistics:

  • 301 cruise ship visits and 1.2 million passengers in 2025
  • Cruise activity contributes more than $1 billion annually to the regional economy
  • Each ship visit injects an average of nearly $3 million into local businesses and services
  • Cruise lines spend up to $660 million each year on local goods and services
  • Passengers spend an average of $450 each on hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours, and local attractions
  • Over 80% of cruise calls at the Port of Vancouver were shore-power enabled
  • 85% participation rate in the ECHO Program's voluntary slowdowns to protect at-risk whales

Sources:

  • Shri Madiwal, Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
  • Donna Spalding, Senior Advisor at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
  • Jim Berra, Princess Cruise Chief Commercial Officer
  • Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver
  • Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
  • Port of Vancouver
  • World Travel Awards
  • Globe Newswire