The cruise season at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver officially kicked off on February 26, 2026, with the arrival of the Disney Wonder. This marked the first vessel call of the year as it made a brief stop to disembark and embark passengers while restocking supplies before continuing its journey south. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority anticipates a record-breaking cruise season, expecting nearly 360 ship calls and over 1.4 million passengers from now until autumn.
Disney Wonder will return to Vancouver in May for weekly sailings to Alaska, while the next scheduled visit will be from the Nieuw Amsterdam in April, kicking off the peak season. The cruise schedule for 2026 indicates an increase in both the frequency and variety of ship visits. Notably, additional Disney vessels will be homeported this summer, increasing capacity for Alaska departures. Several cruise lines plan to send ships that have never docked at Canada Place before, further establishing Vancouver as an important Pacific gateway for coastal and expedition voyages.
The busy summer months are expected to see close to daily ship arrivals and departures. The port authority has planned for scenarios where multiple ships could be berthed simultaneously, resulting in a high volume of passenger flow through embarkation and customs facilities during spring and summer.
Recent infrastructure improvements, including advanced passenger processing technologies at border control, are set to enhance the efficiency of embarkation and disembarkation amid increasing volumes. Additionally, the upcoming 2026 season will coincide with several major international events in Vancouver, potentially drawing even more visitors to the downtown harbor area.
For more information about Vancouver’s cruise industry, visit CruiseMapper.
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