The cruise season for 2026 was officially inaugurated at Canada Place Terminal in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 26th, with the arrival of the Disney Wonder. This ship marked the first call of the year, allowing passengers to disembark and embark, as well as facilitating the restocking of supplies before continuing its journey south.
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority expects this season to set records in both vessel traffic and passenger volume, forecasting nearly 360 ship calls and over 1.4 million passengers from now until autumn. Following the Disney Wonder, the ship is scheduled to return in May for its weekly Alaskan sailings, with the next vessel, Nieuw Amsterdam, slated to arrive in April.
The 2026 cruise schedule indicates not only an increase in the frequency of arrivals but also a wider variety of ships visiting the port. Alongside the Disney Wonder, Disney Magic will also be homeported in Vancouver during the summer, boosting capacity for Alaska departures. Several cruise lines will introduce ships that have not previously visited Canada Place, highlighting Vancouver’s growing significance as a gateway for coastal and expedition voyages in the Pacific.
The season will feature almost daily arrivals and departures during peak summer months, with expectations for multiple cruise ships to berth at the same time. Increasing demand for shore excursions and regional travel will contribute to high passenger flows through the terminal’s embarkation and customs facilities during the spring and summer seasons.
Recent improvements in port infrastructure, including advanced passenger processing technologies, aim to facilitate smoother embarkation and disembarkation as passenger volumes rise. This season will also coincide with significant international events occurring in Vancouver, which may further enhance visitor numbers in the downtown harbor area.
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