The Port of Vancouver announced Friday that it had a record-setting cruise ship season in 2026.

The Canada Place terminal at the Port of Vancouver saw almost a 20 per cent increase in passenger and cruise ship visits. Approximately 1.4 million passengers visited the port and 358 cruise ships arrived in port between February and October.

According to the Port, the latest Cruise Passenger Survey showed that travellers coming to Vancouver to catch a cruise are spending extra time in the city, both before and after their cruises and it has become an important part of their trips. 

The survey found that 76 per cent of cruise passengers spend time in Vancouver before or after their cruise. This is an increase of 6 per cent from the 2023 survey responses. 

During their time in Vancouver, cruise ship passengers are putting an average of $1,144 into the economy between hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours and local attractions. 

The travellers are spending an average of 1.4 nights in Vancouver before or after their cruise while passengers from outside of North America are staying an average of 2.6 nights.

The record number of passengers is an 18 per cent increase over 2025 and the number of ships comes in at a 19 per cent increase. 

According to the Port of Vancouver, an average of $3 million is brought to the local economy every time a cruise ship docks at Canada Place. 

Ahead of next year’s cruise ship season, the shore power capacity at Canada Place is set to expand. More cruise ships will be able to plug into British Columbia’s low-carbon electrical grid while docked. 

This is expected to prevent 3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each cruise season. The Port of Vancouver says that is the equivalent to removing 770 gas powered cars from the streets each year.