Vancouver’s port authority is expecting further expansion in 2027 following a remarkable year for cruise ship tourism, injecting over $1 billion into the local economy. A recent announcement from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) highlighted the city’s cruise industry as a vital economic driver, supporting businesses and employment in the area.
As the final cruise ship of the season prepares to depart early on Tuesday, approximately 1.4 million passenger visits will have been recorded from 358 ship calls between February and October. Chance McKee, a senior trade development representative for the authority, noted a 20% increase in passenger visits and ship calls compared to 2025, with a projected 7% rise anticipated for the following year.
The port authority stated that passengers spend an average of around $1,100 in Vancouver, which is approximately 200,000 more passenger visits than in 2025. Royce Chwin, the president and CEO of Destination Vancouver, emphasized that cruise passengers are now incorporating Vancouver into their travel experiences rather than merely using it as a starting or ending point. This trend significantly benefits the city’s economy by boosting various sectors such as hotels, restaurants, attractions, shops, and neighborhoods.
This year’s cruise tourism numbers surpassed the previous record set in 2024 with about 1.32 million passenger visits from 327 cruise ship calls in Vancouver. Despite this success, the port’s shore-power capacity is facing challenges due to industry demands. Shore power was implemented in 2009 to enable vessels to connect to B.C.’s electricity grid while docked, reducing the need for diesel-powered engines. Currently, only two cruise ships can access shore power simultaneously, although the port plans to increase this capacity to five connection stations in 2027 to maintain its competitiveness.
Since 2009, shore power has helped in reducing over 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from cruise and container operations, equivalent to removing approximately 11,750 gasoline-powered cars from the road for a year. The port authority remains committed to sustainability and environmental efforts in its operations.
The port of Vancouver continues to showcase growth and potential in the cruise tourism sector, with plans in place to enhance infrastructure and accommodate increasing demands effectively.
