Vancouver cruise season sees record number of ships in 2022

The Port of Vancouver is looking ahead to the 2023 cruise ship season, as the last sailing of 2022 is set to leave the city Wednesday.

The final ship of the year wraps up the first cruise season since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a two-year hiatus.

According to the Port of Vancouver, the 2022 season marked a record year, with 306 ship visits — a six per cent increase compared to 2019.

Despite a higher number of vessels docking in Vancouver, the port notes there were fewer passengers this year — about 815,000 compared to approximately 1.1 million in 2019.

Numbers gradually grew over the year, with the average for 2022 expected to be 70 per cent, the authority adds.

“Progressively during the season, passenger numbers on cruise ships calling at the Port of Vancouver have risen, as pandemic restrictions eased and consumer confidence bounced back,” Robin Silvester, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said.

“This year’s cruise season was an impressive comeback story for a critical catalyst for the local tourism industry and it provided a much-needed boost for many regional tourism and hospitality businesses.”

Related articles: 

• B.C. tourism sectors welcome suspension of COVID vaccine mandates for domestic travel

• Vancouver welcomes first cruise ship in more than two years

• Transport Canada announces cruise ship COVID rules ahead of restart

The port authority says early indications suggest the 2023 season will also be record-setting, with 334 ships set to visit Canada Place next year. If the season resumes at full capacity again, the port says Vancouver could see a record 1.3 million passengers next year.

In addition to contributing to the local economy, the cruise ship sector also generates billions of dollars for the Canadian economy.

“The return of cruise ships to Canada Place kicked off the rebuilding of Vancouver’s visitor economy,” said Royce Chwin, president and CEO of Destination Vancouver. “When those ships were back in the harbour and visitors were streaming into the city once again, we knew the corner had been turned. And to have the number of ships calling at our port exceed the industry’s peak in 2019 is absolutely remarkable.”

The first cruise ship to dock in Vancouver after the two-year hiatus arrived April 10, 2022.