Prince Rupert Opens Projected Record Cruise Season With Noordam

Prince Rupert Cruise Port opened its 2026 cruise season with Holland America Line’s Noordam, beginning a year the British Columbia port expects to be its busiest on record. The port projects about 145,000 cruise guests across 78 ship calls from 14 cruise lines, more than double last year’s passenger volume.

The first call brought more than 1,900 passengers to Prince Rupert, giving the port an early test of the operating plan behind its record-season forecast.

“The launch of the 2026 season is an exciting moment for Prince Rupert and a reflection of the strong foundation we’ve built with our partners and community,” said Steve Finnigan, general manager of Prince Rupert Cruise Port. “We are seeing unprecedented growth, and with that comes a tremendous opportunity to showcase what makes this destination so special.”

Downtown terminal handles first call

Cruise calls in Prince Rupert are centered on the Northland Cruise Terminal in the Cow Bay and downtown area, where ships berth alongside rather than tendering passengers ashore. The terminal includes customs and immigration services and is within walking distance of shops, cafes, visitor services and tour-gathering points.

The facility’s dedicated pier has a berth of about 330 meters and can handle large cruise ships in the 300-meter-plus range, depending on vessel dimensions and operating conditions. A self-adjusting passenger ramp manages tide changes. The Prince Rupert Port Authority manages cruise operations, with Global Ports Holding operating the terminal under a terminal operating agreement.

Community response becomes part of season test

The port cited smooth operations, positive guest response and community engagement as early indicators after Noordam’s arrival. It did not identify all operators in the season forecast, nor did it provide a month-by-month call breakdown in the announcement.