Vancouver’s cruise growth puts its shore-power shortfall in focus

Canada Place can have three or four cruise ships docked, but only two can connect to shore power at the same time. After Vancouver’s busiest-ever cruise season, I’d put fixing that mismatch ahead of celebrating the next traffic record.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority reported approximately 1.4 million passenger visits and 358 cruise calls in 2026. Passenger traffic rose 17 percent and calls increased 19 percent from 2025, when the port handled roughly 1.2 million passenger visits and 300 calls.

That makes the planned shore-power expansion a necessary investment. Work is scheduled to begin in the coming months, with completion planned by 2027. Two additional connection stations will bring the total to five and increase shore-power capacity by 35 percent.

There is already plenty of equipment arriving on the ships. According to Chance McKee, the port authority’s senior trade development representative, about 80 percent of annual calls involve shore-power-equipped vessels. Not every eligible ship connects on every visit.

The port authority did not say why each connection is missed. But the terminal’s limit of two simultaneous connections is a clear constraint when more ships are alongside. The authority estimates the expansion will prevent an additional 3,300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each cruise season by allowing more vessels to use British Columbia’s electrical grid while berthed. That is a more useful measure of progress than the number of ships the port can welcome.

The terminal handled the crowds

The operating results give the port something concrete to be pleased about. Despite the higher volumes, 87 percent of ships departed early or on schedule, according to the authority. Passengers took an average of 30 minutes to get from arrival at the terminal to embarkation.

Those figures matter at a three-berth terminal that recorded more three- and five-ship days than in any previous season. Nearly 575,000 passenger movements were concentrated in July and August.

Canada Place also processed its one millionth passenger through U.S. Customs and Border Protection using facial biometrics. Introduced at the terminal in 2024, the technology is used during embarkation for cruises requiring admission to the United States, including Alaska itineraries. Travellers can request a manual document inspection instead.

New elevators are also planned at key passenger arrival points. Alongside the shore-power project, that is the sort of practical terminal investment that deserves attention even without a new ship attached to it.

Vancouver is getting more than turnaround traffic

The Pacific Rim Cruise Association’s latest passenger survey found that 76 percent of passengers spent time in Vancouver before or after their cruise, up from 70 percent in 2023.

Average local spending reached C$1,144 per passenger across accommodation, dining, shopping, tours and attractions. Passengers stayed an average of 1.4 nights before or after sailing, rising to 2.6 nights among visitors from outside North America.

I’d give that increase in pre- and post-cruise visits more weight than another maiden-call ceremony. It means a larger share of passengers are giving Vancouver some of their holiday time, rather than simply passing through the terminal.

Jeff Scott, the port authority’s vice-president of operations and supply chain, put the season’s contribution to the local economy at more than C$1 billion. The authority estimates an average of C$3 million in economic activity per cruise call.

Most cruise ships visiting Vancouver begin and end Alaska voyages at Canada Place. Local suppliers provide fuel, food, beverages, repairs and other services between sailings, adding spending beyond passengers’ purchases ashore.

A season of firsts, with more to come

Nine ships made their first Vancouver calls in 2026. Brilliant Lady and Luminara brought the Vancouver debuts of Virgin Voyages and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, respectively.

Disney Magic also visited for the first time and homeported throughout the season alongside Disney Wonder. Disney Wonder opened the season on February 26. Norwegian Encore made the final call on October 12 and departed early the following morning.

On September 27, Princess Cruises’ 177,882-gross-ton Star Princess became the largest ship by tonnage to visit Vancouver. Its arrival and departure were timed for low tide to provide clearance beneath the Lions Gate Bridge.

The record season coincided with Canada Place’s 40th anniversary as an Alaska cruise homeport. The terminal has supported more than 10,000 sailings since 1986.

The preliminary 2027 schedule lists 383 calls between March and November, subject to change. Luminara already has 10 visits listed, and both Disney ships are due back.

As the shore-power expansion comes into service, I’d like to see actual connection rates get the same billing as passenger totals. Counting equipped ships tells us what is possible. Counting the ships that plug in tells us what Vancouver is delivering.

See cruises departing Vancouver on Cruise Lookup.