Victoria Welcomes Six Inaugural Cruise Calls at Ogden Point
Victoria’s growing mix of cruise brands points to Ogden Point’s rising appeal, while Indigenous-led welcomes help define the port’s identity in a competitive Pacific Northwest market.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) said it hosted six inaugural cruise calls in May, ending the month’s first-time visits with Azamara Pursuit arriving at the Ogden Point cruise terminal. GVHA paired the inaugural calls with welcome programming intended to introduce cruise line partners to local Indigenous history and culture.
May’s first-time callers at Ogden Point
GVHA identified six vessels that completed inaugural calls in Victoria during May: Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova, MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia, and Azamara’s Azamara Pursuit.
GVHA said two of the visits carried an added milestone beyond a ship’s first call, noting that MSC Poesia and Brilliant Lady marked the first-ever calls to Victoria by MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages, respectively.
- Royal Caribbean: Voyager of the Seas
- Princess Cruises: Star Princess
- Virgin Voyages: Brilliant Lady
- Silversea Cruises: Silver Nova
- MSC Cruises: MSC Poesia
- Azamara: Azamara Pursuit
Earlier in the month, GVHA also highlighted a separate set of first-time visits tied to three inaugural cruise calls in Victoria on May 9-10.
Indigenous welcomes built into inaugural-call ceremonies
GVHA framed the inaugural calls as an opportunity to connect cruise partners, passengers, and crews with local Indigenous culture. “For GVHA, inaugural calls are an opportunity to introduce Indigenous history and culture to our cruise line partners, and we’ve found that both crew and guests appreciate it,” said Carmen Ortega, GVHA’s director of cruise and port development.
According to GVHA, traditional dancers from the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations were part of the welcome ceremonies. GVHA also said Victoria’s youth poet laureate, Shauntelle Dick-Charleson, recited a newly commissioned poem titled “Welcome to the Homelands of the lək̓ʷəŋən People.”
Relationship-building, with limited operational detail released
Inaugural calls can serve as an early relationship-building moment between ports and cruise operators, giving both sides a first chance to align around guest experience, shore-side operations, and community engagement. GVHA’s May recap emphasized the welcome programming as a consistent element across the six first-time visits, spanning contemporary, premium, luxury, and small-ship segments.
Beyond naming the ships involved and outlining the welcome activities, GVHA did not release additional operational details about the individual port days, and it did not say whether the inaugural callers will become recurring annual visitors.
Focus shifts to the remainder of the cruise season
With Azamara Pursuit completing the sixth inaugural call of the month, GVHA indicated its attention is now on ongoing cruise operations at Ogden Point as the season continues, while positioning similar Indigenous-led welcoming elements as a feature of future first-time visits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an inaugural cruise call?
An inaugural call is a ship’s first visit to a specific port. GVHA used the term to describe the first time each of the six named vessels called at Victoria in May.
Which ships made inaugural calls in Victoria during May?
GVHA listed Voyager of the Seas, Star Princess, Brilliant Lady, Silver Nova, MSC Poesia, and Azamara Pursuit as the six vessels that made inaugural calls at Victoria’s Ogden Point cruise terminal in May.
Which cruise brands made their first-ever call to Victoria during the month?
GVHA said MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages made their first-ever calls to Victoria through visits by MSC Poesia and Brilliant Lady, respectively.
What welcome programming did GVHA highlight for these inaugural calls?
GVHA said welcome ceremonies included performances by traditional dancers from the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations and a poetry component featuring Victoria youth poet laureate Shauntelle Dick-Charleson reciting a newly commissioned poem.
