Key Aspects:
- With the departure of Coral Princess, the 2025 Vancouver cruise season officially came to an end on October 21, 2025.
- Cruising has provided the region with a much needed financial boost amidst global economic conflict.
- Looking ahead, the port anticipates another successful season in 2026.
It was a cool, cloudy afternoon on the Canadian coast, but officials at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority saw only sunshine as Coral Princess departed at 4 p.m. on October 21, 2025.
The 2,390-passenger vessel’s 7-night journey to Los Angeles marked the end of a highly successful 2025 cruise season in Vancouver.
Since the season launched with the arrival of Disney Wonder on March 5, the award-winning Canada Place Terminal has processed approximately 1.2 million passengers coming from 301 cruise ships, contributing over $1 billion to the local economy.
Throughout the year, the port welcomed ships from 16 cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Villa Vie Residences.
Amidst an active trade war with the United States, this economic boom seems to offer a financial sigh of relief for the Canadian port.
Shri Madiwal, Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, shared his gratitude as the successful season came to a close.
“This year’s success underscores the cruise sector’s power as an economic engine,” said Madiwal.
“Each sailing brings millions of dollars in passenger spending that circulates through hotels, restaurants, attractions, and suppliers, helping to strengthen our regional economy.”
This comes following a record-breaking year for the port in 2024, when Vancouver welcomed 1.32 million passengers.
The port’s success is a well-deserved return on investment, having invested heavily in the cruise industry in recent years by implementing shore power technology, and LNG refueling support.
The cruise terminal is also equipped with facial biometric scanning for faster passenger security processing.
Vancouver Expects Another Successful Year in 2026
Looking to the future, Vancouver’s cruise operations show no signs of slowing down.
Preliminary bookings for 2026 show an increase in expected ships and passengers, indicating another strong season to come.
This is largely because Vancouver is one of the top homeports for itineraries to Alaska, a destination that is already generating buzz with exciting itineraries for the coming year.
Crown Princess in Vancouver (Photo Credit: Lenic)
Jim Berra, Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer, remarked on Vancouver’s importance to Alaska itineraries, as well as its value as a destination in its own right.
“As a gateway to Alaska, Vancouver offers our guests not only seamless embarkation but also the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and national beauty of this remarkable city,” said Berra.
“We are committed to strengthening this partnership and delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
Read Also: Vancouver Cruise Port Guide: Terminal, Facilities, What’s Nearby
Princess Cruises will have seven ships sailing to Alaska from Vancouver in 2026, and will also be expanding its popular Cruisetours in the next season.
Holland America Line, meanwhile, is set to operate 18 Alaska itineraries in 2026, including itineraries to the remote Denali region, departing from Vancouver.
Disney Cruise Line is doubling-down on ships sailing to Alaska from Vancouver next year, offering itineraries on both Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
While not homeporting in Vancouver, MSC Cruises is also making waves by jumping into Alaska cruises for the very first time, signaling an ever-growing interest in the region that is sure to be felt across the industry.
As the Coral Princess dipped below the horizon, it may have signaled the end of the 2025 cruise season in Vancouver, but it is clearly only the beginning of a very bright future for the port.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
