The final cruise ship of the 2024 season, Norwegian Jewel, will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, marking the end of a record 1.32 million passenger season for the Canadian port.

The season in Vancouver ran from March 11 to October 29, with 327 calls and a 7 percent increase in guest volume.

“We would like to thank everyone who helped make 2024 such a successful cruise season in Vancouver. To have back-to-back record years running so smoothly is a huge achievement and a testament to the dedication of those involved,” said Shri Madiwal, Vice-President. operations and supply chain of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency that enables the growth of commerce through the Port of Vancouver, including cruises, while protecting the environment.

“I want to thank our partners, including SSA Marine, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Canadian and U.S. border agencies, the City of Vancouver and the cruise lines, for helping to deliver another successful cruise season. Cruise operations at Canada Place play a vital role in Vancouver’s thriving tourism sector, injecting more than $1 billion into the local economy each year and supporting businesses and jobs throughout the region.

According to a release, an economic impact study released by the Port Authority earlier this year found that passengers, crew and cruise lines spend more than $1.1 billion locally each year, including passengers spending an average of $450 each on hotels, restaurants, shopping, tours and local activities. attractions, and more.

“The Port of Vancouver has been an incredible partner for many years and we thank them for their continued support,” added David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Norwegian Jewel’s Alaska voyages to and from Vancouver have provided our guests with a wonderful opportunity to plan pre- and post-cruise stays in this beautiful city, allowing them to truly immerse themselves in the destination and plan extended vacation. We look forward to our future sailings to and from Vancouver in 2025 and 2026, helping to support local businesses while providing our guests with an unforgettable Alaska vacation experience.

During the busy 2024 cruise season, Canada Place experienced six of its 10 busiest days ever for passengers, including the second busiest ever on April 29, when nearly 20,000 passengers passed through the terminal.

“As another record-breaking cruise season comes to a close for the year, the contributions of our nearly 200 Destination Vancouver volunteers stand out as an example of how the city is coming together to support the cruise industry said Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver. Vancouver. “With more than 330,000 visitor interactions this season, 14% more than last year and nearly double what we saw in 2022, the largest visitor groups we work with are cruise lines. Our volunteers are on hand at Canada Place every sailing day to provide local information and encourage passengers to explore neighborhoods, restaurants and attractions, transforming brief stops into richer experiences. This increased engagement directly benefits the local economy, making tourism an even more powerful engine of positive growth for our city.

The Port Authority continues to work with destinations, government and cruise line partners to invest in the Canada Place Terminal to improve capacity, sustainability and the passenger experience at the Port of Vancouver. This year, that included partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to launch Canada’s first-ever facial biometric scanning for cruises.

New facial scanning technology has reduced the time it takes to pass through US border control by up to 94%, with average transaction times dropping from 2 to 3 minutes with previously used passport kiosks to around 10 seconds with biometrics, which significantly enhances the terminal’s ability to seamlessly handle large numbers of cruise lines and improve the overall passenger experience.

“We are excited to continue our valuable work with industry and government to improve capacity and the passenger experience at Canada Place Cruise Terminal, while further integrating sustainability into Vancouver’s growing cruise sector ”said Madiwal.