Vancouver marks 40 years of cruise ships at Canada Place, as record season expected

A record-breaking cruise ship year is expected in Vancouver, where the local terminal is celebrating 40 years of operations.

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Towering over Coal Harbour, the Norwegian Bliss—one of the largest cruise ships capable of fitting beneath Vancouver’s Lions Gate Bridge—docked alongside Holland America’s Eurodam on Friday, marking a major milestone at Canada Place.

The ships are helping launch the season as Vancouver celebrates 40 years since the first cruise vessel ever docked at the Canada Place terminal.

Provincial tourism officials say the milestone is a reflection of Vancouver’s enduring global appeal.

“It’s that stunning natural beauty and signature world-class hospitality that we have here, that continues to draw people to visit Vancouver and British Columbia,” said Anne Kang, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport.

The arrival of the ships signals the official start of the 2026 cruise season and city officials are preparing for one of the busiest summers yet.

Multiple cruise vessels are scheduled to visit downtown Vancouver almost every day throughout the summer, bringing a steady flow of travelers to the city’s hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

During peak season, from early May through late September, officials estimate that 40,000 to 50,000 passengers could move through the Canada Place terminal every weekend.

Friday’s celebrations also carried personal significance for the man now commanding one of the visiting ships. Jeroen Van Donselaar, the current captain of the Eurodam, was once a cadet aboard the very first cruise ship to dock the terminal back in 1986.

“We had so much fun. We ate hamburgers on the world’s first-ever floating McDonald’s, and one afternoon we even saw Bryan Adams perform so that was just amazing,” Van Donselaar recalled.

Four decades later, the captain says Vancouver’s appeal remains as strong as ever.

“The beautiful mountains with the snow on them still—and on this side here, (an) amazing world-class city, great restaurants and lots of things to do for people pre-cruise and post-cruise," he said.

Looking ahead to 2026, officials say the cruise industry is expected to deliver a major economic lift to the region, with an estimated 1.4 million travelers passing through Vancouver by sea.

When combined with the influx of visitors expected for the FIFA World Cup, the city is bracing for significant congestion—but also significant opportunity.

Industry data suggests that each cruise ship visit brings approximately $3 million into the local economy, supporting jobs and businesses across the region.