Canada’s Vancouver Port Forecasts Cruise Growth in 2007

When the Mercury set sail from Canada Place last Sunday, it signaled the end of the 2006 Vancouver-Alaska cruise season, which saw an estimated 858,500 passengers depart or arrive through the port on 253 vessel calls.

While the passenger total for 2006 stands for a six percent decrease over the previous year, the Port of Vancouver is projecting an increase of 100,000 passengers in 2007.

The projected increase is due to the return of the Mercury to Vancouver from Seattle, for the entire Alaska cruise season, and the addition of the Pacific Princess to the Alaska fleet.

The Norwegian Sun will also replace the Norwegian Wind, adding more capacity in the Vancouver-Alaska market.

Another highlight of the 2006 cruise season was the continued success of the U.S. Direct program in which passengers are expedited through the customs and immigration process.

The 2006 cruise season also marked the first year of operation for Ceres, the port’s new cruise terminal operator, providing vessel stevedoring and terminal management services for Canada Place and Ballantyne terminals.