vancouver cruise port news

Tugboat workers' strike delays Celebrity cruise departure in Vancouver

There was frustration among cruise ship passengers Monday after "on-water picketing" prevented the departure of a vessel bound for Alaska.

The Celebrity Eclipse, which has capacity for more than 2,800 people, was scheduled to leave Sunday afternoon before being caught in the middle of a tugboat workers' strike.

The cruise ship remained moored in downtown Vancouver the following morning, and blocked behind a barge – but the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority confirmed the vessel was on the move by early Monday afternoon.

"The Celebrity Eclipse has departed the Canada Place cruise terminal," a spokesperson told CTV News in an email.

The Canadian Merchant Services Guild launched its job action on all 30 Seaspan tugboats across British Columbia on Thursday after contract negotiations reached a standstill.

The union declined to speak on its strike when contacted by CTV News Monday. Celebrity Cruises has not responded to a request for comment.

Before the Eclipse departed, a number of upset passengers noted they had faced previous cancellations on the same route because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"People are ticked off, especially if you've been cancelled, cancelled, cancelled," said passenger Karen Bracy.

Others raised concerns about how the delay would impact their vacation, with some expecting at least one stop to be removed from the itinerary.

"For a lot of people, it seems like money out the window, right?" said Mason Rebury, another passenger from Ontario.

Several others also expressed frustration with the lack of communication from the cruise line.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said officials worked with Celebrity Cruises, terminal operator Ceres, Seaspan, Transport Canada and the Vancouver Police Department to find a "swift resolution" to the delayed departure.

The Canadian Merchant Services Guild represents the majority of ship captains and officers across the country.

Tugboat operators escort and help dock large vessels such as container ships, oil tankers and tow barges. 

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Record year for cruise at Port of Vancouver

October 24, 2023

Tags: Vancouver

The final cruise ship of the 2023 season, Holland America Line’s Koningsdam, will depart from the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver tomorrow (October 24th), marking the end of a robust year for the local cruise industry.

The Port of Vancouver is expected to have welcomed an estimated 1.25 million passengers in 2023, a new record and a 54% increase compared to 2022. This includes 15 of Canada Place’s 20 busiest days ever for cruise passengers, all occurring in the past six months. There were 332 cruise ship calls between April and October 2023, a new record for the Canada Place cruise terminal and an increase of 9% compared to 307 visits in 2022.

“Cruise returned to Vancouver emphatically this year after several seasons impacted by the global pandemic—with 2023 seeing record passenger numbers, near-record cruise ship visits and the Canada Place terminal getting further international recognition as a world-class cruise facility,” said Peter Xotta , vice president of operations and supply chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver.

Cruise ship occupancy rates—which are a measure of how full each visiting ship is—averaged 95% for the season and peaked at an average of 96% over the summer, as occupancy rates returned to pre-pandemic levels. This year was the first full season without any COVID-19 related restrictions, following the gradual easing of federal travel restrictions in 2022. “The cruise sector’s strong performance this year has been a critical catalyst for the local tourism and hospitality industries—supporting countless local jobs and businesses. I’d like to thank our partners, including Ceres Terminals Canada, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and cruise lines for their hard work in ensuring that this busy season—which included an incredible 15 of Canada Place’s 20 busiest days ever—went smoothly,” said Xotta .

Holland America Line will join the port authority tomorrow, October 24, to celebrate the Koningsdam’s departure and mark the end of a successful cruise season.

“We are honoured to have been part of the Port of Vancouver’s biggest cruise season ever, with 25% of guests sailing on five Holland America Line ships,” said Beth Bodensteiner , chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. “We see this as further evidence that the cruise industry has rebounded in a remarkable way. We’re proud to call Vancouver a homeport and look forward to another great season in 2024.”

The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver was recently recognized as North America’s Leading Cruise Port 2023 by World Travel Awards and North America’s Best Cruise Terminal in the World Cruise Awards.

“Indications based on preliminary bookings are that the 2024 cruise season will see a similar number of cruise ship visits, demonstrating the underlying strength and popularity of the cruise industry in Vancouver and its unique access to B.C.’s prestigious Inside Passage,” said Xotta .

The port authority continues to work alongside the broader port and cruise communities to achieve its goal for the Port of Vancouver to be the world’s most sustainable port and commends the cruise industry’s focus on shore power and environmental sustainability.

Highlights for 2023 cruise season

> The last cruise ship of the season, the Koningsdam, is scheduled to depart Canada Place on October 24, 2023 > This season’s first cruise ship at the Port of Vancouver was the Sapphire Princess > Overall, the average cruise ship passenger occupancy rate for 2023 was 95%, compared to 69% in 2022. Pre-pandemic occupancy rates typically ranged between 93% and 99%, including 98% in 2019. > In 2023, nearly 75% of cruise calls were shore power enabled, compared to 70% in 2022 and 50% in 2019. Demand for shore power has steadily increased since 2009, when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise. Shore power enables ships to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and plug into land-based electrical power. At the Port of Vancouver, this has helped reduce port-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 38,000 tonnes since 2009. > Six inaugural vessels docked at Canada Place in 2023, including the Norwegian Encore, Brilliance of the Seas, Silver Whisper, Hanseatic Nature, Fridtjof Nansen and Seabourn Venture

(Record year for cruise at Port of Vancouver – Port of Vancouver )

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Port of Vancouver anticipates another record-breaking cruise season

Post date: Mar 11 2024

Date: Mar 11 2024

By: Travelweek

VANCOUVER — Port of Vancouver’s 2024 cruise season kicks off today with the arrival of the Disney Wonder, marking what is expected to be another record season for the local industry.

This year includes 329 cruise ship visits currently scheduled for the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver between March 11 and Oct. 29, 2024. This could mean a record-breaking 1.27 million passengers travelling through the cruise terminal in 2024, about 2% more than last year’s record.

“We expect 2024 to be another strong season for the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal as we solidify Vancouver as a premier homeport servicing the popular Alaska market,” said Mandy Chan, manager of cruise services at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “Cruise is an important part of Vancouver’s vibrant tourism sector that supports countless local hospitality and tourism businesses and jobs. We look forward to working alongside our cruise line and industry partners to ensure another successful season.”

Cruise ships deployed during the winter in other parts of the world return to the West Coast in March and April to prepare for the Alaska season. Today, March 11, the Disney Wonder will embark passengers heading to San Diego before coming back in May to start its weekly itinerary from Vancouver to Alaska.

Vancouver has been a homeport for Alaska cruises for more than 30 years, acting as the base for one-way and roundtrip cruises through the Inside Passage. As a homeport destination, the Vancouver cruise industry injects an average of nearly $3 million into the local economy for each ship visit.

Highlights for the 2024 cruise season include:

•  The first ship of the season, the Disney Wonder, will arrive at the Canada Place cruise terminal west berth at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024. The next ship of the 2024 season will be the Norwegian Bliss arriving overnight on April 4. Full 2024 details are available in the  cruise schedule .
•  The last cruise ship of the season, the Norwegian Jewel, will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
•  The following five ships will visit Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver in 2024 for the first time : Explora I, Silver Nova, Celebrity Edge, Pacific World, Hanseatic Spirit.
•  The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver welcomes the following cruise lines in 2024: Celebrity Cruises, Crystael Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise, Explora Journeys, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America, Hurtigruten, Norwegian Cruise, NYK Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Peace Boat, Ponant, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, Victoria Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises.
•  In 2023, nearly 75% of cruise calls were shore power-enabled, compared to 50% in 2019. Demand for shore power has steadily increased since 2009, when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise ships.

Tags: Lead Story, Vancouver

• Cruise News

Port of Vancouver starts cruise season, set to smash 2023 numbers

Andrea Santillan

• March 11, 2024

The cruising season has officially begun at Canada’s Port of Vancouver. Local authorities anticipate it will welcome 1.27 million passengers in 2024, a 2% increase from 2023. 

During the record-breaking year, the Canada Place cruise terminal will host 329 cruise ships and over 25,000 more passengers . 

For over 30 years, the seaport’s West Coast location has enabled cruise ships to reposition for Alaskan voyages before sailing through the Inside Passage.

As a strategic home port, each cruise ship that calls on the port generates nearly $3 million in revenue for Vancouver’s economy. It is also responsible for close to 7,000 jobs across the country, paying a total of $300 million in salaries.

In addition to offering shore power , the cruise port asks large vessels to stay away from or slow down in areas where at-risk marine species live. It also provides up to 75% off on harbor fees to cruise ships with environment-friendly features like clean fuel engines and the ability to switch to shore power. Cruise ships are also prohibited from eliminating scrubber water at the port. 

With measures such as these and the cooperation of key stakeholders, the Port of Vancouver aspires to be the first zero-emission corridor in the world as it connects the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Canada’s cruise season begans on March 11 with the Disney Wonder’s arrival and will end on October 29, 2024, upon the Norwegian Jewel’s departure. Cruise ships from Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, and Explora Journeys, to name a few, are scheduled to call on the world’s leading cruise port this year.

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Port of vancouver on course for record breaking cruise season in 2024.

Early estimates  are for another record year for cruise passenger visits to the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver , as collaborative efforts to improve sustainability progress

VANCOUVER, BC , March 8, 2024 /CNW/ - The first cruise ship of the season, the Disney Wonder, arrives in Vancouver on Monday, March 11—kicking off what is expected to be another record season for the industry locally. There are 329 cruise ship visits currently scheduled for the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver between March 11 and October 29, 2024 .

This could mean a record 1.27 million passengers would travel through the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 2024, about 2% more than last year's record.

"We expect 2024 to be another strong season for the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal, as we solidify Vancouver as a premier homeport servicing the popular Alaska market," said Mandy Chan , manager of cruise services at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada's trade through the Port of Vancouver . "Cruise is an important part of Vancouver's vibrant tourism sector that supports countless local hospitality and tourism businesses and jobs. We look forward to working alongside our cruise line and industry partners to ensure another successful season."

Cruise ships deployed during the winter in other parts of the world return to the West Coast in March and April to prepare for the Alaska season. On March 11 , the Disney Wonder will embark passengers heading to San Diego before coming back in May to start its weekly itinerary from Vancouver to Alaska .

Vancouver has been a homeport for Alaska cruises for more than 30 years, acting as the base for one-way and round-trip cruises through the Inside Passage. As a homeport destination, the Vancouver cruise industry injects an average of almost $3 million into the local economy for each ship visit, supports nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada and $300 million in wages, and contributes $840 million to Canada's GDP.

"A key focus right now is continuing to work in partnership on initiatives to protect our environment and it is great to see our cruise line partners eager to embrace programs such as using shore power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slowing their ships while travelling through critical local habitat of at-risk whales as part of ECHO," said Chan. "The allure of an Alaska cruise is the natural beauty of the journey, and we know more can be done to create a sustainable cruise market while enabling its growth. We want to thank everyone for the collaborative progress made so far and look forward to continuing this important work in 2024."

The suite of environmental programs and initiatives for cruise at the Port of Vancouver includes:

Shore power , which offers shore power-enabled visiting ships to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and plug into B.C.'s low-emission, hydro-powered electrical grid. It has helped reduce port-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 38,000 tonnes since being introduced at the Port of Vancouver in 2009, the equivalent of taking about 8,500 gasoline-powered cars off the road for one year.

ECHO Program , a world-leading program that encourages cruise ships and other large commercial ships to slow down or move away from key areas of critical habitat for at-risk whales such as the southern resident killer whales. The cruise industry has actively participated in the program since 2017, with cruise ship operators slowing down on 83% of all transits through key areas of southern resident killer whale critical habitat in Haro Strait , Boundary Pass, and at Swiftsure Bank in 2023.

EcoAction Program , which provides discounts of up to 75% off harbour dues for ships that are cleaner and quieter, including by using alternative, low-emission fuels or plugging into shore power.

Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor, which will be the world's first cruise-led, zero-emission green corridor and connect Washington , Vancouver and Alaska . The green corridor is being advanced in partnership with global cruise lines, ports, governments and environmental groups.

Discharge restrictions that prohibit cruise ships from discharging scrubber wash water while at berth or at anchor within the Port of Vancouver , in addition to restrictions on black and greywater

"As another record cruise season gets underway in Vancouver , I want to acknowledge the hard work of all our partners who have made our city's return to cruise after the pandemic such a success," said Chan. "This includes cruise lines, Canada Place cruise terminal manager SSA Marine, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and our partners at Canada Border Services Agency and US Customs and Border Protection. The success of Vancouver's cruise industry year after year is a direct result of the dedication and collaboration of all those involved."

Day-to-day operations at the Canada Place cruise terminal are managed on the port authority's behalf by SSA Marine, previously known as CERES Terminals Canada.

Highlights for 2024 cruise season

The first ship of the season, the Disney Wonder , will arrive at the Canada Place cruise terminal west berth at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024 . The next ship of the 2024 season will be the Norwegian Bliss arriving overnight on April 4 . Full 2024 details are available in the cruise schedule .

The last cruise ship of the season, the Norwegian Jewel , will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024

The following five ships will visit Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver in 2024 for the first time : Explora I, Silver Nova, Celebrity Edge, Pacific World, Hanseatic Spirit

The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver welcomes the following cruise lines in 2024: Celebrity Cruises, Crystael Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise, Explora Journeys, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America, Hurtigruten, Norwegian Cruise, NYK Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Peace Boat, Ponant, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, Victoria Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises

In 2023, nearly 75% of cruise calls were shore power-enabled, compared to 50% in 2019. Demand for shore power has steadily increased since 2009, when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise ships.

About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the Port of Vancouver

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the federal agency responsible for the shared stewardship of the Port of Vancouver . Like all Canada Port Authorities, we are accountable to the federal minister of transport, and operate pursuant to the Canada Marine Act with a mandate to enable Canada's trade through the Port of Vancouver , while protecting the environment and considering local communities. The port authority is structured as a non-share corporation, is financially self-sufficient and does not rely on tax dollars for operations. Our revenues come from port terminals and tenants who lease port lands, and from port users who pay various fees such as harbour dues. Profits are reinvested in port infrastructure. The port authority oversees the use of port land and water, which includes more than 16,000 hectares of water, over 1,500 hectares of land, and approximately 350 kilometres of shoreline. Located on the southwest coast of British Columbia in Canada , the Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank and the Fraser River up to and including Burrard Inlet, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of more than 35 Coast Salish Indigenous groups. The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest port, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo. Enabling the trade of approximately $305 billion in goods with between 140 and 170 countries each year, port activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7 billion in wages, and $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada .

SOURCE Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2024/08/c3060.html

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Canada Place cruise terminal at Port Vancouver (BC Canada) concludes 2023 season

The Canada Place cruise terminal at Port Vancouver (BC Canada) has concluded its 2023 season on a high note, achieving notable milestones in passenger numbers and ship visits. On October 24, the final cruise ship of the season, HAL-Holland America 's ms Koningsdam , marked the successful conclusion of a strong year for the local cruise industry.

In 2023, the Port of Vancouver is expected to have welcomed an estimated 1.25 million passengers, setting a new record and marking a significant 54% increase compared to the previous year. This remarkable growth included 15 of the busiest cruise passenger days ever at Canada Place, all occurring within the past 6 months. Moreover, there were 332 cruise ship calls between April and October 2023, setting a new record for the Canada Place cruise terminal, with a 9% increase compared to the 307 visits in 2022.

Cruise ship occupancy rates, an indicator of the level of ship capacity utilization, averaged a commendable 95% for the season and reached an impressive peak of 96% during the summer, returning to pre-pandemic levels. This year marked the first full season without any COVID-19 -related restrictions, following the gradual easing of federal travel restrictions in 2022.

It's worth noting that the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver received prestigious recognition as North America's Leading Cruise Port 2023 by the World Travel Awards and North America's Best Cruise Terminal in the World Cruise Awards.

The Port Authority remains committed to its goal of making the Port of Vancouver the world's most sustainable port and applauds the cruise industry's continued focus on shore power and environmental sustainability.

Key highlights of the 2023 cruise season include:

• The departure of the Koningsdam, marking the end of the season on October 24, 2023.
• The season's opening by Sapphire Princess .
• An average cruise ship passenger occupancy rate of 95% in 2023, a significant increase from the 69% seen in 2022. Pre-pandemic occupancy rates typically ranged between 93% and 99%, including 98% in 2019.
• Nearly 75% of cruise calls in 2023 were equipped with shore power, compared to 70% in 2022 and 50% in 2019. The demand for shore power has been steadily increasing since 2009 when the Port of Vancouver introduced shore power for cruise vessels, reducing port-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 38,000 tonnes since its inception.
• In 2023, Canada Place welcomed 6 inaugural vessels, including the Norwegian Encore , Brilliance of the Seas , Silver Whisper , Hanseatic Nature , Fridtjof Nansen , and Seabourn Venture .

Record Year for Cruise at Port of Vancouver

• October 23, 2023

The final cruise ship of the 2023 season, Holland America Line’s Koningsdam, will depart from the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver on Tuesday, marking the end of a robust year for the local cruise industry, according to a press release.

The Port of Vancouver is expected to have welcomed an estimated 1.25 million passengers in 2023, a new record and a 54 percent increase compared to 2022.

This includes 15 of Canada Place’s 20 busiest days ever for cruise passengers, all occurring in the past six months.

There were 332 cruise ship calls between April and October 2023, a new record for the Canada Place cruise terminal and an increase of 9%percent compared to 307 visits in 2022.

“Cruise returned to Vancouver emphatically this year after several seasons impacted by the global pandemic-with 2023 seeing record passenger numbers, near-record cruise ship visits and the Canada Place terminal getting further international recognition as a wor1d-class cruise facility,” said Peter Xotta, vice president of operations and supply chain at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver.

Cruise ship occupancy rates averaged 95 percent for the season and peaked at an average of 96 percent over the summer, the port said, as occupancy rates returned to pre­ pandemic levels.

“The cruise sector’s strong performance this year has been a critical catalyst for the local tourism and hospitality industries-supporting countless local jobs and businesses. I’d like to thank our partners, including Ceres Terminals Canada, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and cruise lines for their hard work in ensuring that this busy season-which included an incredible 15 of Canada Place’s 20 busiest days ever-went smoothly,” said Xotta.

Holland America Line will join the port authority tomorrow, October 24, to celebrate the Koningsdam’s departure and mark the end of a successful cruise season.

“We are honoured to have been part of the Port of Vancouver’s biggest cruise season ever, with 25 percent of guests sailing on five Holland America Line ships,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. “We see this as further evidence that the cruise industry has rebounded in a remarkable way. We’re proud to call Vancouver a homeport and look forward to another great season in 2024.”

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Travel | Alaska is ready for another record-breaking…

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Travel | staying in cali: los angeles sparks select stanford star cameron brink second overall in wnba draft, travel | alaska is ready for another record-breaking cruise season.

Alaska is home to more than 30,000 grizzlies, but the state’s cruise industry is experiencing anything but a bear market as momentum of last year’s record-breaking season is expected to continue in 2024.

The most-visited Alaskan port, Juneau set a new mark a year ago with 1.65 million passengers descending on the capital city during cruise season, which generally runs from April to late October. That figure from the Juneau Chamber of Commerce is a Denali-sized jump of 30 percent compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

Coinciding with Alaska’s 65th anniversary of statehood, the upcoming cruise season appears to be just as robust, with 19 cruise lines sending 43 ships to the Last Frontier. Kicking things off for the second straight year is the 4,008-passenger Norwegian Bliss, which docked in rustic Skagway last week. With four mainstream-category ships homeported in either Seattle or Vancouver, Norwegian Cruise Line  has nearly 100 more after that.

Two competing companies have staked out even larger claims in this modern-day, maritime Alaskan gold rush. Holland America Line is sending seven premium-class ships for 141 total cruises. And at the top of the totem pole is Princess Cruises , which is celebrating its 55th year in these waters with seven premium ships sharing 158 departures.

Not counting grand voyages with itineraries so rich they make a visit to Alaska seem more like a pit stop, this cruise season will see more than 800 trips of mostly seven to 10 days starting or ending on this side of the Pacific. Where they’re all going is a destination rich in unparalleled wilderness, wildlife and native culture. In other words, bucket list stuff.

“Alaska is one of those places that draws you in and sets the hook right away,” said Kristi Switzer, destination marketing manager for Travel Juneau. “Visitors come for the otherworldly experience of being in the presence of glaciers and fjords, seeing whales and bears and finding the balance of Alaska Native cultural heritage with the rustic sophistication found in the capital city.”

Although Switzer recommends visits lasting several days instead of several hours, the city’s destination evangelist hopes that a partial day in Juneau and each major Alaskan cruise port will have 1.5 million passengers wanting more.

“This magical corner of the world has so much to offer beyond being a checkmark on people’s bucket lists,” she said.

Alaska is a checkmark for about three-quarters of all passengers headed there, according to the Alaska Tourism Industry Association, and the same can be said for two ships this season.

Starting with a six-day sail out of Vancouver on May 11, the namesake of Celebrity Cruises ’ popular Edge class will make its Alaskan debut with weeklong roundtrips from Seattle through Sept. 13. The 2,918-passenger vessel features a unique “outside-in” architecture that provides more floor-to-ceiling glass on the exterior and expanded outdoor spaces to soak up the Alaskan coastlines.

Edge will be joined by a pair of fleet mates for the season, albeit Summit’s seven-day roundtrips are turnarounds out of Anchorage or Vancouver, and Solstice’s weeklong jaunts are solely based in the British Columbian seaport. Celebrity, a premier-category cruise line has 57 departures to Alaska scheduled this year.

The other new recruit is Silver Nova, the youngest Silversea Cruises  ship in the luxury fleet to ever service Alaska. Capped at 728 guests, Silver Nova was launched last year and has the goods to do justice to a dreamlike place that captures the imagination of wilderness lovers and history buffs.

“Silver Nova is the ideal ship for Alaska cruising,” said company spokesman Brad Ball. “Her innovative design, which incorporates an unprecedented 4,000 square meters of glass, immerses guests into the incredible scenery of Alaska from virtually all venues and suites, with far-reaching views at every turn.”

The ship’s reimagined pool deck, which overlooks the water on her starboard side, and all-new outdoor venues — the Dusk Bar and the Marquee — allows unique openness to view spectacular Alaskan glaciers and wildlife. Those who want to experience an older and smaller Evolution-class Silversea vessel can book the Silver Muse, which also will sail mostly seven- to 14-day trips between Anchorage and Vancouver.

Because nearly every Alaskan cruise includes the staples — Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Inside Passage and Denali with a land add-on — some cruise lines like to shake things up with unique itineraries.

Holland America has a roundtrip that makes it easy to visit the 49th and 50th states without a long flight. A new “Glaciers & Volcanos: Alaska to Hawaii” cruise, part of the premium line’s Legendary Voyages collection of journeys from 25 to 59 days, departs on Aug. 31 from Seattle or Sept. 1 from Vancouver aboard the 1,916-passenger Westerdam. The nearly four-weeklong itinerary includes seldomly visited Kodiak and Dutch Harbor before heading down to the tropics to make four calls to three Hawaiian islands.

Seabourn  strives to offer a more tasteful Alaskan cruise and not only because it’s an ultra-luxury cruise line. “Caviar on the Ice” is a savory and swanky soiree on every Alaskan voyage, and when the 450-passenger Odyssey is in Sitka, a town originally built by Russian traders in the early 1800s, Seabourn guests can enjoy a culinary adventure that includes a scenic drive to a taproom for a sampling of local brews and a few eateries to try Siberian-rooted pelmeni dumplings and a hot dog made with caribou that the locals call “reindeer dawgs.” Sorry, vegetarians and friends of Santa, but Blitzen on a bun is da bomb.

Disney Cruise Line  is sending its 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder out of Vancouver for 15 week-long roundtrips, one five-day spin leaving on July 24 and an extended nine-day voyage on July 15.

Other cruise lines showing passengers a whale of a time in Alaska include Crystal, Cunard, Hurtigruten, Lindblad/National Geographic, Oceania, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas and Viking.

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Here's how you can sail on dozens of Vancouver cruises for $49 a day

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Travellers looking for a cheap Alaskan cruise from Vancouver have a new option for under $50 a day before taxes. 

Holland America Line (HAL) has launched a program that allows flexible travellers to sign up for its standby program enabling them to sail on most routes for a fraction of the regular price. 

HAL Spokesperson Adrienne Carter said the program is ideal for people who live in Vancouver and can take a last-minute cruise from the Canada Place terminal. 

Hundreds of cruises visit the downtown terminal annually, offering dozens of opportunities for possible standby options through HAL's program. While most of these options visit Alaska, a few others journey down the Pacific Coast to California. 

The cruise line has a list of cruises that are eligible for the  Standby List Program .

How much does the standby program cost?

HAL's standby program costs US$49 per person per day or US$98 per stateroom per day before port taxes and fees, regardless of the itinerary. This means you can experience any applicable sailing at a low-cost price. 

Standby guests cannot select a cabin and may be assigned any stateroom category up to a veranda stateroom, based on availability.

Solo travellers won't be charged a double-capacity premium, meaning they only need to pay the $49 fee. If they travel with third or fourth guests, they'll stay free (but they must pay taxes and port expenses). 

For example, a seven-night Alaskan cruise that departs from Vancouver on June 1 and sails through the Inside Passage making stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan before returning home regularly costs $855 for the seven-night sailing before taxes and port fees. However, it is on sale, so travellers can find prices as low as $722. The taxes, fees, and port expenses are an additional $356.73 for this cruise, so the final price works out to $1,078.73 with the sale.

Standby guests can sail for $49 a day for seven days or $343, so the final price is $699.73 with taxes and port expenses. This is an overall savings of $379.

All guests who sail with HAL must pay an additional $17 per diem for "crew appreciation" (gratuities). 

When will I be notified if space becomes available on a sailing?

Prospective passengers will be notified a week to two days before embarkation if they have been accepted for the cruise. 

HAL will notify people who have added their name to the program no less than two days before departure. 

Guests are charged when they sign up for the Standby List. If they are not selected, HAL will process a refund within four to six weeks. However, people who chose not to sail but signed up for the program will be refunded.

What other kinds of destinations can I visit on the standby program?

Aside from round-trip Vancouver Alaskan sailings, and ones that go from Whittier, Alaska to Vancouver, travellers can also find numerous options across North America. 

Three sailings from San Diego to Vancouver feature five-, six-, and seven-day itineraries and make stops in places like Catalina Island and San Francisco. There is even a 20-day option that departs from Fort Lauderdale and sails through the Panama Canal en route to Vancouver. 

There are also options from other ports across the continent but locals would have to include flights to and from these destinations to take advantage of the standby option.

Cruise options will be added to the Standby List weekly .

To join the standby list for your preferred cruise, contact a travel agent or call 877-724-5425.

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Cruise ships returning to Port of Camas-Washougal, months after cruise line went bankrupt Updated 6 hours ago

Camas-washougal signs one-year agreement with american cruise lines to be ‘turn point’.

CAMAS — Two months after unexpectedly losing its docking agreement with American Queen Voyages, the Port of Camas-Washougal has partnered with another company to bring back cruise ships.

The port has signed a one-year contract with American Cruise Lines, a Connecticut-based company that operates 19 small cruise ships along the United States’ Eastern and Western seaboards, as well as several major U.S. rivers, including the Columbia River.

American Cruise Lines contacted the port after American Queen Voyages’ bankruptcy, Port CEO David Ripp said. ACL wanted a long-term contract, “but we felt more comfortable doing a one-year agreement as a start to see how this would work.”

ACL will move from Hayden Island and use the port as a “turn point,” according to Ripp. “A turn point is where a vessel begins or ends its cruise.”

ACL offers six- to nine-day cruise packages on the Columbia River, with stops between Astoria, Ore., and Clarkston.

Five vessels, ranging in size from 220 to 328 feet with the capacity for 125 to 200 passengers, will make 89 stops at the port’s breakwater dock between March 31 and Nov. 8, according to the agreement.

Passengers won’t disembark

In February, American Queen Voyages announced it was suspending operations and canceling all reservations. Under the terms of a five-year agreement with the port, the American Empress docked at Parker’s Landing Marina during its Columbia River cruises in 2022 and 2023.

When signing the original agreement in 2022, port leaders said that they hoped to bring the American Empress, a 360-foot paddle-wheeler, to the region in an effort to increase tourism.

Stops at the port included a “hop-on, hop-off” bus bound for Washougal’s Two Rivers Heritage Museum, Pendleton Woolen Mills and Cottonwood Beach before heading to downtown Camas’ shopping district.

Though the American Empress may return to the Columbia River — ACL has purchased four ships formerly operated by American Queen Voyages, including the American Empress — the new cruise ship agreement between ACL and the port won’t have the impact on tourism.

“With the ACL agreement, passengers won’t disembark and tour our community, so it doesn’t have that potential for local economic development,” Port Commissioner Cassi Marshall said during the commission’s April 3 meeting. “I like the one-year trial … because I just want to make sure we pay attention to the potential impacts to our own tenants. I mean, it’s big, and will be here a lot. So I would like to kind of know about the feedback from our own tenants.”

ACL will pay the port $2.50 per foot, or approximately $65,000, as well as a $10,000 deposit.

Commissioner John Spencer praised the agreement’s financial terms — “a 4.6-fold increase in revenue is a good thing” — and ACL’s commitment to sustainability.

Three of the five boats meet Environmental Protection Agency Tier 4 final emissions standards, Ripp said. The vessels will not idle at the dock but will run on generators overnight.

“I do feel a lot better about these boats being Tier 4, theoretically the cleanest that we can get right now without going electric,” Spencer said. “I have some concerns about that much activity long-term. … But it’s only one year, so we’ll see how it goes.”

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Disney Cruise Line Earns Award Recognition for Environmental Stewardship

Discover how Disney Cruise Line’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability has led to a tenth consecutive Blue Circle Award.

Over the years, the Walt Disney Company has committed to taking measurable action for environmental sustainability. This has included goals such as conserving water at the parks and reducing emissions at the parks and on Disney Cruise Line. And in recognition of their environmental practices, Disney Cruise Line has just been recognized with an award of environmental sustainability for the tenth consecutive year.

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Disney Cruise Line Wins Blue Circle Award

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

For the tenth year in a row, Disney Cruise Line has received the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Blue Circle Award, which recognized the cruise line’s participation in the port’s voluntary EcoAction Program and Energy Action Initiative.

One of the primary ways that Disney Cruise Line reduces its environmental impact in sailings around Alaska and Canada is by turning off the ship engines and relying on the port’s shoreside electricity grid when available. When the ship is plugged into shore power, the onboard lighting, air conditioning, and other systems are able to run nearly emission-free. In Vancouver, where the port’s electric grid is supplied by hydro power and wind power, the Disney Wonder was able to eliminate 99% of emissions by using shore power last year.

In a statement, Barry Compagnoni, DCL’s Vice President for Safety, Security and Environmental Policy and Compliance, said, “This award demonstrates our long-standing commitment to operating responsibly and sustainably, especially while sailing in the Pacific Northwest. By doing our part to reduce emissions, conserve energy and protect the rich biodiversity of the region, we are proud to continue our legacy of taking actions that support a healthier environment.”

Disney Cruise Line Environmental Goals

The Walt Disney Company has previously stated a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2030. One of the ways they hope to do this through the Disney Cruise Line is investing in low-emission fuels, including ultra-low sulfur fuel on the Disney Magic and Disney Dream. They also hope to use liquefies natural gas on newer vessels, including using green methanol on the new ship that will have its port in Singapore in 2025.

Disney Cruise Line has also nearly eliminated all single-use plastics on its fleets, which have switched to refillable bath product dispensers, removed plastic bags from merchandise locations, and replaced plastic water bottles with recyclable ones.

You can learn more about the Walt Disney Company’s overall sustainability and environmental goals by clicking here.

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The post Disney Cruise Line Earns Award Recognition for Environmental Stewardship appeared first on WDW Magazine .

Pro-Palestinian protest ends at Metro Vancouver container port

Gct canada says protest affected deltaport's operations.

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A blockade by pro-Palestinian protesters at a major port terminal in Metro Vancouver disrupted operations for several hours before dispersing on Monday.

Terminal operator GCT Canada had said on Monday morning that "illegal protesters' actions are causing an unsafe situation" as truckers that tried to access the Deltaport facility were being held on the Roberts Bank causeway for several hours.

GCT spokesman Marko Dekovic had said the company was not given advance notice of the blockade, and did not know why Deltaport was targeted. 

The Delta Police Department said its officers were at the scene "liaising" with protesters earlier Monday.

Protesters are calling the event "People's Picket for Palestine" and said in a statement the demonstration was being co-ordinated with protests around the world aimed at blocking "major choke points in the economy" to cause "the most economic impact."

"I am here today to say that the Canadian government and Canadian businesses, like GCT Deltaport, must take a stand and refuse to do business with Israel," protester Atiya Jaffar said in a statement.

The Port of Vancouver is the largest port in Canada, and GCT Deltaport is the country's largest container terminal, with capacity to handle 2.4 million standard containers every year.

Dekovic said Monday's blockade was at one point "severely impacting" the terminal's ability to operate but declined to discuss the port's recovery capabilities "as it may give the protesters other ideas on how to negatively impact the operation."

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The protest contingent said more than 100 demonstrators participated in the blockade.

Video from the scene shows protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting as traffic is halted.

Trade and transport infrastructure experts say while the disruption from such a blockade is inconvenient for truckers stuck at the terminal gates, it is unlikely to cause serious backlogs. 

"The cargo in containers is not so perishable or valuable that a day's delay makes a difference," said Simon Fraser University professor of urban studies Peter Hall. "A blockage needs to go on for a while before it has appreciable impact."

Werner Antweiler, a professor of economics at UBC's Sauder School of Business, agreed the impact of such a blockade should be limited, even though about 3,500 trucks move in and out of Deltaport every day, according to a 2021 study. 

But Antweiler said a bigger question may revolve around the possibility of similar disruptions from protest blockades in the future.

"Some provinces such as Alberta have adopted laws to protect critical infrastructure. B.C. hasn't," he said in a written response. 

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