Port of Victoria tops one million cruise passengers in 2026
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The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) announced that it surpassed one million cruise passengers in a single season for the first time, marking a historic record for the Canadian port. The 2026 season also set a new record for port calls, with 332 calls scheduled, surpassing the 329 recorded in 2022.
Season figures
In 2025 Victoria had welcomed 989,950 cruise passengers, a figure that was surpassed this year. The season began on April 10 with the arrival of the Nieuw Amsterdam and will close on Sunday, October 18, with a call by the National Geographic Venture. However, Cruise Mapper noted that at the start of the season GVHA had projected a total of 335 calls, a figure that differs from the 332 cited in the port's official statement.
During 2026, two cruise lines called at the port for the first time, Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises, as part of six inaugural calls made in May, which broadened the range of operators visiting Victoria.
Celebration at the port
GVHA celebrated the milestone with an event at the cruise terminal alongside the Norwegian Encore, attended by Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto; Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey; and Melissa Barnhard, of the Songhees Nation. Passengers Geri and Gary Skardina, of Norwegian Cruise Line, received a basket of local products and a private VIP tour for their group. GVHA CEO Jeremy Dunn noted that for many travelers a cruise call is their first encounter with Victoria and that they often return to further explore the city and the region.
Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed it will return in 2027 with three ships, the Norwegian Bliss, the Norwegian Encore and the Norwegian Joy. Marc Kazlauskas, the line's president, congratulated the port authority on the achievement and said the company looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the destination.
Final call of the season
According to Cruise Mapper, the National Geographic Venture, operated by Lindblad Expeditions, will make the final call at Ogden Point on October 18, after arriving from Seattle at 8:00 and departing at 23:00 bound for Alert Bay, British Columbia. The expedition vessel has an estimated capacity of 100 passengers.
