Vancouver Experiences Boost in Cruise Passengers, Port Calls

The Port of Vancouver saw a record-high number of passengers and cruise ship calls this year, turning around four straight years of decline, the port said.

The port said an estimated 960,000 passengers passed through the port this year, a 14 percent increase over 2006, and the number of sailings was up by 8 percent, to 275.

“We are delighted to be able to report positive growth in our cruise sector,” said Gordon Houston, president and CEO of the Vancouver Port Authority, in a statement.

The port said that the passenger boost is mainly due to the Celebrity Mercury home-porting in Vancouver this year for its Alaska season, in addition to an overall growth in the British Columbia tourism industry.