Victoria’s Harbour Just Crossed a Million Cruise Passengers for the First Time

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has passed one million cruise passengers in a single season for the first time, and the 2026 season has also set a record for cruise calls. The authority expects 332 calls this year, beating the previous high of 329 set in 2022. The season began on 10 April with the Nieuw Amsterdam and will end on Sunday, 18 October, when the National Geographic Venture makes the final call.

The milestone has a clear baseline. In 2025 Victoria welcomed 989,950 cruise passengers, so this year’s record builds on a number already close to the million mark. The authority marked the occasion with an event at the cruise terminal beside Norwegian Encore, attended by Mayor Marianne Alto, Paul Nursey of Destination Greater Victoria and Melissa Barnhard of the Songhees Nation. Norwegian passengers Geri and Gary Skardina received a gift basket of local products and a private VIP tour.

There were new faces in port, too. Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises called at Victoria for the first time this year, and the harbour authority welcomed six inaugural calls in May. Chief executive Jeremy Dunn said that for many visitors a cruise call is their first introduction to Victoria, and that many return to explore the city and region. That first-impression effect is a large part of why ports like Victoria court cruise lines.

Looking ahead, Norwegian Cruise Line will return in 2027 with three ships: Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy. NCL president Marc Kazlauskas said the company looks forward to continuing the partnership. For travellers, the takeaway is that Victoria remains a fixture on Pacific Northwest cruise itineraries, and anyone building a trip around the port can expect continued ship traffic when the next season opens.

Sources: Cruise Industry News