Vancouver cruising, Alaska, cruise ships, glaciers, itineraries


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Your Comprehensive Vancouver-Alaska Cruise Guide, 2012

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Zuiderdam & Sapphire Princess sail for Alaska
ms Zuiderdam and Sapphire Princess sail from Vancouver.

IMPORTANT UPDATE - This site is no longer being updated. After 12 years online, Cruise Watch Vancouver will be turned into an archive of information on the Alaska cruise seasons 1999-2012.

2012 Alaska Season Recap - Last year was a successful season for Vancouver. Here's the latest from Port Metro Vancouver, released in November, 2012:

"Between May and October 2012, Port Metro Vancouver’s two cruise terminals, at Canada Place and Ballantyne, welcomed 667,000 passengers on 28 different vessels with 191 cruise ship calls.

The 2012 season also marked another year with the award-winning shore power installation at Canada Place, the first of its kind in Canada. Shore power-equipped cruise ships can plug into the electrical grid and shut off their engines while in port to eliminate air emissions. During the cruise season, 60 vessels connected to the Port’s shore power facilities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2,266 tonnes.

Recently, Port Metro Vancouver was proud to be recognized by Cruise Insight Magazine Award with the “Best Turnaround Port Operations” (best home port). The awards are voted by cruise lines, with the Port candidates selected from a vast list of international cruise destinations.

For the upcoming 2013 cruise season, Port Metro Vancouver is anticipating an increase of more than 20% in cruise passengers in 2013, with more than 820,000 passengers expected to pass through the Port’s two cruise terminals.  The Port is also looking forward to welcoming four new vessels that will be homeported in Vancouver next year: the Disney Wonder, the Norwegian Sun, Oceania’s Regatta, and the Amsterdam.

Vancouver’s cruise industry is an important contributor to the region’s economy, generating more than $2 million in economic activity for every cruise ship call in Vancouver."

2012 Alaska Season Outlook ... A total of 191 cruise ships and approximately 670,000 passengers were expected to call at Vancouver for the 2012 season from April to October. 2012 will see the return of Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas Cruises for British Columbia/Alaska sailings from Vancouver.

Changes for 2012: Crystal Symphony called at Vancouver on April 29 during her Circle Pacific World Cruise but did not return for a full season of Alaska cruises. Oceania's Regatta will not be returning to Alaska until 2013.
Good news: Sapphire Princess will once again be homeporting in Vancouver this year instead of Seattle.

Canada Line Sky Train - Light rail airport service

2011 Alaska Season Recap ... The successful 2011 season is over with 663,425 passengers on 27 different vessels passing through Vancouver. This was a 15 % increase over 2010 with 199 cruise ship calls. The second full season of shore power saw 35 vessels connected to the award winning shore power facility at Canada Place, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,318 tonnes. Participating cruise lines are Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

Reasons to cruise to Alaska:

  • The dramatic mountains and fjords of the Inside Passage and Alaska provide one of the most scenic cruising areas in the world.
  • Since many towns can only be reached by boat or plane, cruising is the ideal way to reach these remote spots.
  • Ports of call provide the perfect jumping off point for adventures into the great Alaskan wilderness.
  • Alaska is one of the few places in the world where you can cruise close to spectacular, tidewater glaciers.
  • The peace and silence of Alaska make it a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
  • Embarking in Vancouver gives you the best cruising experience as you have a better chance of sailing the Inside Passage both north and south, surrounded by scenic beauty.

VANCOUVER CRUISE WATCH SITE INDEX 2012

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    • All content, photos and graphics are Copyright © Susan Milne, 1999-2012
    Additional photos Copyright © Julian Egelstaff, 2001.