47,000 cruise ship passengers expected in downtown Vancouver this weekend | Daily Hive

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Downtown Vancouver will be busier than usual this weekend, with what is expected to be the busiest weekend for cruise ship activity of the 2025 season.

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has indicated that they are expecting about 47,000 cruise ship passengers to stream through the Canada Place cruise ship terminal over the four-day weekend period between Friday, June 27 and Monday, June 30, leading into Canada Day on Tuesday, July 1.

Expect the arrival of the Radiance of the Seas, Seabourn Quest, and Norwegian Sun on June 27, Sapphire Princess and Koningsdam on June 28, Celebrity Solstice, Serenade of the Seas, and Nieuw Amsterdam on June 29, and Norwegian Jade, Villa Vie Odyssey, and Disney Wonder on June 30. Then on July 1, the Grand Princess and Villa Vie Odyssey will arrive.

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As usual, the port authority is advising the public to anticipate higher pedestrian and vehicle traffic volumes in the area, as well as longer wait times for taxis, ride-hailing, and public transit.

Changes to Canada Place Way vehicle pattern starting this weekend

There will also be some changes to the area’s road traffic pattern starting this weekend. In April, the City of Vancouver began the pilot project of implementing a one-way westbound traffic direction on Canada Place Way, with vehicles entering from Howe Street and exiting onto Burrard Street.

Overall, this trial configuration will continue through December 2025. However, changes will take effect starting this weekend, with the re-establishment of two-way traffic on the short segment of Howe Street between West Cordova Street and the Canada Place terminal and parkade’s underground entrance.

canada place way traffic changes june 2025

Canada Place Way traffic changes starting in late June 2025, with the re-establishment of two-way traffic on Howe Street between West Cordova Street and the Canada Place terminal/parkade entrance. (City of Vancouver)

The 2025 cruise ship season in Vancouver officially began in early March with the arrival of the Disney Wonder, but the pace of activity did not truly pick up until beginning in late April, with at least one cruise ship berthing at Canada Place on most days and multiple ships on many days through the end of the season in late October.

At least 35,000 passengers are expected every four-day weekend period between Friday and Monday from May 5 to Sept. 22.

The port authority is anticipating a strong year with about 1.2 million cruise ship passengers on over 300 ship calls. The ships provide the local economy with major spinoffs, including spending on retail, restaurants, hotels, entertainment, and services in downtown Vancouver, as well as goods from local suppliers during stopovers.

Then, on July 1, Canada Place Way will play host to a part of the port authority’s Canada Day public festival, Canada Together, with a main stage for live performances, food trucks, and much more.

From July 3 to 6, Vancouver will play host to its largest convention yet, when it hosts the global Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) convention at Vancouver Convention Center and BC Place Stadium. Local tourism officials expect about 35,000 attendees.

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