Victoria, British Columbia has hit a cruise milestone. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority confirmed that more than one million cruise passengers have now come through the port this season — the first time the city has ever crossed the seven-figure mark in a single year.
It's not just about headcount, either. The 2026 season is on track for 332 cruise calls, topping the previous record of 329 set back in 2022. For comparison, 2025 brought 989,950 passengers, so the city has clearly taken another step up.
The season bookends nicely: it kicked off on April 10 with the arrival of the Holland America ship Nieuw Amsterdam, and wraps on October 18 when the National Geographic Venture makes the final call. The harbour authority marked the halfway-there moment — technically the millionth passenger arriving before the season's end — with a celebration at the cruise terminal alongside the Norwegian Encore, attended by Mayor Marianne Alto, Destination Greater Victoria's Paul Nursey and Melissa Barnhard of the Songhees Nation. A Norwegian Cruise Line couple onboard got the celebrity treatment: a gift basket of local products and a private VIP tour.
Part of the growth comes from new blood. Two cruise lines called at Victoria for the first time this year — Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises — and May alone brought six inaugural calls. Norwegian Cruise Line is doubling down for 2027, planning three ships in the port: the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy.
Why should this matter to anyone planning a trip? Victoria has quietly become one of the busiest cruise ports on the west coast, and it's easy to see why. Ships docking at the Ogden Point terminal are a short stroll or shuttle from the Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings, Butchart Gardens and the city's famously mild, walkable downtown. GVHA's CEO Jeremy Dunn made the point that for many visitors a cruise call is their first taste of Victoria — and plenty come back for a longer stay. If you're weighing an Alaska cruise (Victoria is a standard stop on many Seattle-departing itineraries), this record is a decent signal that the port is well set up for the crowds, and that you can expect a full day of sights within easy reach of the dock.
