Victoria Approaches One Million Cruise Passengers in 2026
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority was preparing to recognize the seasonal milestone, subject to confirmation of passenger totals from weekend arrivals.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority was preparing to celebrate the arrival of Victoria’s millionth cruise passenger of 2026 after more than six months of cruise ship visits to Ogden Point.
The milestone was expected Tuesday with the arrival of Norwegian Encore at approximately 8:30 a.m. The authority planned a celebration for 10 a.m., but said the achievement remained subject to final confirmation while officials reviewed passenger numbers from weekend arrivals.
Norwegian Encore, which has an estimated passenger capacity of 3,998, was scheduled to depart Victoria at 4 p.m. If the authority’s projections held, 2026 would be the first season in which Victoria welcomed more than one million cruise passengers.
Victoria welcomed 989,950 cruise passengers aboard 310 ships in 2025. When the 2026 season began in April, the Harbour Authority projected approximately 1,008,109 passengers and 335 cruise ship arrivals during the year. The final number of ships that arrived had not yet been confirmed.
National Geographic Venture was scheduled to arrive Sunday as the final cruise ship of the season.