The Canada Place cruise ship terminal in Downtown Vancouver welcomed Princess Cruises’ Star Princess at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, marking the arrival of the largest cruise ship ever to visit the city.
Dimensions and Clearance Tides for Star Princess
Star Princess measures 1,133 feet (345 metres) long, 155 feet (47 metres) wide, and features 20 decks with a gross tonnage (GT) of 177,882. The vessel has a capacity for 4,300 passengers and more than 1,500 crew members. Its arrival and subsequent departure at 1 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, were timed to coincide with low tide, which allowed the ship to safely clear the Lions Gate Bridge.
Comparison With Previous Vancouver Size Records
With its 177,882 GT, Star Princess eclipses Vancouver’s former record-holding cruise ships. The previous benchmarks were set by Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore at 169,116 GT, which first visited Canada Place in 2023, and Norwegian Bliss at 168,028 GT, which debuted in Vancouver in 2018. When Norwegian Bliss first arrived, it ranked as the ninth largest cruise ship globally, though subsequent launches have pushed it to 36th. Currently, Star Princess holds the rank of the 25th largest cruise ship in the world, while Norwegian Encore sits at 32nd. Like several newer large vessels, Star Princess runs on lower-emission liquid natural gas (LNG).
Itinerary Details Following Vancouver Departure
After leaving Vancouver’s Canada Place, Star Princess stopped in Victoria before pressing onward to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and the Panama Canal. The ship typically homeports in Seattle during the Alaska cruise season, alongside Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss, making occasional Pacific Northwest stops at the beginning or end of repositioning itineraries heading toward the Caribbean. Norwegian Bliss made a single visit to Vancouver in April 2026.
Busiest Cruise Season on Record for Vancouver
The port authority characterized 2026 as a banner year driven by record passenger volumes, with the season kicking off early on Feb. 26 via the Disney Wonder. Total passenger numbers are projected to exceed 1.4 million in 2026, beating the previous high of 1.32 million set in 2023 and outperforming the 1.2 million recorded in 2025. Peak season metrics between May and September saw between 40,000 and 50,000 passengers move through Canada Place over each four-day weekend period, peaking at 56,000 on the busiest weekends. July 2026 established an all-time monthly record of 290,000 passengers. Port projections anticipate nearly 360 total ship visits for 2026, up from 290 visits in 2019, 331 in 2023, 327 in 2024, and 301 in 2025.
Remaining Schedule for the 2026 Vancouver Cruise Season
Following the departure of Star Princess, five additional cruise ship visits remain on the calendar before the 2026 season officially concludes on Tuesday, Oct. 13, with the departure of Norwegian Encore. Its slightly smaller sister ship, Norwegian Joy, which has a gross tonnage of 167,725, is scheduled to dock at Canada Place on Thursday, Oct. 1. The 2026 season also featured several notable terminal firsts, including inaugural visits by Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Luminara. Meanwhile, Disney Magic made its first visit and homeported in Vancouver for the full season, effectively doubling Disney Cruise Line’s long seasonal footprint alongside the regular Disney Wonder.
Terminal Operations and Scheduling Facts
- Arrival Time: Star Princess docked at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
- Departure Time: The ship departed at 1:00 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026.
- Bridge Clearance: Both movements required low tide scheduling to safely clear the Lions Gate Bridge.
- Passenger Capacity: The vessel accommodates 4,300 guests and over 1,500 crew across 20 decks.
Common Questions About the Star Princess Visit
Why did Star Princess arrive and depart during early morning hours?
The ship’s movements were timed to coincide with low tide to ensure safe clearance beneath the Lions Gate Bridge.
How does Star Princess compare in size to previous Vancouver visitors?
At 177,882 gross tons, Star Princess surpasses the previous record-holders, Norwegian Encore (169,116 GT) and Norwegian Bliss (168,028 GT).
What are the final dates for Vancouver’s 2026 cruise season?
The season runs until Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, closing with the departure of the Norwegian Encore.
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