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Cruise Season Begins on April 2 with the Arrival of the Mercury
April 01, 2008
The Port will welcome approximately 850,000 passengers on 252 sailings during the 2008 season, including the two largest cruise ships, the Diamond and Sapphire Princesses, who will continue to call on Vancouver throughout the season. These sister ships can carry more than 3200 passengers each.
“The VFPA is looking forward to another successful cruise season," said Gordon Houston, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA). “This season, we are working with our cruise industry stakeholders to incorporate environmental, social and economic sustainability objectives into all areas of our operations. Particular attention is being paid to the reduction of air emissions through various initiatives including the differentiated harbour dues program, salt water scrubber and shore power projects.”
The differentiated harbour dues program recognizes and acknowledges vessels that are working to reduce air emissions and technologies such as salt water scrubber and shore power will allow the cruise industry to reduce air emissions from vessels calling on the Port.
The season kicks into high gear on Friday, May 9, when the Norwegian Sun, Veendam, Golden Princess and the Celebrity Infinity call on Vancouver. Approximately 13,000 cruise passengers will be embarking or disembarking, marking the start of the peak cruise season.
Some of the changes to the 2008 season include the replacement of the Pacific Princess with the Tahitian Princess, Holland America Line is replacing the Zuiderdam with the Veendam, and Celerity Cruises is bringing the Millenium to replace its sister ship, the Summit. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises will bring the Seven Seas Mariner and the ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises will bring the Silver Shadow to Canada Place in 2008.
The VFPA continues to invest in terminal infrastructure to support world-class passenger operations. Cruise passenger surveys continue to rate the passenger experience in Vancouver cruise terminals as highly satisfactory.
This cruise season will also provide passengers with further efficiencies and an enhanced transit experience with the development and implementation of state-of-the-art interactive display screens inside the terminals. VFPA’s agreement with Destination Media LLC to develop and implement these displays, in conjunction with their popular Port of Call Alaska guidebook at Canada Place and Ballantyne terminals, will be available throughout the 2008 cruise season.
The cruise sector creates 13,500 jobs annually at the Port. Every time a Vancouver-based cruise ship sets sail from our harbour, it represents $2 million to the regional economy.