MORE ON THE HORIZON Victoria welcomes big ships
Posted on 05/20/2016 | About Vancouver, British Columbia
The trend of the ever expanding cruise ship undoubtedly benefits Victoria’s Ogden Point. The island welcomed the largest ship to dock at the port when Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas sailed in with more than 3,000 passengers this week. This is a first for the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, but the first of many more to come.
Ian Roberston, CEO of the GVHA said, “Victoria is very well positioned to welcome these larger ships. Adjustments were made to our pier a number of years ago to be able to accommodate the larger ships.”
And, because these behemoths are too tall to sail under Vancouver’s Lion’s Gate Bridge, Victoria can maximize its opportunities.
Robertson said, “Vancouver and Seattle will always continue to be premiere destinations and premiere homeports and this is not about trying to unseat either Vancouver or Seattle. It’s really about giving the cruise lines other options to home port,” he says. “Both ports are becoming challenged in terms of their capacity and Victoria is very well positioned.”
Victoria is Canada’s busiest port of call, expecting 227 ships and over 500,000 passengers this season, injecting about $100 million into the economy. But there are significant financial benefits to becoming a homeport, and the city is encouraging that option, with positive feedback from the cruise industry.
“The cruise lines like coming to Victoria, the crews give us excellent ratings, so do the passengers and that’s very important,” Robertson adds. “What’s also important to the cruise lines is that there are enough activities here in Victoria for people to take part in and there are various types of activities that are available.”
Homeports enjoy the economic rewards of tourists who come in a few days before a cruise, or stay for a few days after. They also provide supplies for each new sailing.
“In a survey we conducted of passengers that were leaving Victoria to get back on their cruise ship last year, over 70 percent of them said that they would make a plan to return to Victoria in the next three to five years.”
Robertson indicated that this is a process. “We’ve said in our business plan that we wish to become a home port by 2020. It’s a very ambitious goal but I believe it’s very achievable.”
Explorer of the Seas is considered the largest ship on the west coast and is expected to call on Victoria 20 more times this season.
