After COVID-19 closed cruising for two years, the Prince Rupert Port Authority this month announced that cruise ships are returning to the Northland Terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert this summer.
The 2022 cruise season is expected to include 26 cruise vessels with about 14,010 passengers traveling between May and September, according to the port authority.
Cruising is a significant industry at Prince Rupert: between 2004 to 2019, cruising brought about 655,000 passengers and an estimated direct economic impact of more than $50 million.
“PRPA and our partners are looking forward to safely welcoming back cruise passengers to Prince Rupert after a de-stabilizing couple of years in the tourism industry,” Prince Rupert Port Authority President and CEO Shaun Stevenson said. “Cruise has historically played a pivotal role in the local economy and it is our hope that the 2022 summer season marks the return of a vibrant local tourism sector, with the opportunity to increase its strength in the future.”
The authority teamed up with cruise operators, the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, the Canadian government and various stakeholders to ensure health safety on cruises, including vaccine mandates for crews and passengers, passenger screening and testing requirements.
“As the only port-of-call in Canada [for the ships on the 2022 itinerary], Prince Rupert offers passengers a unique glimpse into the wild Canadian landscape and our friendly small towns,” said Ceilidh Marlow, executive director of Tourism Prince Rupert. “We are working closely with PRPA to prepare for the upcoming season and are actively searching for new tour operators or businesses interested in offering an experience for cruise passengers.”
