Victoria’s cruise industry has reached a milestone years in the making, welcoming more than one million passengers in a single season for the first time as ship visits also hit a record high. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) celebrated the achievement Tuesday at Ogden Point, where Norwegian Encore was docked for an event recognizing the season’s growth. For CEO Jeremy Dunn, the milestone reflects the growing appeal of Victoria as a destination on Alaska cruise itineraries, with visitors increasingly eager to spend time in the capital city. “Alaska still seems to be a demand product,” Dunn said. “And what we’re hearing from passengers is they want more and more Victoria in their trips.” Dunn said visitor feedback has reinforced that demand, with surveys showing passengers overwhelmingly enjoy their time in the city. “We’re hoping that translates into more visitors in the future and longer stays,” he said. The impact extends beyond the waterfront, supporting excursion operators, terminal employees and businesses throughout the region. Dunn said the momentous occasion is an opportunity to recognize the many people who help make each visit memorable. “It really is quite an event to celebrate,” he said. “It’s the hard work of the terminal folks. It’s the hard work of the tourism business and of the community that welcomes its people.” But continued growth also brings questions about the infrastructure needed to support the harbour. Dunn said some of the facilities date back more than a century and need updates to keep pace with changing demands. “If you look at the start, a lot of these pieces were built in 1907 and later, and so they really require reinvestment,” he said. GVHA expects 332 cruise ship calls in 2026, surpassing the previous record of 329 set in 2022. Passenger numbers have also climbed in recent years. Victoria welcomed 989,950 cruise passengers in 2025, 972,268 in 2024, 970,000 in 2023 and 715,829 in 2022. The season began April 10 with the arrival of Nieuw Amsterdam and introduced two cruise lines to Victoria for the first time: Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises. Six ships also made inaugural calls in May. The final visit of the season is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, when National Geographic Venture arrives in Victoria. A surprise for two returning visitors While the milestone represents a major achievement for the industry, it also created an unexpected moment for two passengers who visited Victoria for he first time in 1985. Geri Skardina, 74, and her husband, Gary, 76, were aboard Norwegian Encore when they learned they had been selected for recognition after the city passed the one million passenger mark over the weekend. The couple, who live in Hermosa Beach, Calif., received a basket of local products and a private VIP tour for their party. Their reaction was immediate. “I was just grateful that we’re 999,999 and to the other people who came here prior to us so that we could enjoy this in such a beautiful place,” Gary said. The retired couple have visited Victoria several times over the years, with the waterfront and local hospitality among their favourite features. “The people are lovely. And those gardens. We love it,” Geri said. For Gary, the trip also comes with a musical connection that few cruise passengers can claim. Before retiring, he spent 29 years working in the recording industry in Hollywood, moving from building a recording studio to engineering, producing records and songwriting. His credits include work on Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls”, Phil Collins “Against all Odds” and the Pointer Sisters’ hit “Jump (For My Love),” which he co-produced and engineered. “That was the biggest one,” he said. When asked about the song’s success, Gary offered a practical answer about how it continues to benefit him. “You know what that did was it helped me pay for my cruising.” The couple said they keep returning to Norwegian Cruise Line because of the people they have met and the service they receive aboard its ships. “The captain, Joel and Igor and just all the people are awesome, they call us family,” Geri said. Geri and Gary were planning to make the most of their day in Victoria, with another tour on the agenda before returning to the ship. Their enthusiasm reflects the kind of visitor experience Dunn hopes will encourage more travellers to return to the region. As Victoria wraps up its busiest cruise season on record, the milestone offers a moment to celebrate the people and businesses behind the visitor experience, while underscoring the need to maintain the harbour infrastructure that makes those visits possible.
