Canada Place terminal’s 2015 cruise season began in late March with the arrival of Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess. The ship will depart the Vancouver, British Columbia, cruise terminal for Hawaiian itineraries this season, but other ships will soon be departing for cooler regions. On April 29, Vancouver will start servicing the dozens of very popular summer itineraries to Alaska.
Serving as both an embarkation port for many itineraries, and a port of call for others, the city of Vancouver is an exciting place to explore, whether one has several days or just a few hours to spend.
Once little more than a remote village saloon for lonely lumberjacks, today’s Vancouver is a startlingly cosmopolitan place. The city is a true melting pot, with more than one-third of the city’s residents born abroad. Due to its large immigrant population, visitors here will find an amazing variety of excellent ethnic restaurants, as well as the arts and crafts of many cultures.
Cruisers stopping in Vancouver will appreciate how easy it is to navigate, especially via the city’s well-developed public-transit system. It’s only a short 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal to explore the heart of Vancouver’s old town, with its historic Gastown and bustling Chinatown nearby. Vancouver also boasts a wide variety of galleries, museums, and boutiques. For the best local artisanal wares, visitors should head to Granville Island.
Those who enjoy the great outdoors will have little trouble finding something to do here. One of Vancouver’s main tourist destinations, the immense Stanley Park contains 1,000 acres of trail-crossed forest and several major attractions, including the Vancouver Aquarium. A serene Chinese garden has long drawn mystics and nature-lovers to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen in Vancouver’s Chinatown. For a spectacular view of the entire landscape, visitors flock to the Sky Ride tram at Grouse Mountain.
Of course, Vancouver has countless other sights and experiences to offer cruisers. Travelers should be sure to do a little advance planning or sign up for a shore excursion tour to get the most out of their stay in this beautiful, sophisticated city.
