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Victoria — Ogden Point
Victoria is a favourite stop and the only port of call on Vancouver Island for large cruise lines carrying 1,000 to 2,000 people. Often docking in the morning and setting sail again that afternoon, cruise ships offer passengers the best part of the day in Victoria. Depending on the line and the class of service, shuttle buses are often provided for passengers wanting to disembark at Ogden Point and visit Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour and downtown. For passengers seeking a little adventure, tours are conveniently sold on board. Once the ship docks, no time is wasted as passengers head off to go whale watching or tour the city and its attractions.
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Victoria — Inner Harbour
Pocket cruise ships (those carrying 60 to 130 passengers) are small enough to dock right in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. World-class museums, monumental landmarks, attractions, whale watching and shopping are only steps away. Passengers can take advantage of any or all of these activities, or simply stroll the streets lined with flower baskets hanging from lamp posts and take in the charming atmosphere of the city.
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Nanaimo
Known as "The Harbour City", this is Vancouver Island’s second-largest city and is a hub for shopping, arts and culture and outdoor adventure. Nanaimo is a port of call for many pocket cruise ships. As in Victoria, a bustling harbour is the central focus for visitors. Passengers can stroll the four-kilometre Harbourside Walkway and, every day at noon during the summer, watch the cannon-firing ceremony complete with Scottish bagpipes and Highland dancing at the Bastion, a fortified tower erected on the waterfront in 1853. The Bastion is the oldest remaining structure of its type in North America and is one of the few Hudson's Bay Company bastions still standing. |
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Campbell River
On summer evenings, massive cruise ships pass between Campbell River and Quadra Island. The ships seem to appear out of nowhere and sail past fully lit: an awe-inspiring sight. For passengers disembarking at Campbell River, "the Salmon Capital of the World", numerous outdoor recreation opportunities await. Fishing, golf, diving, kayaking, wildlife watching, hiking and walking. Drop a line from the fishing pier in downtown Campbell River or browse the shops. Stroll along the four kilometre (2.5 mile) Rotary Seawalk along the shores of Discovery Passage and see the sculptures from the Transformations on the Shore carving contest. Visit the Campbell River Museum or take part in the Wonders of the Wild Celebration, with monthly activities pertaining to the bear, eagle, whale and salmon. Learn about local industries through visits to a pulp and paper mill, mine site or salmon hatchery.
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Alert Bay
Alert Bay is north Vancouver Island's oldest community and a popular stop for pocket cruise ships. The community is surrounded by pristine wilderness and its waters are home to killer whales and other marine life. Now a fishing village, Alert Bay was an important trading centre for early residents and is the traditional home of the Namgis First Nation. Alert Bay is home to the world's tallest totem pole (173 feet high, in two parts) and passengers can visit the U’mista Cultural Centre; a first-rate museum of native art and culture. During the summer season, a popular youth native dance troupe performs regularly in the community’s Big House for visiting cruise ship passengers. |
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