Kids may be back in school, but summer isn’t over on Vancouver Island.
Cruise ships are still sailing into Victoria’s Ogden Point and a new report has just named the city the top cruise port in North America.
Research by travel insurance experts at Compare the Market ranked the continent’s busiest cruise destinations, and Victoria took the top spot ahead of Quebec, Vancouver, and several major US ports.
The study examined passenger numbers, visitor reviews, activities, weather conditions, and costs to identify the top cruise destinations on the continent. Victoria took first place with an overall index score of 6.51 out of 10.
Why Victoria stands out
In 2024, Victoria welcomed nearly one million passengers, showing its increasing popularity with international cruise lines.
Visitors rated the port highly, giving it a review score of 4.4 out of 5. Researchers found that the city offers 78.1 activities for every 100,000 visitors, including whale watching and historic sites like the Inner Harbour and Butchart Gardens.
Other factors that helped Victoria achieve this top ranking include:
- Average visibility of 36 km, which provides scenic sailing conditions
- Average wind speed of 17 km/h, which is favorable for docking and excursions
- Average cost of imported beer at $9 Canadian, making Victoria more affordable compared to other destinations
Related: First week of September brings over 36,000 cruise passengers to Victoria
Canada dominates the rankings
Victoria is not alone in its success. Quebec ranked second overall, noted for its visitor satisfaction with a review score of 4.7 out of 5.
Vancouver came in third with nearly 900,000 passengers each year and a strong selection of activities. Halifax and Saint John also made the top 20, which means five Canadian cruise ports appeared in the continental rankings.
US ports in the mix
Ports like Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles also ranked highly, with Portland standing out for its large number of activities per visitor, however, Canadian destinations led overall.
The full dataset, including global rankings, can be found in Compare the Market’s report here.
As students return to school, Ogden Point will be buzzing this week as thousands of passengers arrive aboard some of the world’s largest vessels.
According to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, in total, 12 cruise ships will port in Victoria this week, bringing 36,808 passengers to the city over the next seven days.
