Cruising Season

Yup, it’s that time of year. The cruising season is upon us here in Vancouver.

A cruise ship sails out of Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet, with Washington’s Mount Baker in the distance.

The first ship arrived on April 18, but the season didn’t really kick into high gear until this week with the arrival and departure of 13 ships in eight days. From now until the end of September, between five and seven ships will dock in Vancouver every week, with each ship staying just long enough to offload its passengers and get the next bunch safely on board.

It’s rush hour — three cruise ships leave Canada Place within an hour of each other.

A total of 17 cruise ships will be based in Vancouver this season, setting sail each week for Alaska. Their route takes them through the Inside Passage along BC’s coast. Later this afternoon, I’ll be boarding one of those ships, but my destination is nowhere near as exotic as Alaska. I’m headed south — to Seattle.

Holland America has five ships based in Vancouver this season.