National

2023 cruise ship season begins in B.C.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Apr, 2023 09:38 AM

VANCOUVER - Cruise ship season officially launches in British Columbia as the Sapphire Princess berths in Victoria for a one-day visit.

The vessel then travels to Vancouver to begin that city's season.

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority expects 330 ships between April and October, bringing at least 850,000 passengers to the capital.

The Port of Vancouver says 331 cruise ships are scheduled over the same period, potentially delivering more than one million visitors into the downtown core, with almost daily arrivals and departures at the height of the season between May and September.

Prince Rupert's cruise ship season doesn't start until May 3 with the arrival of the Carnival Miracle, but 43 more ships and nearly 80,000 passengers are scheduled to visit before the season ends at that north coast port in early October.

Cruise ships returned to British Columbia last year following a two-year, COVID-19 related break, with the Port of Vancouver saying it welcomed a record 307 ships, a seven per cent increase over visits in 2019.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Decriminalization starts as OD death data released

Health Canada approved B.C.'s application for decriminalization through an exemption from federal drug laws so people 18 and over could carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, as well as crack and powdered cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. Users will not be arrested or have their drugs seized by police in what is a three-year pilot project.

Decriminalization starts as OD death data released

Fraser Valley bus drivers give strike notice

The union has 213 members including drivers, utility workers, bus washers and mechanics. It says the two sides have engaged in more than 20 days of bargaining since talks began in late spring 2022.

Fraser Valley bus drivers give strike notice

Roller-coaster at West Edmonton Mall to be removed

The Mindbender was known as the world's tallest and longest indoor, triple-loop roller-coaster. In 1986, three people were killed on the roller-coaster, which forced the mall to shut it down for a year for safety modifications.

Roller-coaster at West Edmonton Mall to be removed

Federal departments failed to spend $38B last year

Canada rang up a $90.2 billion deficit — $23.6 billion less than had been projected in the budget. The unprecedented amount of lapsed funding, much of which has been returned to the federal treasury, has one observer suggesting it is a sign of long-standing challenges delivering on big federal projects for the country.

Federal departments failed to spend $38B last year

Add some Zoom to Nexus trusted travel: congressman

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), a frequent champion of streamlined travel between Canada and the United States, introduced legislation on Capitol Hill that, if passed, would require the Department of Homeland Security to deploy video conferencing to replace in-person interviews.

Add some Zoom to Nexus trusted travel: congressman

Parks Canada updating its reservation system

Parks Canada says in a statement that the bookings are a couple months later than recent years because the reservation system was getting outdated and needed some upgrades. The agency says the system will look different from the previous one, but it will offer the same features and functions.