Cruise ship business up sharply with more than 200 calls for 2011
Disney's arrival in Vancouver is most promising development, port off cial says
BY BRIAN MORTON, VANCOUVER SUN JANUARY 21, 2011 5:42
Sue Kafika is the vice-president of sales and marketing for the Capilano Suspension Bridge, where they expect to reap the benefits of increased tourist tra c from the cruise ship industry in the form of more visitors.
Photograph by: Jason Payne, Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Sun
2011 is shaping up as an excellent year for Vancouver's cruise ship industry, with overall business expected to climb more than 15 per cent over last year.
And for much of that, the city can thank Mickey Mouse.
"The numbers are pretty strong," Greg Wirtz, manager of trade development for Port Metro Vancouver, said in an interview Thursday. "The total impact [for the city] is approximately $1 billion. It's a huge economic generator."
He said there were 177 cruise vessel calls in Vancouver in 2010 and that, so far, the cruise schedule for 2011 shows 200 calls -- a number that will likely rise.
Wirtz said the biggest development this year is the introduction of Disney Cruises' ship Disney Wonder to the Alaska cruise market, which arrives in Vancouver May 3 and will make a total of 18 calls to the city by September.
"It [the Disney Wonder] will be in the order of $40 million-plus in economic impact [on Vancouver]," he said.
Companies that benefit from cruise customers are looking forward to the potential new business coming their way.
"We do very well from visitors to the city from cruise ships," Sue Kaffka, vice-president of sales and marketing for Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, said in an interview. "Any new ship in town is a positive for us."
Kaffka said she's particularly keen about the Disney Wonder coming to Vancouver. "We're a family attraction, so we expect we'll have more visitors.
"And Tourism Vancouver works hard with the cruise companies to make sure passengers know the benefits of staying an extra day."
Wirtz said the Disney Wonder carries about 2,500 passengers and that all ships should be fully booked.
But Wirtz said the new ship also represents a fresh cruise market for the city.
"This is the most positive development in our growth for this year. It's the first time a product coming here is specifically oriented to families."
Wirtz said the ship will be in Vancouver every Tuesday and that about 5,000 people will be processed through the port each time -2,500 disembarking and 2,500 other passengers arriving for their trip.
Wirtz also cited another new line that will stop in Vancouver this year -- Oceana Cruises' Regatta, which carries about 700 passengers.
"It will do 11 calls [in Vancouver] this season. It's a smaller ship, but a new luxury product."
Wirtz said Crystal Cruises' Symphony, homeported in San Francisco, will return to Vancouver this year for nine calls.
Wirtz said the number of cruise ship calls to Vancouver dropped sharply last year when the Alaska government initiated a $50 per person tax on passengers. That's been reduced this year, he said, to $19.50 per passenger.
Donna Spalding, director of administration for North West & Canada Cruise Association, an industry association that represents 10 member cruise lines, said in an interview that 14 ships will call in Vancouver this year, up from 12 in 2010.
"I think it bodes well for the city," she said. "This year we'll see an increase in passenger and ship calls. We're hopeful that the curve will continue."
bmorton@vancouversun.com
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