The Alaska and  British Columbia cruise sector continues to evolve. Key factors to watch are the strength of the United States economy and whether the Eurozone economies flirt with recession. However, Port Metro Vancouver is expecting a surge in cruise traffic in 2013 with passenger volumes expected to increase by 20% to at least 800,000 cruise passengers up from 670,000 in 2012. Higher passenger volumes are coming from larger ships and additional ship visits. 2012 is expected to see 190 calls and there will be 30 more in 2013.

 

British Columbia Cruise Research

The chart in the attached analysis summarizes the cruise capacity that is deployed by the members of the Cruise Lines International Association in the Top 6 markets. The chart clearly shows that since the 2008 recession cruise lines have allocated ship capacity away from the West Coast of North America (Alaska through to Western Mexico).

The research material prepared by Darryl Anderson reveals the impact of cruise line decisions regarding where to deploy their vessels. They show the trend in terms of the number of vessel calls and passenger traffic volume for the homeports of Vancouver, Seattle and California (Los Angeles, San Diego & San Francisco), and British Columbia’s ports of call. It remains to be seen how long it will take for the volume of cruise traffic on the West Coast of North America to bounce back to previous levels.