Port of Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal Information

Where is Port of Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal?  

Cruising into Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, on Canada's West Coast, is a spectacular experience. No wonder they call it the Royal City! Truth be told, the nicknames "Royal City" and "little England" come from the city's British roots, which you'll find evidence of in the downtown core and the inner harbour, all nearby where your cruise ship docks at Ogden Point.

By the way, the mountains you see across the water from Ogden Point are the Olympic Mountains, in Washington state. Situated at the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is geographically very close to the United States (don't be surprised if your cell phone thinks you've left Canada!).

The Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal is a major destination for cruise ships, as Ogden Point is a deep water port facility. The cruise ship terminal is considered an in transit port as presently no ships are home ported (embarked or disembarked) at this facility. Ogden Point was named after Peter Skene Ogden, who was a prominent figure for the Hudson's Bay Company.

It's a busy place in the summer: in 2012, there were 229 cruise ship calls scheduled, with an estimated 475,000 visitors cruising to Victoria. Pier A & Pier B each have two berths, however a maximum of three ships can be accommodated at any one time. Canada Customs facilities are located at each pier.

Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal has welcomed ships from a variety of cruise lines including Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises as well as Residensea. Every cruise ship calling at the Ogden Point terminal provides shore excursions for passengers including the Butchart Gardens, City Tours, Craigdarroch Castle, Pub Tours, Empress Hotel Afternoon Tea, Whale Watching and Horse Drawn Trolley tours.

The Ogden Point Breakwater, a popular walking spot for locals and visitors alike, is adorned by the Land and Sea Mural. Created to honour the traditions and history of the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations, the project transforms the breakwater into a stunning, enormous canvas. If you don't feel like taking a tour, or going into town, a leisurely stroll along the breakwater, followed by a coffee or a meal at the adjacent cafe, is a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. You can also take an oceanside walk to Mile Zero, or beyond to Beacon Hill Park.

During the cruise season, shuttle, bus, taxi and limousine services all meet cruise ships. Details are provided in this guide.

Additional Port of Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal information may be found by visiting their official website below.

• Official Port of Victoria Cruise Ship Terminal Website