Vancouver

Yes. Unlike closed-loop Alaska cruises that round-trip from Seattle (where US citizens can sail on a birth certificate plus photo ID), any cruise embarking or disembarking in Vancouver crosses an international border — a valid passport book is required for all guests, including US and Canadian citizens. Passport cards and NEXUS cards are not accepted for cruise boarding here. Confirm your passport is valid through at least the end of your cruise; some lines require six months past the disembarkation date.

For the 2026 Alaska season: Holland America Line (the biggest operator, around 70 visits and 300,000 passengers — roughly a fifth of the terminal's traffic), Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Cunard, Disney (both Wonder and the newly-homeported Magic), Oceania, and first-timers Virgin Voyages and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority expects nearly 360 ship visits over the 2026 season.

Early May through early October, with the 2026 season running roughly May 1 to October 4. This window exists because Alaska's Inside Passage is only reliably navigable in those months — by mid-October the weather closes the season and Canada Place reverts to a convention center and locals' lunch spot. Peak pricing and full ships run mid-June through August; shoulder weeks in May and late September are the quieter calls.

Downtown Vancouver around Canada Place — Coal Harbour, Gastown, Robson Street, the West End, the seawall to Stanley Park — is safe day and night by any reasonable big-city standard. The exception is the Downtown Eastside, specifically East Hastings Street between roughly Carrall and Main, which has visible street disorder, open drug use, and tent encampments. It is not a place tourists wander into by accident; you'd have to walk past Gastown's eastern edge to find it. Stick to the waterfront, Robson, and the West End and you'll have no issues. Avoid East Hastings after dark even out of curiosity.

More than you'd expect for a cruise terminal. Gastown (cobblestones, the steam clock, dinner spots) is a 5-minute walk east. The Vancouver seawall starts at Canada Place and curves around Coal Harbour into Stanley Park — a flat, scenic 30-minute walk gets you to the park entrance, and the full Stanley Park loop is a 9 km / 5.5 mile bike ride or a long walk. Granville Island Public Market is a 10-minute Aquabus ferry from the south end of downtown (you'll need to taxi or walk to the Hornby Street dock first, about 20 minutes). The Vancouver Aquarium sits inside Stanley Park.

Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD). Cards work everywhere — contactless and chip-and-PIN are universal, including at Stanley Park kiosks, the SkyTrain ticket machines, and Granville Island stalls. Tipping at restaurants is 15–20% in Canada (closer to the US norm than European). US dollars are sometimes accepted at tourist spots near Canada Place but the exchange rate offered will be terrible — pay in CAD or by card. ATMs at any of the big-five banks (RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC) are everywhere downtown; decline the dynamic-currency-conversion offer at the machine.