The Greater Victoria Port Authority (GVHA) welcomed the first cruise ship of the season with the arrival of the Norwegian Bliss at Ogden Point in Victoria on April 3.
After Chief Councilor Jerome Thomas of the Xʷsepsəm Nation granted permission for the ship's crew and passengers to disembark, the traditional Lək̓ʷəŋən dancers welcomed the passengers.
“I am pleased to be here today to welcome the Norwegian Bliss to the traditional and unceded territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən People. I recently had the opportunity to participate in a cruise conference, and I am excited about the future opportunities for our members in this industry,” Thomas said.
“We join with local businesses and citizens to welcome the world to Victoria and experience its natural beauty and rich Lək̓ʷəŋən culture,” said Robert Lewis-Manning, CEO of GVHA.
“The economic benefit of the cruise industry to the region continues to grow, and we are encouraged by recent cases of cruise lines choosing Victoria not only as a tourist destination, but also as a location for maintenance and repair work.”
The Norwegian Bliss arrived in the district during its five-night Pacific Rim cruise from San Francisco to Victoria, which departed from San Francisco. After leaving Victoria, the ship headed to Vancouver, Canada, where it is scheduled to arrive on April 4.
“I welcome the Norwegian Bliss and all the ships, their crew and passengers who will be visiting our beautiful garden city this year,” said Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto.
“We are delighted to share our vibrant city center and hospitality and invite you to explore Victoria's city center shopping, dining experiences, historic landmarks and picturesque waterfront during your visit“.
The GVHA anticipates a total of 315 cruise ship calls and 910,000 visitors this cruise season. Two cruise ships will make their inaugural visit to Victoria this summer: the Explora I, on April 17, and the Celebrity Edge, on May 23.
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