Port Metro Vancouver anticipates a busy 2011 cruise season with 200 calls and more than 650,000 passengers expected to arrive and depart from the Port’s two cruise terminals, Canada Place and Ballantyne.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming three new cruise lines to Vancouver in 2011, including the Disney Wonder, Oceania’s Regatta, and the Crystal Symphony,” said Port Metro Vancouver’s President and CEO, Robin Silvester. “We also anticipate a significantly reduced carbon footprint as a result of shore power at Canada Place, as cruise ships can plug-in and shut off their engines at our Port.”

Cruise ship passengers sailing from Port Metro Vancouver can expect award winning customer service, a selection of premier cruise lines, and spectacular scenery through the Inside Passage to Alaska. Canada’s Inside Passage route is an experience uniquely available to those who sail from Vancouver.

The first cruise ship of the 2011 cruise season, the Crystal Symphony, will arrive at Canada Place on April 17 at approximately 7:00 am.

Crystal Cruises’ President, Gregg Michel, expressed the luxury cruise line’s enthusiasm: “At Crystal, we always love to lead the way.  So, we are thrilled to not only be the first ship calling at beautiful Vancouver this season, but also thrilled to be returning to a Pacific-Alaskan itinerary along the Canada/U.S. west coast for the first time since 2005.”

Port Metro Vancouver has been internationally recognized with a number of awards and accolades, including the Berlitz “Most passenger friendly port in North America” award, Dream World Cruise Destinations magazine’s “Best Turnaround Port Operations” award, and “Best Turnaround Destination” award.

Each cruise ship home ported call in Vancouver contributes approximately $2 million to the local economy. Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s largest and North America’s most diversified port, trading $75 billion in goods with more than 160 trading economies annually.