The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) has hosted six inaugural cruise calls in May, capping the series with the arrival of the Azamara Pursuit at the Ogden Point cruise terminal, according to the organization.

“For GVHA, inaugural calls are an opportunity to introduce Indigenous history and culture to our cruise line partners, and we’ve found that both crew and guests appreciate it,” said Carmen Ortega, GVHA’s director of cruise and port development.

The six ships to make inaugural calls have been the Voyager of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), Star Princess (Princess Cruises), Brilliant Lady (Virgin Voyages), Silver Nova (Silversea Cruises), MSC Poesia and the Azamara Pursuit.

The MSC Poesia and Brilliant Lady visits marked their first-ever calls to Victoria as cruise lines, according to GVHA.

As previously reported by Cruise Industry News, the Star Princess, Brilliant Lady and Silver Nova had made their inaugural calls in early May.

Traditional dancers from Victoria’s two First Nations performed during the new welcome ceremonies, as well as being celebrated with poetry by Victoria youth poet laureate, Shauntelle Dick-Charleson (pictured), who recited a newly commissioned poem, named ‘Welcome to the homelands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən people.’