The first of two cruise ships scheduled to visit Nanaimo this year landed passengers at the terminal this morning.

The MV Seabourn Odyssey, of Seabourn Cruise Lines, arrived in the Harbour City on Thursday, May 9, on its last leg of a cruise to Alaska.

The ship, which can accommodate about 450 passengers in 229 suites, was scheduled to stop for the day in Nanaimo and leave in the late afternoon.

Passengers disembarked for tours around Nanaimo and for excursions around the central Island, and many stopped to have their photos taken with RCMP Const. Erik Jakobson, who was on site to greet visitors as they came ashore.

The Seabourn Odyssey is the first cruise ship to visit Nanaimo since 2019 and the Port of Nanaimo, starting with a focus on attracting pocket cruise ships this year, hopes to develop the cruise ship trade further in coming years.

Oceania Cruises MS Regatta, which accommodates 830 passengers, is scheduled to arrive in August.

Ian Marr, Port of Nanaimo president and CEO, said in a press release that the port is excited about the return of cruise shipts to the harbour.

“This plays a huge role for tourism and the economic impact to our community, positioning Nanaimo as a key destination on the Pacific coast,” he said.

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