Vancouver to see high cruise passenger volumes over next two weekends in May

VANCOUVER, May 6 /CNW/ - Port Metro Vancouver will experience unusually high passenger volumes at its Canada Place cruise ship terminal over the next two weekends. This increased passenger traffic will lead to higher than normal vehicle traffic volumes in the downtown area and place significant demand on area taxis.

On Saturday, May 8th approximately 12,000 disembarking and embarking passengers will be moving through Canada Place. Similar numbers are expected to arrive and depart through the terminal on Friday, May 14th and Sunday, May 15th.

"Port and cruise terminal officials have met with City of Vancouver representatives, local taxi companies and other service providers to plan for the increased transportation demand on these three days," says Greg Wirtz, Manager of Trade Development for Port Metro Vancouver.

"We are also encouraging passengers who don't have advance arrangements, to consider using the Canada Line or SkyTrain transit systems whenever possible."

The high demand for taxis is due to the large number of independent travelers arriving on repositioning cruises. Repositioning cruises occur at the beginning and end of the Alaska cruise season when cruise lines relocate ships from and to their southern winter itineraries.

Additional staff will be on hand to help out with passenger enquiries, and additional Traffic Authority staff will also be present to direct traffic and manage pedestrian traffic at nearby crosswalks.

Outbound passengers are asked to arrive at Canada Place at their scheduled embarkation time, and to avoid early arrivals in order to help alleviate traffic and passenger congestion at the terminal.

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. Each cruise ship call in Vancouver contributes approximately $2 million to the local economy.

For further information: on Port Metro Vancouver, go to www.portmetrovancouver.com or contact: Communications and Government Affairs, Tel: [phone], Email: [email protected]