The Europa 2 pulled into Nanaimo Harbour early Monday morning, as passengers prepared to disembark for adventures across central Vancouver Island. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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First cruise ship of 2025 arrives in Nanaimo

Apr 21, 2025 | 7:41 AM

NANAIMO — Cruise season has officially begun in the Harbour City.

The Europa 2, operated by German-based Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, docked in Nanaimo on Monday, April 21, where around 500 passengers prepared to disembark for adventures around central Vancouver Island.

It docked near downtown Nanaimo shortly after 7 a.m. with the city marking the northernmost point on the schedule for passengers on board.

The ship is currently operating on an 18-day circular route to and from Los Angeles, California, and will depart the Harbour City Monday evening and stop in Vancouver for two nights before heading south to Seattle, Santa Barbara and San Diego through the rest of April.

It left port in Los Angeles on April 13.

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Engagement manager with the Port of Nanaimo Kimberly Kelly said the mid-Island offers unique experiences for passengers looking for something a little different.

“When you go to Vancouver and you go to Victoria you go to an urban centre and there’s a lot to do and see, but when you come to Nanaimo, ten minutes in any direction and you’re completely immersed in nature, in culture, and in our downtown community which offers something different, and I think that’s what we’re hearing that cruise lines are looking for.”

A number of local businesses and community groups are poised to greet passengers at the cruise ship terminal.

Included is Red’s Bakery who said online they’ve been sampling different styles of Nanaimo bars to serve visitors as they disembark for their adventures in the city and elsewhere on central Vancouver Island.

Last year’s arrivals were met by local dignitaries, RCMP and tourism groups.

The vessel is expected to depart Monday evening around 6 p.m. for its short trek to Vancouver.

Hullo Ferries, which ordinarily uses the cruise ship dock for its operations, is leaving and arriving from nearby Cameron Island, next to the Gabriola Island BC Ferries terminal on Monday.

Monday’s arrival marks the first of four scheduled visits of cruise ships in 2025.

The Seabourn Quest, sister ship to the first cruise ship visit of 2024, will arrive May 15, followed by the Roald Amundsen on June 22.

Passengers leaving the Europa 2 cruise ship were greeted by a Mountie after docking in downtown Nanaimo Monday morning. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Cruise season will wrap in Nanaimo on Oct. 10 with the arrival of the Noordam, which boasts a passenger and crew capacity of around 2,800 people.

The arrivals in 2024 were the first since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three ships were due to visit a total of six times in 2020, however, travel restrictions cancelled the arrivals which were to start in May.

When the Port Authority dock opened in 2011, a goal was made of having 25-30 ships tie up annually in Nanaimo.

The Europa 2 sits docked at Nanaimo’s cruise ship terminal on Monday, April 21. Its sister ship visited in 2024. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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