Cruises From Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver’s ethnically diverse culture shines through in its multicultural cuisine. A flavorful fusion of African/Indian, Greek/Italian, and Mediterranean/French, as well as fresh seafood, can be found on nearly every menu. 

Chefs come to Vancouver from all around the globe, and each brings his or her own culinary heritage and tradition to the fresh seafood and bold flavors of Vancouver’s traditional West Coast cuisine, creating a uniquely flavorful blend that makes Vancouver cuisine renowned around the world.

Granville Island Public Market

At the Granville Island Public Market, you’ll find delightful delicacies of all kinds. Pick and choose delicious items from popular spots like Oyama Sausage Co, featuring mouthwatering salami and cheese selections; Terra Bread, with fresh-made baguettes; or doughnuts at Lee’s. Visit these delicious vendors and hand-select all your favorite items to create the ultimate waterfront picnic.

Forage

Head to eco-friendly Forage, which serves locally-farmed menu items and boasts a zero-landfill waste record. The sincere hospitality and top-notch service are noteworthy here. Try the Turtle Valley Bison sirloin or the Whittaker’s nettle farro grain risotto.

Hawksworth Restaurant

If you’re looking for fine dining in Vancouver, dress up and go to chef David Hawksworth’s white tablecloth and crystal chandelier restaurant, Hawksworth. Serving expertly and effortlessly delectable West Coast cuisine fused with Asian flavors and a modern twist, Hawksworth is a dining experience all on its own.

The city of Vancouver was first inhabited by several Native Canadian tribes. Around the late 1850s, Europeans started moving into the area after the establishment of the town of New Westminster. After gold was discovered in the banks of the Fraser River in 1858, tens of thousands of gold prospectors came to the area. It wasn’t until 1886 that the city of Vancouver was incorporated. It took its name from British explorer George Vancouver, who discovered the area back in 1792. Only a few weeks after its incorporation, the city of Vancouver was burnt down by a brush fire, but was immediately rebuilt.

With the introduction of the California Pacific Railway and the opening of the Panama Canal, Vancouver became a major exporter of grain and lumber and positioned itself as a major economic hub in Canada. It is one of the largest and most populous cities in the country and is known for its diverse community of immigrants. Many art and cultural festivals are held in the city throughout the year, including the Chinese New Year Parade, the Eastside Cultural Crawl, and the annual Jazz Festival. Today, Vancouver’s economy is mainly run by forestry, tourism, oil refining, and mining.

The Canada Place cruise ship terminal is located in Vancouver’s downtown area, where you’ll find the Pacific Centre Mall and Robson Street, which is full of stylish boutiques. It wouldn’t be a true visit to Canada without a stop in the local favorite department store, the Hudson’s Bay Company, where you’ll find everything from clothes and shoes to jewelry, make-up, home décor, and more. While in Gastown, you can look for unique and authentic pieces of Northwest Coast Native and Inuit art at the Inuit Gallery.

The currency in Vancouver is the Canadian dollar. Although there is no foreign exchange service at the cruise terminal, you will find several ATM machines. There are exchange services throughout downtown Vancouver, as well as ATMs in hotels, banks, drug stores, and other venues. Canadian restaurants seldom include gratuities in the bill, and it is customary to tip an additional 15% to 20% of the total bill before tax.