Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and the most British city in Canada — a city of afternoon tea, double-decker buses, the famous Butchart Gardens, whale watching in the Salish Sea, and the incomparable Inner Harbour framed by the Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel. It appears as a final port call on some of the longer VV Alaska itineraries that finish in Seattle, and it is one of the most genuinely beautiful and pleasant port days in the entire North America network.
The Inner Harbour
Victoria’s Inner Harbour is the architectural centerpiece of the city — the 1897 Parliament Buildings lit at night with thousands of lights, the 1908 Fairmont Empress Hotel (where afternoon tea has been served since 1908), the Royal BC Museum directly adjacent, and the pedestrian waterfront walkway connecting them. Everything described above is within a 5-minute walk of the cruise ship dock at Ogden Point. Victoria is one of the most walkable port cities in the VV network.
The Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens, 21 kilometers north of downtown Victoria, is one of the most magnificent formal garden complexes in the world — 55 acres of sculpted gardens developed from an exhausted limestone quarry starting in 1904 by Jennie Butchart. The Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, and Italian Garden each have a distinctive character. In summer the gardens are illuminated at night and Saturday evenings have fireworks displays. VV Shore Things offers Butchart Gardens tours and it is consistently one of the most highly-rated Shore Things in the British Columbia network.
Whale Watching in the Salish Sea
The Salish Sea — the protected inland sea between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland — is home to three resident orca pods (the Southern Resident Killer Whales), transient orca, and humpback whales. Victoria has one of the highest concentrations of whale watching operators in the world and for good reason: the orca sightings from Victoria are among the most reliable anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. VV Shore Things offers small-boat whale watching tours that deliver close encounters with a frequency that earns Victoria its reputation.
Afternoon Tea at the Empress
Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel has been served since 1908 and the tradition shows no signs of diminishing — tiered trays of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and the finest tea service in western Canada in the hotel’s ornate lobby. It is expensive and thoroughly worthwhile.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- The Butchart Gardens and whale watching are the two can’t-miss Victoria Shore Things. Book both through VV Shore Things before sailing. The orca sightings from Victoria are the best in the VV network.
- The afternoon tea at the Empress is an experience not a meal. Book in advance — walk-in availability is limited and the tea room fills completely in summer.
- Victoria is extremely walkable from Ogden Point. The Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings, and the Royal BC Museum are all within a 15-minute walk. Rent a bike for the Waterfront Path to expand your radius.
Ready to Sail to Victoria?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. Victoria is one of the most beautiful and walkable port days in the VV network and a wonderful way to end an Alaska sailing.
Related Reading
Book your Virgin Voyages cruise at CruisePlanner.pro — and take afternoon tea in the most civilized city on the Pacific
