photo: Harbour Cruises
Welcome to Inside Vancouver’s new “Featured Attraction” series. Each Monday we’ll be featuring a different Vancouver attraction, and will be giving away free tickets to our readers. To be eligible you just need to post a comment.
The Carol Ships ‘Parade of Lights’ began over 50 years ago with just one boat decorated with Christmas lights in Coal Harbour. Harbour Cruises is proud to continue this tradition with their decorated vessels throughout the winter season.
The Parade is a flotilla of brightly coloured vessels, lit up on the outside and decorated in their Christmas best on the inside. This holiday tradition features a combination of decorated private and public vessels. This is the only time of year that vessels are allowed to display coloured exterior lighting.
Participating vessels meet at Canada Place around 7:00 p.m. before setting off in Parade formation on the night’s designated route. Routes include journeys into False Creek, past North and West Vancouver, into Deep Cove or up to Port Moody.
Perfect for family celebrations, office parties or other small group events, Harbour Cruises offers a great way to celebrate the festive season in beautiful Vancouver!
Carol Ship Dinner Cruises – A Unique Vancouver Tradition! Join Harbour Cruises this holiday season as the local waters of Vancouver come alive with light! Sing Christmas Carols or dance the night away on one of Harbour Cruises’ fabulous boats as part of the Carol Ships Parade of Lights Festival.
Vancouver’s Most Festive Carol Ships – Harbour Cruises offers the most extensive and festive selection of Carol Ship departures in Vancouver. They are proud to continue their tradition of providing live Christmas Carollers to lead you in all the Yuletide favourites. Song sheets are provided for you to sing along at your table. Feast on professionally catered holiday menus exclusively available to Harbour Cruises & Events. No matter which boat you are on, you’ll find it decorated from bow to stern with Christmas cheer.
Carol Ship Dinner Cruises 2011
Sunday through Thursday Evenings
December 4th to 8th, 11thto 15th & 18th to 22nd
*2.5 hour cruise with traditional Christmas dinner buffet and live carollers on board.*
Weekend Dinner & Dance Carol Ships Cruises 2011
Friday & Saturday Evenings
December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 & 23
*4 hour cruise with traditional Christmas dinner buffet, live carollers and DJ for dancing.*
photo: Harbour Cruises
Contact Information:
Harbour Cruises Marina
501 Denman Street
Vancouver, BC V6G2W9
p: 604.688.7246
w: www.boatcruises.com
Directions:
Harbour Cruises is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, and is easily accessible by car or public transit. For more information on directions to Harbour Cruises Marina, please click here.
| We are giving away Two (2) tickets for a Carol Ship Dinner Cruise for the 2011 holiday season. To be eligible, all you have to do is post a comment below. We’ll randomly select a winner on Friday and notify them by email |
Updated December 9th: Congratulations to Ritchie who is the winner of two (2) tickets for a Carol Ship Dinner Cruise with Harbour Cruises!
11:14 am
Sounds like an amazing way to celebrate the Christmas season!
9:58 pm
I like floating. And free tickets
11:15 am
I’m new to Vancouver and would love the chance to go on this cruise for free!
11:16 am
Looks like a fun time
11:16 am
Something I’ve always wanted to go to but have never had the opportunity. Thank you
11:16 am
Would love to see Vancouver’s Christmas lights from a Harbour Cruise, hope you pick me!
11:16 am
i’d love to experience this holiday romantic evening with my husband.
also i’d be very thank ful
11:16 am
Great recommendation! Looks very romantic =D
11:16 am
Never tried it before, looks fun!
11:19 am
Awesome!
11:19 am
Have a new baby boy that loves any kind of lights!! He would love this!!
Merry Christmas everyone!!
9:03 am
Sounds like an awesome way to celebrate Christmas.
11:19 am
Santa baby, I’ve been a good girl and they should chose me to finally win a contest here! :)
11:19 am
I would love to show my Australian boyfriend around Vancouver on this cruise!!
11:20 am
Wow, I didn’t know this existed, sounds amazing!!!
11:20 am
I would love to surprise my husband with tickets. It would be so spectacular!!!
11:20 am
Looks amazing!
11:21 am
Nice promo! Love to join it!
11:22 am
Sounds like a very fun time at Christmas !
11:23 am
This is so exciting. Pick me Please.
11:23 am
I’ve been on one of these a long time ago. It was amazing and we lucked out w/ a beautiful night weather wise. Would love to re-visit the evening and treat my guest this time! Perfect Christmas gift!
11:24 am
We booked last year for the Carol Dinner Cruise, would love to do it again for free, coz it was a lot of fun, and food is great..It would be a nice and a good christmas and birthday present for me…this holiday season. <3
11:25 am
I’ve never even see the ships, let alone been on one. It looks wonderful.
11:25 am
I’ve been on the ship for the Indian arm cruise. Would love to be part of the Carol Ship Cruise!!
11:27 am
This would be so great for my parents!!
11:27 am
i would love an excuse to wear my reindeer antlers <3
11:28 am
Looks like a fab way to spend a winter evening.
11:28 am
This is so amazing, and a real festive way to see the harbour at this time of the year.
11:28 am
The picture aboard the Harbour Cruise Ship looks so festive!!! My husband and I have never been on a dinner cruise – this time of year must be really nice!
11:30 am
What a wonderful Christmas present this would be!
11:31 am
What an outstanding way to usher in December and the 2011 Holiday Season! Re-discover or simply show off your city…from the water – bring friends, family, partner/spouse, a date or colleagues… Celebrate this wonderful time of year on the breathtaking waters of Vancouver!
Savour culinary delights, fantastic views of magnificent Vancouver, twinking white lights and brightly colored holiday lights, strewn like jewels atop buildings, trees, streets and ships in the harbour! Music, holiday-inspired sips and new memories (possibly new friends!) await!
11:31 am
My 8 year old son loooves to draw ships. He draws all the time he can. This would be a magical time for him to go on a Carol Cruise! Just think of the drawings he could do:-)
11:31 am
We have gone to watch the parade, but it is impossible to hear the carols from shore…would love to go and sing/hear the carols on the ship!!
11:31 am
Wow!! That looks amazing!
11:32 am
Posting comment….. and Thank you
11:33 am
Sounds like fun!
11:34 am
This looks AMAZING!!! What a great way to celebrate a very special season. Christmas carols, dinner cruise, and Vancouver? What more could anyone possibly ask for?
11:35 am
Merry Christmas !! I have always wanted to go on a harbour cruise, and would be an excellent christmas present for my boyfriend !!
11:37 am
Wow, this looks like the perfect thing to do with a loved one! :D
11:38 am
hook me up please thanks!
11:38 am
How wonderfully festive the boats look all decked out in their coloured lights!
11:38 am
I was on one of these cruises for a work party and had a great time!
11:39 am
Such a sweet deal! Man how I wish I could bring my love one <3
11:39 am
Merry Christmas. Thanks for doing this! Hopefully I will win, haha.
11:43 am
There is nothing like our harbour anytime of the year but exquisite during christmas!
11:44 am
Merry Christmas! I love the Carol Ships!
11:46 am
I LOVE Christmas – went on the Christmas Karaoke Trolley Tour and I can’t even imagine how EXCITING it’d be to go on a Carol Cruise!!
I would bring my dad to this because he’s just as festive and excited over Christmas – possibly 10 times more than I am!
11:50 am
Neat! I hope I win.
11:51 am
In for this!
11:52 am
My husband has been out of town for 7 weeks. This would be something fun and romantic to do without my three boys in tow.
11:53 am
I want to go on a cruise!
11:55 am
I’m far away from home and hope to celebrate christmas on the cruise!
11:59 am
My wedding anniversary is coming up and it would be a great surprise for my wife to go to carol ship cruises. We have not done the any cruise. And my wife Glenda loves Christmas.
Thank you very much. I hope you pick me.
12:00 pm
I would LOVE to go on a Christmas cruise to celebrate the season and tell all my friends about it!!!
12:02 pm
It would be great to experience this romantic nautical excursion with my gf. Thanx for the tip!
12:02 pm
This would be an amazing cruise to take my Mom on to see a different perspective of Vancouver…looks amazing!
12:03 pm
This sounds like a fun thing to do…especially for a date ;)
12:05 pm
What a lovely addition to any Christmas celebrations. And how extra special it would be if it was free
12:05 pm
I’ve always wanted to try this! :)
12:06 pm
I’ve never been on the Carol Ship Dinner Cruise before. I’d be really thrilled if I win this. I will go with my mother.
12:07 pm
Would be a perfect date to go on with my loving husband before all the Christmas hustle and bustle!!!
12:10 pm
this would be an amazing opportunity.
12:10 pm
Would love to sing carols while floating on the water. Count me in!!
12:15 pm
I have a friend who’s new to Vancouver, and I’ve never been on these. Would love to go!
12:16 pm
I’m not originally from Vancouver and this year my bf and I will not be able to go home (Ottawa) for Christmas due to the ridiculous price of flights this time of year :( This would be a great way to keep our minds off that fact and get into the spirit of Christmas.
12:16 pm
mmm…..I want it:)
12:17 pm
My daughter and fiance went last year and LOVED the cruise! Please give me tickets so I can afford to go?
12:18 pm
This would be a great way to get into the Christmas Spirit!
12:38 pm
Please, I have never done the Carol Ship Cruise and would love to experience it! Thank you
12:39 pm
It should be fun and exciting!
12:43 pm
This sounds awesome!
12:44 pm
This would be a fabulous way to celebrate my first Christmas in Vancouver!
12:55 pm
I moved to the tri-city area several years ago and miss watching the carol ships. I would love for my daughter to see them.
1:00 pm
WoW~ a really nice Christmas gift! :)
1:06 pm
A cruise, dinner, and Christmas cheer! I would love tickets for the Carol Ship Cruise.
1:19 pm
How fun! I’d love to win :D
1:20 pm
Sounds like the perfect way to finally get into the Christmas spirit…. I’d love tickets for my boyfriend and I :)
1:24 pm
Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the evening.
1:25 pm
Sounds so nice !
1:30 pm
xmas lights!!! heart
1:32 pm
would love to win this :)
1:34 pm
BAM! One of the best things in Vancouver to do!
1:50 pm
fun fun!
1:52 pm
looking forward to this!
1:57 pm
Yes please!!
2:08 pm
I have always wanted to do this activity!!
2:12 pm
Wonderful gift for my sweetie and me!
2:16 pm
A wonderful Vancouver tradition!
2:23 pm
Wow. That’s amazing. You guys are awesome. I really hope I get picked =)
2:24 pm
Looks simply magical!
2:46 pm
I would love to surprise my mom and have a fun girls night with her:)
2:58 pm
It sounds great I hope I get picked so I can go with my daughter.
7:15 am
I hope you win tooooooo bro and take my beautiful niece on a fantastic trip xoxoxo Wish I could be there also.
3:03 pm
That’ll be a nice wedding anniversary for my husband and I :)
3:18 pm
I would love to go to this!
3:50 pm
Looks like it would be a great idea for a date!
4:14 pm
I’ve been on the cruise.. it’s really nice!
4:15 pm
What a great way to celebrate the festive season!
4:20 pm
Yes Please give me a Ticket for me and my Wife…..
4:27 pm
I would love to celebrate the Christmas spirit this way! On the weekend I made Christmas cookies, went Christmas shopping and even watched Love Actually! I am all Christmas-ed-up!
4:39 pm
I am also getting into the Christmas spirit bit by bit :D
5:03 pm
I took my best friend to this cruise about 3 years ago and we had such an amazing time. .. the food, the lights, the beautiful scenery… i think it about time to go again!!!
5:05 pm
Nice! That looks awesome. Hope to win :)
5:11 pm
Great contest!
5:43 pm
Would love to win tickets for our first trip to Vancouver!
5:44 pm
This would be a memorable cruise for our first trip to Vancouver!
6:14 pm
Sounds amazing!
6:18 pm
I’m in!
6:27 pm
The carol ships are an amazing Vancouver Christmas tradition!
7:05 pm
sounds like an amazing experience!
7:20 pm
I would love to go to this cruise!
8:18 pm
I’m a school music teacher and one of the best parts of the year is singing Christmas carols. I would love to step it up a notch from the classroom to singing carols in the gorgeous harbour!
8:43 pm
Oh, WOW… wouldn’t that be a treat!
10:08 pm
Sounds like fun!
10:29 pm
Looks awesome!!
10:34 pm
This sounds like a great christmas event that I would love!
10:40 pm
I would love to win this :-)
10:47 pm
It looks really pretty, a great way to spend a winters evening
10:48 pm
Would love to see all the boats lit up
10:53 pm
Looks like such a fun holiday activity! Would love to win :)
12:41 am
I’ve never been!
12:51 am
Awesome!
1:08 am
Cool!
1:55 am
I and my sons hope to join this amazing attraction.
3:19 am
this looks so fun!!!!
8:41 am
I think this would be a great way to spend an evening.
8:41 am
I love the carol ships!! I’m going to organize this as our family Christmas outing for next year but I would still love to go this year!!
8:41 am
Would love to take my mom to this :)
8:42 am
I was planning to go here this month — it looks beautiful. Best of luck everyone.
8:43 am
What a wonderful way to share the Christmas spirit with a friend of mine that no longer has family to share Christmas with. I would love 2 tickets to share with a friend!!
8:48 am
Would be a nice way to celebrate.
8:48 am
My fiance has been doing so much volunteering this season it would be nice for her to have an night for herself, she deserves it!
8:49 am
I went on the carol ship cruise once about 12 years ago. That was extremely fun, love to go again.
9:13 am
It will be awesome if I could take my mom….it would be a wonderful holiday magical moment! Thank you The Carol Ships!
9:19 am
I would be there for wonderful season in Vancouver!
9:43 am
Pick me! Pick me!
9:45 am
It would be a great pleasure for me and my wife to win this contest, unforgettable experience indeed. Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to All!
9:55 am
I almost bought the Groupon for this a couple days ago..
It would be a nice surprise to win!
10:07 am
This whole package sounds amazing! What a great way to spend some “alone” time with the hubby before all the family arrive for christmas! :)
10:13 am
Looks like a special way to celebrate
11:10 am
We’re two poor Vancouverites that would LOVE an experience like this. <3 Merry Christmas!
11:16 am
Sounds like a gorgeous way to spend an evening!
2:15 pm
Great!
2:49 pm
I have never seen the carol ships! (New to BC) What a treat to see it in STYLE!!
3:26 pm
Seems like a lot of fun =] my mom went on one and really enjoyed it
4:10 pm
Sounds like a fun way to spend a night during the holiday season!
6:33 pm
there couldn’t be a better way to celebrate our first Christmas in Vancouver!
7:49 pm
Random remark.. :) fa la la la la la la la la la!!
8:28 pm
Didn’t even know this existed! Just bookmarked this site!
8:33 pm
Wow, looks and sounds amazing! Great thing for christmas!:]
9:33 pm
Will be a good surprise for my boyfriend. Merry Christmas!
9:42 pm
we have always gone and look at the carol ships from the Stanley park and hope one day we can be on the ship , looks like everyone has a blast- wish everyone entering for tickets good luck and MERRY CHRISTMAS
9:48 pm
this sounds like a lot fun!
10:31 pm
Wow~this looks awesome! I wish I can win this contest.
11:32 pm
In need of a date night! This would be perfect
7:21 am
lovely , sounds awesome , love to go there and have fun with my family
8:48 am
Very kind to offer a free ride : )
8:58 am
Ho ho ho would be a great holiday gift!
9:20 am
Looks like fun!
11:34 am
Hi all! Thanks for all great comments!
Due to the high interest we would like to offer a 2 for 1 special on December 9th and 13th.
Please contact us at 604.688.72.46 to get this amazing deal!
Looking forward to seeing you all onboard!
Harbour Cruises.
12:20 pm
Thanks for starting the ‘Featured Attraction’ series. Our family is new to Vancouver and it helps to know the places and events that should be on our ‘to-do’ list! We’d love to get a chance to experience the Carol Ships Dinner cruise and soak in the sights and sounds – but more importantly – feel the spirit of Christmas as Vancouver shines for us :)
12:40 pm
Love to check it out!
6:05 pm
looks romantic!!!! I would love to take my Other Half!!
8:52 pm
Getting to go on this trip would brighten my holidays for sure! Since I dont have anyone to spend it with as family and friends are so far away….
3:32 am
Great to see such an interesting activity in Vancouver!
8:58 am
There is nothing like having dinner on a cruise isn’t it. Spectacular view plus a delicious meal is perfect for a date.
10:27 pm
Merry Christmas!
10:29 pm
sounds fun!! =)
1:01 am
It looks amazing and sounds like fun.
9:31 am
Merry Xmas – great gift to give to my international students visiting from Brazil and Guatemala.
Thank you.
5:47 pm
A hoy me matey’s!
Oh to float on a boat, maybe eat some goat.
This is not a quote just a quick anickdote.
7:56 pm
I’d love to win this!
12:59 am
I’d love to go abroad~!!
1:01 am
I’d looking forwards to this trip for a whole season~!!
how wonderful~!! :PP
2:15 am
such a great website! enjoyed it!
1:48 pm
i am waiting for this since a long time……i will be back to my country early next year….. so this is my last opportunity to taste the happiness and spirit of canada……. waiting for the free ones :-)
1:51 pm
Great News :) I would like to have a ride on this cruise..
3:33 pm
With out me u want to have ride :(
3:29 pm
I like to be a part in Xmas eve ….
1:18 pm
Never saw something like this but this sounds amazing! free tickets will be wonderful :) Thanks! Merry Christmas!
6:10 pm
merry christmas! hohpe to win the free tickets:D:D:D
6:21 pm
what a great way to celebrate the ho ho ho season! :)
12:59 pm
“Life’s either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Never done this before but I’m up for it. In case I forget to tell you when I win, I had a wonderful evening!!
4:57 pm
Hello, I’m a former Vancouverite and coming back for a visit in March with my BEAU from Ohio….
Is the deal still on?
I would love to go on a cruize especially if it doesnt add to our trip expenses!
7:34 pm
The Carols Ships make Christmas Christmas in Vancouver. I’m retired and would love free tickets to go.