Prince Rupert, BC, Canada | Cruise port of call | CruiseBe
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Prince Rupert, BC, Canada

Prince Rupert is a small port city on the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada. The population of 13,000 people is about half First Nations (native Canadian) people. The Tsimshian Nation is the indigenous First Nations in the Prince Rupert area. Prince Rupert holds the title of rainiest city in Canada, with about 2500 mm of precipitation annually. That's more than double the notoriously rainy Vancouver. Bring good rain gear.

Climate

Prince Rupert has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) and is also located in a temperate rainforest. Prince Rupert is known as “The City of Rainbows”, as it is Canada's wettest city, with 2,590 millimeters (102 in) of annual precipitation on average, of which 2,470 millimeters (97.2 in) is rain; in addition, 240 days per year receive at least some measurable precipitation, and there are only 1230 hours of sunshine per year, so it is regarded as the municipality... Read more

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Prince Rupert, BC, Canada

Destination:
Alaska

Prince Rupert is a small port city on the northwest coast of British Columbia, Canada. The population of 13,000 people is about half First Nations (native Canadian) people. The Tsimshian Nation is the indigenous First Nations in the Prince Rupert area. Prince Rupert holds the title of rainiest city in Canada, with about 2500 mm of precipitation annually. That's more than double the notoriously rainy Vancouver. Bring good rain gear.

Climate

Prince Rupert has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) and is also located in a temperate rainforest. Prince Rupert is known as “The City of Rainbows”, as it is Canada's wettest city, with 2,590 millimeters (102 in) of annual precipitation on average, of which 2,470 millimeters (97.2 in) is rain; in addition, 240 days per year receive at least some measurable precipitation, and there are only 1230 hours of sunshine per year, so it is regarded as the municipality in Canada which receives the lowest amount of sunshine annually. Tourist brochures boast about Prince Rupert's “100 days of sunshine”. Out of Canada's 100 largest cities, Prince Rupert had the coolest summer, with an average high of 15.67 °C (60.2 °F). Winters in Prince Rupert are mild by Canadian standards, with the average afternoon temperature in December, January and February being 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) which is the tenth warmest in Canada, only being surpassed by other British Columbia cities.

Summers are mild and comparatively less rainy, with an August daily mean of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F). Spring and autumn are not particularly well-defined; rainfall nevertheless peaks in the autumn months. Winters are chilly and damp, but warmer than most locations at a similar latitude, due to Pacific moderation: the January daily mean is 1.3 °C (34.3 °F), although frosts and blasts of cold Arctic air from the northeast are not uncommon.

Snow amounts are moderate for Canadian standards, averaging 126 centimeters (50 in) and occurring mostly from December to March. Snowfall in Prince Rupert is rare and the snow normally melts within a few days, although individual snowstorms may bring copious amounts of snow. Wind speeds are relatively strong, with prevailing winds blowing from the southeast.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Prince Rupert was 32.2 °C (90 °F) on 6 June 1958. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −24.4 °C (−12 °F) on 4 January 1965.
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Prince Rupert, BC, Canada: Port Information


Prince Rupert is a port-of-call for cruise ships plying the inland passage, serving over 50,000 visitors each season. The Northland Terminal is in Cow Bay, close (up a short hill) to the downtown core. Many shore excursions can be accessed at the Atlin terminal (just east of Northland), ranging from bus, boat, and seaplane sightseeing tours to saltwater fishing, kayaking, and native cultural experiences.
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Get around Prince Rupert, BC, Canada


Most of downtown Prince Rupert is accessible on foot. A good place to get oriented is the Visitor Information Centre, located on the east end of the Atlin Terminal.

Prince Rupert has seven bus routes serving all sections of the city. A taxi ride anywhere in town will be no more than ten dollars.
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What to see in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada


  • First Nations Carving Shed (1-800-667-1994), located just a block from the Museum of Northern British Columbia, features artists and carvers of the region, creating everything from sculpture and totems to jewelry, working with silver, copper, cedarwood, and gold.
  • Kwinitsa Station Railway Museum, on the west side of the waterfront, tells the story of early Prince Rupert and the role of the railway in its development. Built in 1911, Kwinitsa Station was one of 400 identical rail stations along the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway from Winnipeg to Prince Rupert. Today, it is one of only four surviving stations.
  • Pacific Mariners Memorial Park, between the foot of McBride St and the Northland Terminal. Note the two focal points of the Park: one being the bronze Mariner's statue and Memorial Walls, the other the Shinto Shrine which was built for the "Kazu Maru", a Japanese fishing dingy that drifted across the Pacific Ocean from Prince Rupert's sister-city Owase in Japan.
  • Museum of Northern British Columbia, 100 - 1st Avenue West (on the waterfront at the foot of McBride Avenue), ☎ +1 250 624-3207, fax: +1 250 627-8009, e-mail: mnbc@citytel.net. Jun-Aug: M-Sa 9 AM-8 PM, Su 9 AM-5 PM; Sep-May M-Sa 9 AM-5 PM. The museum tells the story of the 10,000-year-old history of the Haida, Tsimshian, Tlingit, and Nisga. It also operates the Carving Shed and the Kwinitsa Station. 
  • North Pacific Cannery, 1889 Skeena Drive, Port Edward (from Prince Rupert, turn right after the bridge onto highway 599, which becomes Skeena Drive (about 20 km from downtown Prince Rupert total)), ☎ +1 250 628-3538 (May-Sep), +1 250 628-3667 (Oct-Apr), fax: +1 250 628-3540, e-mail: northpac@citytel.net. May, Jun & Sep Tu-Su 9:30 AM-5 PM, Jul & Aug 9:30 AM-5 PM 7 days/week. Open until 8 PM when a cruise ship is visiting. A national historic site, it is the oldest, most completely preserved cannery remaining of two hundred-or-so that once dotted BC's Northwest Coast. BC Transit runs the number 60 bus in the summer to the cannery from the Visitor Information Centre in Atlin Terminal in Cow Bay, which takes about 40 minutes. 
  • Totem Park (Summit Avenue, on the ocean side of the loop just past the main Hospital entrance). Home to many of Prince Rupert's totem poles. Free.
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What to do in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada


Prince Rupert is famous for its fishing expeditions. Mostly salmon and halibut, with potential catches over a hundred pounds.

  • Blackfeather Charters, 343 - 7th Avenue East, ☎ +1 250 627-6461, e-mail: info@blackfeathercharters.com. Features 3-5 day charters of deep sea fishing on a 51-foot yacht.
  • Bite Me Fishing Charters, ☎ +1 250 624-3323, e-mail: fish@bitemecharters.com. Specializing in salmon fishing day charter excursions.
  • Early Dawn Fishing Charters, ☎ +1 250 261-2688. Early Dawn Salmon Fishing Charters offers fishing charters in the exceptionally rich fishing waters off of Prince Rupert.
  • Fishing Prince Rupert, 901 - 10th Avenue East, ☎ +1 250 627-8443, e-mail: frohlich@citytel.net. Offers deep sea and freshwater fishing expeditions.
  • Kaiensports Fishing Charters, 2130 Graham Ave, ☎ +1 250 624-5151, e-mail: info@kaiensports.com. With over 30 years of experience fishing the waters around Prince Rupert and the Haida Gwaii, this charter operator offers departures from both of these locations.
  • Orca Fishing Charters (Tom Sweet), 1208 Frederick St, ☎ +1 250 627-7699, +1 250 627-9590 (cel), e-mail: info@orcafishing.com. Fishing in the local waters for over 3 decades. Fish in a Grady White and enjoy the comforts of a boat designed for fishing.
  • Quantum Fishing Charters, 523 Pillsbury Ave, ☎ +1 250 615-1200, +1 250 615-1314 (cel), e-mail: info@quantumfishingcharters.com. Experience Prince Rupert fishing in the coastal waters off Northern BC. Charters and excursions including salmon fishing, halibut fishing, and crabbing which highlight the beautiful coastal region of Northwestern British Columbia.
  • Stingray Charters, 1315 Overlook St, ☎ +1 250 624-3885, +1 250 627-6955 (cel), fax: +1 250 624-5059, e-mail: stingray@citytel.net. World Class Sports Fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Stingray Fishing Charters is your host for an exciting experience you don't want to miss.
  • Terry's Fishing Charters, ☎ +1 250 622-8737, toll-free: +1-866-601-6086, e-mail: a5061@telus.net. Providers of fishing charters for salmon and halibut offering a "no fish, no pay" guarantee.
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What to eat and drink in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada


Eat

  • Cow Bay Cafe, 205 Cow Bay Rd, ☎ +1 250 627-1212, e-mail: cbcafe@citytel.net. One of the most popular places to eat in town. It is a small place right on the water. The service is average.
  • Herby's Family Restaurant, 679 - 2nd Avenue West, ☎ +1 250 624-3965. Excellent and inexpensive Vietnamese food in an informal atmosphere.
  • Opa Sushi, 34 Cow Bay Rd, ☎ +1 250 627-4560. M-F 11:30 AM-2 PM & 5 PM-9 PM, Sa 12 PM-3 PM & 5 PM-9 PM, Su 1 PM-8 PM. Not bad sushi.
  • Pho '88 (Phở '88), 427 - 3rd Avenue West, ☎ +1 250 624-2888. M-Sa 10 AM-9 PM Su 11 AM-8 PM. Newer Vietnamese restaurant, featuring pho, but having a good variety of Vietnamese and Canadian-Asian cuisine.
  • Waterfront Restaurant on the Harbour, 222 - 1st Avenue West (in the Crest Hotel), ☎ +1 250 624-6771, fax: +1 250 627-7666. M-F 6:30 AM-9 PM, Sa-Su 7 AM-9 PM.

Drink

  • Breaker's Pub, 117 George Hill Way (in Cow Bay), ☎ +1 250 624-5990, fax: +1 250 624-2688, e-mail: breakers@citytel.net. Decent enough place, slow meal service.
  • Charley's Lounge, 222 - 1st Ave West (in the Crest Hotel), ☎ +1 250 624-6771, fax: +1 250 627-7666. M-Th 11:30 AM-12 AM, F-Sa 11:30 AM-1 AM, Su 12 PM-11 PM. 
  • Cowpuccino's Coffee House, 25 Cow Bay Rd, ☎ +1 250 627-1395.
  • Javadotcup, 516 - 3rd Avenue West, ☎ +1 250 622-2822, e-mail: javadotcup@citytel.net. M-F 7:30 AM-6 PM, Sa 9 AM-6 PM, Su & Holidays Closed. Great little coffee shop and internet cafe. Beautiful building inside and out. Homemade desserts!
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Shopping in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada


  • Cow Bay Gift Gallery, 24 Cow Bay Rd, ☎ +1 250 627-1808. Options here are a little pricier but has authentic Native art and some really beautiful items.
  • Homework, 145 Cow Bay Rd, ☎ +1 250 624-3663, fax: +1 250 624-3553, e-mail: info@homeworkstore.ca. M-Sa 10 AM-6 PM, Su 11 AM-5 PM. Eclectic and interesting selection.
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Safety in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada


Outside of the metropolitan areas, much of BC is pretty remote. The more remote the area, the better prepared you need to be.

Always inform yourself about local concerns with carnivorous wildlife, i.e. bears and cougars. If you're in the BC woods, you can assume that there are likely bears and other wildlife in the area. You're in their territory and it's good practice to make noise and keep your eyes (and ears) open. Knowing how to avoid wildlife encounters is a good idea.

Petty property crime is a problem so don't leave items visible in a vehicle. Violent crime is relatively infrequent. Simple precautions will normally preclude a brush with crime.

Close to 20 women have been killed or are missing along the "Highway of Tears" (Highway 16) between Prince George and Prince Rupert since about 1970. Young women might want to avoid hitch-hiking along this highway, especially if you are alone.
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Language spoken in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada


English and French are the official languages.

LOCAL TIME

4:35 am
May 29, 2022

CURRENT WEATHER

13.08 °C / 55.544 °F
broken clouds
Mon

13.49 °C/56 °F
light rain 		Tue

13.06 °C/56 °F
light rain 		Wed

13.11 °C/56 °F
light rain 		Thu

13.35 °C/56 °F
light rain

LOCAL CURRENCY

CAD

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