The Port of Seattle, celebrating 20 years as a homeport, welcomes the 2019 cruise season with the arrival of the first ship—Celebrity Eclipse, at the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66.
The port’s results of a ‘new economic impact report’ show that the cruise business creates nearly $900 million a year in local business revenue, with each homeport ship call contributing an average $4.2 million to the state’s economy, and supporting over 5,500 jobs.
As Port of Seattle Commission President Stephanie Bowman commented
Over twenty years ago this community turned a novel idea into a nearly $900 million industry and helped [Seattle] become the most environmentally progressive home port in North America. Alaska cruises are a ‘bucket list’ item for people all over the world, and we look forward to hosting them for decades to come.
The Port expects an estimated 1,208,590 revenue cruise passengers this year, breaking last year’s record of 1,114,888.
This year, the Port of Seattle will host the three largest cruise vessels on the West Coast, leading with the addition of the Norwegian Joy, and the return of its sister ship, Norwegian Bliss, and culminating with the arrival of the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas, which will be the largest cruise vessel on the West Coast this season.
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Moreover, Seattle forecasts its long-running cruise development to continue. Therefore, the port is looking for a private partner to redevelop an existing container terminal – T-46 – for cruise ships.
Finally, the port operates the most environmentally progressive homeport in North America. Through commitments to clean water and clean energy, the Port and its partners continue to emphasize healthy communities and habitats in and around our working waterfront.
Concerning the new cruise terminal, the Port will incorporate leading-edge environmental stewardship and sustainability practices that exceed existing regulations through strategies like clean shore power and clean water agreements. The Port is committed to installing shore power at the new cruise facility at Terminal 46.
