By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port of Seattle welcomed more than one million cruise passengers in 2017 – a 9% rise from 2016 and an all-time high for the US-based port.
Seattle’s cruise business supports more than 4,000 jobs and generates around US$501 million in annual business and US$18.9 million in state and local tax revenues annually.
“By exceeding a million passengers this year, and more to come next year, the Port of Seattle continues to grow the cruise market, revenue and jobs for our region,” said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commissioner. “The Seattle cruise business means a half a billion dollars in local economic impact, and we want more passengers to experience Seattle while going to Alaska.”
The port expects to host larger vessels and a record 1.09 million cruise visitors in 2018.
Several lines will homeport ships in Seattle next year. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Legend, Celebrity Cruise’s Celebrity Solstice, and Holland America Line’s Eurodam and Amsterdam will all offer seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle. Other vessels sailing seven-day Alaska cruises will include Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Pearl, Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess, and Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas. Meanwhile, Holland America’s Zaandam will offer 14-day sailings and Oceania Cruises’ Oceania Regatta will offer various itineraries from the port.