89 The Port of LA experienced its most successful year on record in 2023, with 219 cruise ship calls and over 1.3 million passengers passing through the US port. While the port expects numbers to dip slightly to 186 calls and 1.1 million passengers in 2024 due to ship redeployments, it forecasts growth for 2025. “We’re expecting an estimated 241 ship calls and 1.5 million passengers, which is in part due to the arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas, which will launch its first itineraries from Los Angeles in May 2025,” explains Christopher Chase, assistant director of marketing at Port of LA. “We’re anticipating similar volumes in 2026.” Over the last 15 years the Port of LA has averaged around 100 cruise ship calls and half a million passengers each year but made a conscious effort to increase business pre-Covid. “We reached out to various cruise lines, with the goal of increasing cruise numbers on the Pacific Coast,” says Chase. “As such, when we emerged from the global cruise industry shutdown we were perfectly positioned for growth. We welcomed the return of Royal Caribbean International ships after a 14-year absence, which now offer a year-round service from our port. Additionally, Princess Cruises deployed a Royal-class ship, Discovery Princess, for seasonal service sailings to Mexico, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss also began seasonal sailings to Mexico.” To facilitate future growth, the port is developing two new berths and terminals in its outer harbour to manage all cruise operations and plans to redevelop the existing facilities in the future. “We submitted the request for proposals (RFP) in July,” says Chase. “We made the decision to prepare for the next 30 years of cruise development. The RFP is due in December 2024.” The port’s current facilities include mobile shore power carts, which have been operational since 2004. “The mobile carts allow the greatest flexibility to support plugging in vessels of all sizes while at berth,” says Chase. “So far this year we’ve had plug ins from Princess Cruises, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Explora Journeys, Viking, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Seabourn and Oceania Cruises. The port was one of the first ports worldwide to offer shore power and we’re proud to continue to be a leader in shore power in the future.” NORTH AMERICA: INTERVIEW Focusing on the future After a record-breaking 2023, the Port of LA is preparing for further growth. Christopher Chase discusses the US port’s plans with Laura Hyde “ We made the decision to prepare for the next 30 years”
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