October will be a busy cruise month with Disney Wonder arriving for a three-night Baja cruise Oct. 1. The ship is scheduled to return for three five-day Baja cruises that begin and end at San Diego.
Other October highlights include a 15-day Mexican Riviera voyage on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun and an 18-day 'Inca Discovery' cruise on Holland America Line's Zaandam.
The season runs through May. Currently 65 calls are scheduled.
Disney, Norwegian, HAL and Celebrity are starting or ending cruises at the southern California port, which calculates each homeport call has average economic impact of $2m for the region, including passenger and crew spending, vessel and transportation services, and more.
Last year the Port of San Diego completed a $31m project that redesigned the North Embarcadero area adjacent to where the cruise ships berth. Improvements encompassed an area from the Midway Pier to the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal. Widened esplanades, public seating areas, jacaranda groves and public art now greet cruise visitors.
Another addition will be a new restaurant: Carnitas' Snack Shack at the North Embarcadero. The venue is expected to open in January/February.
