Westerdam, Golden Princess open Seattle's 178-call season

For the seventh year in a row, the port will handle more than 800,000 revenue passengers. Seattle’s cruise business—currently leading all US West Coast homeports in passenger volume—is responsible for nearly 4,000 jobs, $372m in annual business revenue and $16.6m a year in state and local tax revenues. 
 
Each call generates $2.2m for the local economy, according to Port Commissioner John Creighton who said Seattle aims to double the amount of economic impact in the next 25 years by encouraging passengers to spend more time and money in Washington state.
 
All cruise ships that homeport in Seattle use either low-sulfur fuel or plug into shoreside electrical power. Smith Cove Cruise Terminal can provide power for two ships at once, eliminating the need to run engines while at berth.

Smith Cove and the downtown Bell Street Pier offer concierge services, luggage storage, on-board airline check-in, rental cars and secure parking facilities. 
 
2014's schedule includes HAL's Amsterdam and Westerdam sailing Saturdays and Sundays, with Amsterdam also offering four 14-day cruises. Golden Princess and Grand Princess turn around on Saturdays and Sundays, while Royal Caribbean International's Rhapsody of the Seas departs Fridays. All operate from Pier 91.

Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Miracle sails Tuesdays and Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice leaves Fridays, both from Pier 91.

From Pier 66, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl depart Saturdays and Sundays, while Oceania Cruises' Regatta operates varied itineraries.

The 2015 season includes several new cruises and different ships, with the addition of HAL's Statendam for 14-day itineraries, Jewel of the Seas replacing Rhapsody of the Seas and Ruby Princess and Crown Princess replacing Grand Princess and Golden Princess.