Seattle cruise season opens with shore power coming to Pier 66Seattle cruise season opens with shore power coming to Pier 66

This compares to 2023's 291 calls with a record 1,778,193 revenue passengers (907,572 individual passengers).

Norwegian Bliss was the first ship in at Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66.

Shore power at three berths

As the season gets under way, the port is working to finalize the electrification of Pier 66 and plans to connect cruise ships to shore power this summer. This will make shore power available at all three Seattle cruise berths, and achieve the Northwest Ports Air Strategy goal to electrify all cruise berths by 2030, six years early.

In addition to shore power at Pier 66, the port forecasts 123 sailings will connect at Pier 91.

Green corridor

'Through our trailblazing collaboration — the Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor — we are studying the feasibility of cruise ships sailing on zero-emission green methanol in the Alaska market,' Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins said. 'Our objective is to provide a road map for maritime leaders worldwide that demonstrates the viability of a greener industry, one that serves our communities and passengers while minimizing environmental and social impacts.'

'Our history with the Port of Seattle runs deep, and it is a partnership we are very proud of,' Norwegian Cruise Line President David Herrera said. 'Together we pioneered voyages to Alaska from Seattle, with Norwegian Sky’s inaugural sailing to the Last Frontier in May 2000. In 2018, Norwegian Bliss was the first ship to be christened in Seattle, and today, we continue to bring guests from all over the world to sail aboard our spectacular ships from this beautiful city.'

According to the port of Seattle, cruising has a $900m in economic impact and supports 5,500 jobs including in tourism and provisioning.