Seattle racks up record cruise seasonSeattle racks up record cruise season

Larger vessels continue to drive passenger increases. Each ship is estimated to generate $2.7m for the local economy, pushing total cruise revenue for the region to more than $500m.

The port chalked up a 9% increase in revenue passengers from 2016's 983,539. Seattle’s cruise business—currently leading all cruise homeports on North America's West Coast in passenger volume—is responsible for over 4,000 jobs, $501m in annual business revenue, and $18.9m annually in state and local tax revenues.

'Seattle’s cruise business benefits everyone on the waterfront. They are a huge part of our business and really boost summer sales,' said Andy Lipscomb, owner of The Frankfurter, a popular hot dog spot on Seattle’s waterfront for 42 years.

On May 30, 2018, the port will welcome Norwegian Bliss on its maiden voyage from the shipyard to its first homeport terminal at Pier 66, recently renovated in a $30m partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Bliss will become the largest cruise ship to homeport on the West Coast. The ship will sail weekly Alaska cruises throughout summer 2018.

Other homeporting ships next year include Carnival Legend for Alaska cruises sailing Tuesdays, Celebrity Solstice departing Fridays and Holland America Line's Eurodam and Amsterdam sailing Saturdays and Sundays, while Zaandam offers 14-day cruises departing on Mondays. All these ships operate from Pier 91.

Besides Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Pearl will sail weekly from Pier 66. Norwegian Bliss departs Saturdays and Norwegian Pearl Sundays. Oceania Cruises' Regatta offers a variety of itineraries departing from Pier 66.

Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess will sail Saturdays and Sundays, respectively, from Pier 91, while Royal Caribbean International's Explorer of the Seas will turn around there on Fridays.