by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:55 AM ET, Tue April 9, 2024
Cruise season has officially started in Seattle, with the popular Pacific Northwest port welcoming its first ship over the weekend.
The Norwegian Bliss arrived at Pier 66 at the Port of Seattle for the first time this year on Saturday, kicking off what port officials hope will be a record-breaking season.
The season runs from April 6 to October 28 and, during that time, officials plan to welcome 275 sailings and more than 800,000 unique passengers. They also expect the cruise industry to have an economic impact of nearly $900 million via tourism, provisioning and jobs. Cruising is responsible for 5,500 jobs in Seattle, according to port officials.
This year is also special because it’s the 25th anniversary of cruises sailing between Seattle and Alaska.
The very first ship to depart Seattle for No. 49 was the Norwegian Sky in May 2000. The connection between the port and the cruise line was further strengthened in 2018, when Norwegian Bliss became the first ship to be christened in Seattle.
Since 2000, the port has grown from just 36 ship calls per season to 275. Amid that growth, port officials have been working to electrify Pier 66 so that shore power is available at all three Seattle cruise berths. They hope to connect the first ships to shore power this summer—six years early of the goal outlined by the Northwest Ports Air Strategy.
“Over the last 25 years, the cruise business has become a significant part of our local economy, contributing to hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs,” says Ryan Calkins, commissioner of the Port of Seattle. “All that activity comes with environmental impacts, however, and so the Port of Seattle is committed to providing a leadership role in advancing maritime decarbonization.”
To reduce emissions even more, the port and its partners are also studying the feasibility of ships running on green methanol. The port is also protecting water quality in Puget Sound by banning the discharge of exhaust gas clean system wash water; it’s also working in partnership with ports in Alaska, Victoria and Vancouver to explore the creation of the world’s first cruise-focused “Green Corridor” from Seattle to Alaska.
“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,” Calkins added.
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