Seattle-to-Alaska Cruise Season Begins

The 2015 Alaska cruise season at the Port of Seattle kicked off on May 2nd at Smith Cove Cruise Terminal with the arrival of the Holland America Line Westerdam.

This season expects 192 cruise ship calls, bringing an estimated 895,055 revenue passengers through the Port of Seattle.

This is an 11 percent increase in passenger numbers this year.

The Carnival Corporation said that three of its brands, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises are well positioned to meet the surge in demand.

“Each of these cruise ships contribute $2.5 million to the local economy, which comes out to over $400 million for this cruise season,” said Port Commissioner Stephanie Bowman. 

“The awe-inspiring majesty of Alaska is one of the most anticipated cruise vacations of the year for our Carnival Corporation brands,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

“In fact, by popular demand, the Holland America Line has added a third ship homeporting out of Seattle this season, and two ships from its sister brand, Princess Cruises, will sail from Seattle with more passenger capacity.”

Seattle’s cruise business—currently leading all cruise homeports on the west coast in passenger volume—is responsible for more than 3,600 jobs, $441 million in annual business revenue, and $17.2 million annually in state and local tax revenues.

All cruise ships that homeport in Seattle use either low-sulfur fuel or plug into shore side electrical power while docked.

Smith Cove Cruise Terminal can provide shore power for two ships at once, eliminating the need to run engines while at berth.

This cruise season will offer several new products, with the addition of Holland America Line’s ms Statendam for 14-day itineraries, the addition of the Jewel of the Seas replacing Rhapsody of the Seas, and the addition of the Ruby Princess and Crown Princess replacing the Grand Princess and Golden Princess. Each of the three new ships to homeport in Seattle in this season provide room for 500 additional passengers.

More than 208,200 guests are expected to sail with Carnival Corporation brands from Seattle to Alaska in 2015.

“We are excited to begin another great cruise season in Alaska, taking our guests on an unforgettable vacation to the Great Land where they can experience lush forests, ice-blue glaciers, whales, puffins, orcas, and frontier towns filled with Gold Rush history, native culture, wildlife and thrilling adventures – all while only having to unpack once,” added Donald.