Cruise Industry Vital for Seattle

179 cruise ships have called on the Port of Seattle in 2014, bringing 823,780 passengers, and an estimated USD 2,2 million revenue per vessel for the local economy, according to the port’s latest release. 

“Our cruise industry has grown into a major economic driver for the Puget Sound region,” said Commissioner John Creighton. “For the seventh straight year, our cruise business exceeded 800,000 passengers. We remain committed to growing that number, as well as getting cruise-going visitors to stay here a few extra days.”

According to the Port of Seattle, its cruise business is responsible for nearly 4,000 jobs, USD 372 million in annual business revenue, and USD 16.6 million annually in state and local tax revenues.

Next year, with the addition of Holland America’s Statendam every other Monday, there will be seven cruise lines with eleven premier home port vessels offering seven, 10 and 14 day cruises to Alaska.

The port anticipates 192 vessel calls, and expects 895,055 revenue passengers in 2015.