Work Begins on Cruise Terminal Completion

Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 Gets More Entrances, New Concourse for 2001 Season

The Port of Seattle is wasting no time in finalizing improvements to its new Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Construction has already begun on phase two at the facility.

A new 10,000-square-foot concourse area is being added, which will be off the plaza, adjacent Anthony's Homeport Restaurant, Bell Harbor Marina, and Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center. Embarking passengers will have a choice of three entrances to the cruise terminal, and direct access to the upstairs check-in and waiting areas, said Marla Kempf, general manager, Central Waterfront Piers and Properties for the Port.

"In addition, passengers will have the added comfort of a new all-weather canopy at the cruise terminal," Kempf said. "The result of this construction will mean a more pleasant and efficient embarkation process."

The project should be completed by February 2001.

Phase one of the Port's 56,000-square-foot cruise terminal was completed in April and offers travelers the convenience of a concierge service, comfortable waiting areas, and an innovative mobile gangway that raises and lowers itself automatically with the tide and connects the vessel with the second floor check-in area.

An improved cruise ship terminal won't be the only new attraction at Pier 66 next year. Royal Caribbean International recently announced that it will return to Seattle with a new ship, Radiance of the Seas, for 16 Pacific Northwest sailings in 2001. Also, Norwegian Cruise Line has scheduled 23 trips to the fjords and glaciers of southeast Alaska aboard the Norwegian Sky next year, two more sailings than this year.