Port of Seattle Projects 40 Percent Increase for Cruise Business in '04

The Port of Seattle's passenger cruise business will add three weekly homeport cruises in 2004, increasing the number of voyages by 40 percent and for the first time exceeding the half-million passenger mark.

"It is immensely satisfying to see years of hard work and dedication pay off as Seattle emerges as a major cruise port," said Port Commission Chair Patricia Davis. "We'll have three cruise ships on the waterfront every Saturday and every Sunday during the 2004 season, and one cruise ship every Friday," Davis said." It's very exciting."

The Port of Seattle's second cruise facility at Terminal 30 opened in May. The two-berth, 95,000-square-foot facility complements the Port's Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal, which opened in 2001.

Princess Cruises will add a Sunday departure aboard the Sapphire Princess from the Port's Terminal 30 cruise facility, doubling the number of sailings Princess is offering from Seattle in 2003. Princess offers Saturday sailings aboard the Star Princess from Terminal 30 this year. In 2004 the Saturday sailings will be aboard the Diamond Princess.

Holland America Line will add a Sunday sailing from Terminal 30 to complement the Saturday sailing they introduced in 2003. Holland has not yet announced the names of the ships that will be deployed in Seattle.

In addition, Celebrity Cruises will offer a Friday sailing aboard the Mercury from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 in 2004.

Norwegian Cruise Line will continue the Saturday and Sunday sailings from Pier 66 aboard the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Sky, respectively.

The total number of weekly sailings will increase from 100 this year to approximately 140 in 2004. Passenger volumes are expected to exceed 500,000, up from the nearly 400,000 passengers the Port anticipates this year. All of the sailings will be seven-day cruises to Alaska.

"We are working with local businesses to maximize the economic benefits the cruise industry brings to Seattle," said Port CEO M. R. Dinsmore. "The cruise industry helps generate business for local hotels, restaurants, and retailers," Dinsmore said. "It also provides a boost for traditional maritime industry business such as tug and barge services, marine fuel providers and the longshore workforce. It helps diversify what is already a thriving local maritime industry."

The cruise industry estimates that each homeport call by a cruise ship adds $750,000 in business revenue to the local economy.