July 8, 2025
Written in 2018; updated in 2025
Gone are the days when a cruise ship in town was a novel sighting. Now, cruise ships have become an iconic part of the Seattle waterfront and a primary economic driver for Seattle. Since 2000, Seattle has grown to the #1 U.S. West Coast cruise port in number of passengers. The rising tide of the Seattle cruise industry lifts all ships, hotels, airports, tourist destinations, and even local businesses, suppliers, and restaurants.
There are several reasons that Seattle has become the hub for Alaska cruising: the natural deep water port that can accommodate some of the largest vessels in the world, award-winning and world-class cruise facilities that can accommodate large groups of passengers, the cruise terminals’ spectacular settings, and easy access to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Cruise Timeline
Here’s a quick timeline of how things have evolved in the Seattle cruise industry over the last 25 years:
2000 — First Cruise Ships
The cruise season brought 6,615 passengers to town with six vessels calling in port
2017 — 1 Million Passenger Record
Seattle set a new record of 1 million cruise passenger arrivals. To put that number in perspective, it equates to one-half the population of King County spending money at the airport, in hotels, and in local restaurants and retailers.
2018 — Megaships Arrive
The 2018 season brought the first of the new megaships to Seattle, the Norwegian Bliss with 4,000 passengers. In 2019, the Port of Seattle hosted the three largest cruise ships on the West Coast:
• The Norwegian Joy, carrying 4,000 passengers
• The Norwegian Bliss, carrying 4,000 passengers
• The Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas, carrying 4,180 passengers
Read a full history of cruise milestones in Seattle
This was a record breaking year, welcoming 1,780,000 cruise passengers to Seattle.
2025 — Shore power at all cruise berths
The 2025 cruise season is the first full season with all three of Seattle’s cruise berths having shore power, allowing cruise vessels to shut off their engines while at berth. Seattle is one of the only home ports that has all of its cruise berths shore power–enabled and can have three ships plugged into shore power simultaneously.
Impacts on the local Seattle economy
In 2025 the Port completed an updated economic impact analysis. The research indicated that for the 2025 season the cruise industry supports the regional economy with:
• $1.2 billion in total business output
• 5,500 local jobs
• $380 million in total employee compensation
• $11.9 million in total state fiscal impact
• $4.2 million in regional economic activity per vessel call
• In 2025, non-resident passengers spending time in Seattle spent an average of $405 per party before their cruise and $164 after the cruise
Lifeline for small businesses
Seattle has become the hub for Alaska and Pacific Northwest cruises, with significant economic benefits to the region. This influx of travelers supports many local small businesses that depend on this revenue. Here are just a few examples of how the cruise industry supports local businesses and keeps people employed:
Copperworks Distillery
Cruise passengers boost the distillery's business by 30% in the summer
Bite Society Gift Baskets
A catering company pivoted during the pandemic to create unique gift baskets that are loved by cruise passengers
Every vessel arrival supports the regional economy to the tune of $4.2 million. Local small businesses like these tell us that cruise season puts money in their pockets and helps them thrive:
• Flora and Henry boutique
• Fashion designer Luly Yang
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