Sunday marked the completion of the Port of Seattle’s 2026 cruise season. Topping last year’s record, 2026 delivered an estimated $1.2 billion in regional economic benefit, while providing more than 5,120 individuals direct and indirect jobs throughout the season. The season also saw a record number of passengers and sailings, plus an uptick in shore power use by ships in berth:
- 330 total ship calls
- Nearly 2 million revenue passengers
- Alaska cruises were operated by 10 home port cruise brands and 16 home port ships
- Two cruise lines – MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages – had their inaugural seasons in Seattle
- 2026 set a new record with 66% of ships utilizing shore power at berth as the Port approaches the 2028 date for 100% utilization by homeported ships
- Star Princess safely and successfully bunkered liquified natural gas (LNG); this was the first cruise ship to bunker LNG in Elliott Bay
“Seattle's cruise industry continues to be a powerful economic engine for our region, supporting businesses and strengthening the communities that make this place special,” said Sam Cho, Port of Seattle Commissioner. “Each season, cruise supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs, generates more than $1.2 billion in annual economic impact, and remains the Port’s fastest-growing maritime sector. We’re honored that visitors from around the world choose Seattle as their gateway to connect with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and our neighbors in Alaska. As we celebrate another record-breaking season, we're equally proud of our progress towards a more sustainable maritime future through expanded shore power use and investments in cleaner maritime operations. Together with our cruise line partners, we're demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.”
During the season, the Port was proud to welcome two new cruise lines. MSC Cruises — whose ship Poesia, meaning “poem,” sailed from Pier 91 on Mondays throughout the season — introduced the widely recognized European brand to Seattle. And Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, which sailed from Terminal 91 on Thursdays, provided an adults-only approach to Alaska cruising. Both lines will return for the 2027 season.
“The Port of Seattle continues to strengthen its position as a premier home port for cruise travel to Alaska and Canada. This season, 16 homeport ships across 10 CLIA-member cruise brands operated from Seattle, compared with 14 ships across eight brands last year,” said Renée Limoge Reeve, Vice President of Government Affairs for Cruise Lines International Association. “That growth is being matched by continued investment by both the Port and cruise lines in the infrastructure and technologies that support more energy-efficient operations and ongoing emissions reduction by cruise lines. The Port of Seattle’s continued investment in onshore power supply (OPS) across its three cruise berths is an important part of that progress, enabling equipped ships to connect to shoreside electricity while in port. CLIA and our cruise line members look forward to continuing our strong collaboration with the Port to advance this progress and deliver benefits for guests, local communities, and the broader region.”
With shore power available at all three berths, 66% of ships plugged in at berth this season, avoiding an estimated 1.52 tonnes DPM (diesel particulate matter) and more than 6,189 tonnes of CO2e from emissions. This shore power utilization demonstrates how the Port and its cruise line partners are meeting the evolving environmental needs and capabilities of the cruise industry.
This fall, the Port of Seattle will continue its shore power expansion work at Pier 91, with an in-water dredging project and expansion of on-pier electrification. These two projects, when complete, will allow complete access for all cruise vessels to plug in while at berth. To learn more about the Port’s commitment to shore power, view the cruise dashboard.
This season, Princess Cruises’ Star Princess piloted LNG bunkering — or fueling — at berth in Elliott Bay, the first in the bay across all vessel types. Not only does LNG burn cleaner with fewer air pollutants, 3% of the LNG used in this bunkering came from renewable sources. The Port of Seattle appreciates the collaboration with the Coast Guard and Seattle Fire Department to ensure safe bunkering protocols, and recognizes our partners at Princess Cruises, Seaspan, and our on-pier operations team. The lessons learned in this program will help us continue to shape our approach to sustainable fuels, a Port priority.
The Port of Seattle continues its Port Valet program, which transfers bags directly from cruise ships to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), giving cruise visitors an opportunity to explore Seattle’s unique sights, sounds, and flavors before they head to the airport. This year, the service handled bags for more than 187,000 guests, allowing cruisers to enjoy the city luggage-free. Looking ahead, the 2027 cruise season is expected to see 326 calls and approximately 2 million revenue passengers. A preliminary 2027 cruise schedule is available on the Port of Seattle Cruise Schedule webpage.
