Port of Seattle kicks off 2022 cruise season

SEATTLE, Wash. – The Port of Seattle welcomed its first cruise ship of the season Saturday, marking the primary day of the 2022 cruise season.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Bliss arrived at Bell Avenue Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 at round 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, and can depart for Alaska later within the day.

The Port of Seattle launched its preliminary cruise schedule for 2022, with 296 scheduled salting bringing an estimated 1.26 million income passengers. Cruise traces are including extra ships to the Alaska market this season. It’s anticipated that the variety of passengers per ship will range by crusing and can enhance because the season progresses. 

“The Port of Seattle seems ahead to offering one other season of secure cruise experiences as we proceed to work with our native public well being officers to make sure the well being and security of passengers, crews, and the neighborhood. Our imaginative and prescient is for a thriving Seattle Alaska cruise business, one which leads the world when it comes to environmental requirements, inspiring different Ports to fulfill the identical excessive requirements, and delivers job and enterprise alternatives the place they’re wanted most,” stated Stephanie Jones Stebbins, Managing Director of Maritime on the Port of Seattle. “Cruise is a crucial a part of our native and regional economic system, supporting hundreds of jobs throughout maritime, tourism, hospitality, agriculture, and providers.” 

CDC: COVID-19 well being guidelines prolonged for cruise traces till January 2022

Port operations assist assist almost 200,000 jobs and $7 billion in wages all through the area. Over the following 15 years, the Port hopes to create 100,000 extra jobs via financial progress – whereas turning into the nation’s main inexperienced and energy-efficient port.

Previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Seattle have been anticipating a report yr in 2020 with 233 cruise vessels carrying an anticipated 1.3 million passengers. 2020’s forecast was slated to supply 5,500 jobs and almost $900 million in financial income for our area. With no cruise exercise in 2020, the financial losses as a result of drop in tourism have been devastating regionally and in Alaska.  

Watch FOX 13 Seattle for the most recent information:

Later this spring, the Port, cruise traces, and tourism companions will host a pre-season webinar to reply neighborhood questions in regards to the upcoming cruise season. Registration hyperlinks can be posted to the Port’s webpage and social media channels as soon as particulars are confirmed.