The Port of Seattle kicks off its biggest cruise season yet on Saturday, April 29, with over one million revenue passengers on 218 vessels, making Seattle the biggest cruise port on the West Coast.
The port said that the cruise industry in Seattle is responsible for over $500 million in economic impact to the region, providing more than 4,000 jobs and $18.9 million in state and local taxes, with each homeported vessel generating $2.7 million to the local economy.
Also new this year will be the opening of the renovated Pier 66 cruise facility homeport for Norwegian Cruise Line. This historic and unprecedented 15-year lease is estimated to generate $2.3 billion in total business revenue for the region, nearly 900 jobs, and over $65 million in state and local taxes.