hkskyline
May 9th, 2005, 07:03 AM
Port of Seattle expects record numbers of cruise passengers
6 May 2005
SEATTLE (AP) - The Port of Seattle expects a record number of passengers for this year's cruise season, which begins in earnest this weekend.
Some 685,000 passengers are expected to board 14 vessels that will make 169 stops in Seattle, including new cruises to British Columbia, Oregon and Alaska.
"Passengers have shown the cruise lines that they like Seattle as a homeport," Bob Edwards, president of the port commission. "The cruise lines have responded by offering a wider range of cruise products here in Seattle."
The new cruises offered this year from Seattle include three-, four- and five-day round-trip voyages by Celebrity Cruises to Prince Rupert, Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver in British Columbia and Astoria, Ore., as well as 10- and 11-day Alaska cruises by Norwegian Cruise Line.
The cruise season officially started Thursday, but really kicks off this weekend, with three vessels boarding Saturday and three more Sunday.
New services offered at the Port's cruise terminals this season include rental cars, available at Terminal 30 and Pier 66.
In 1999, just six vessels carrying 7,000 passengers called on Seattle. By 2004, those numbers had grown to 150 calls and 562,000 passengers.
"As the number of ships and passengers grow, so does the economic benefit the cruise industry brings to the region," said Port of Seattle CEO Mic Dinsmore.
The cruise industry generated 1,732 local jobs in 2004 with a payroll of $59 million, according to the port. The industry also was responsible for $208 million in local business revenue and $5.8 million in state and local tax revenue.
6 May 2005
SEATTLE (AP) - The Port of Seattle expects a record number of passengers for this year's cruise season, which begins in earnest this weekend.
Some 685,000 passengers are expected to board 14 vessels that will make 169 stops in Seattle, including new cruises to British Columbia, Oregon and Alaska.
"Passengers have shown the cruise lines that they like Seattle as a homeport," Bob Edwards, president of the port commission. "The cruise lines have responded by offering a wider range of cruise products here in Seattle."
The new cruises offered this year from Seattle include three-, four- and five-day round-trip voyages by Celebrity Cruises to Prince Rupert, Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver in British Columbia and Astoria, Ore., as well as 10- and 11-day Alaska cruises by Norwegian Cruise Line.
The cruise season officially started Thursday, but really kicks off this weekend, with three vessels boarding Saturday and three more Sunday.
New services offered at the Port's cruise terminals this season include rental cars, available at Terminal 30 and Pier 66.
In 1999, just six vessels carrying 7,000 passengers called on Seattle. By 2004, those numbers had grown to 150 calls and 562,000 passengers.
"As the number of ships and passengers grow, so does the economic benefit the cruise industry brings to the region," said Port of Seattle CEO Mic Dinsmore.
The cruise industry generated 1,732 local jobs in 2004 with a payroll of $59 million, according to the port. The industry also was responsible for $208 million in local business revenue and $5.8 million in state and local tax revenue.