The Port of Seattle’s 2017 cruise season, which runs April 29 through October 6, features 216 sailings with passenger volumes of more than one million revenue passengers. Cruises from Seattle to Alaska’s Inside Passage include seven-, 10- and 14-day itineraries. The industry generates $2.6 million with each vessel call and $441 million in total annual business revenue for the city and region. Some 3,700 regional jobs are sustained by the local cruise industry. Seattle Homeport cruise lines in 2017 include Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
In 2015, the Port of Seattle signed an unprecedented 15-year lease with Norwegian Cruise Lines to operate out of the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. The lease agreement includes a shared facility upgrade plan of nearly $30 million (opened in May 2017), investing in terminal improvements to allow Pier 66 to better accommodate modern cruise ships with larger passenger capacities.
May 2017, the Port of Seattle began a complimentary luggage transfer which allows cruise passengers to enjoy hastle-free disembarkation in Seattle; luggage is tagged and airline boarding passes printed on board, then luggage is sent to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, allowing passengers to proceed directly to airport security. The peace of mind from this seamless service also encourages cruise passengers to spend a little extra time portside, seeing Seattle sights, shopping, dining and relaxing. Participating airlines include Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
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