This year the Port of Seattle will celebrate 25 years of sailings to Alaska, the season will see 275 sailings from the State of Washington’s largest cultural hub up through Puget Sound to Alaska. More than 800,000 passengers will enjoy cruises from April to October supporting 5,500 jobs in the industry, contributing nearly $900 million in economic impact over the course of the season.
As the cruise season gets underway, the Port is hard at work finalising the electrification of Pier 66 and plans to connect cruise ships to shore power this summer. This milestone will make shore power available at all three Seattle cruise berths, which will achieve the Northwest Ports Air Strategy goal to electrify all cruise berths by 2030, six years ahead of their goal.
The Port of Seattle remains committed to being one of the most environmentally progressive cruise home ports in North America by reducing emissions at berth with shore power connections, protecting water quality in Puget Sound by banning discharge of Exhaust Gas Clean System wash water at berth, and collaborating with partners in the industry on the long-term decarbonisation of cruise travel.
The Port also continues to work in partnership with cruise ports in Alaska, Victoria and Vancouver BC and the cruise industry, a coalition that was formed in 2022, to explore the world’s first cruise-focused Green Corridor from Seattle to Alaska through innovative decarbonisation strategies, aiming to preserve the region’s wildlife and scenic beauty for generations to come.
