Cruise season kicks off in Seattle this weekend, bringing millions to city

SEATTLE — New features and a fresh look along the waterfront will greet the start of cruise season in Seattle this weekend.

The first ship is set to arrive Saturday morning, and it promises to be a record year that brings a huge boost to local businesses. When the massive ships start pulling into port, they will be welcomed by a completely revamped entrance to the city line with businesses eager to please.

“People have different things that they are looking for, but you can find it here,” said Susan Cunderi, owner of Seattle Waterfront Marketplace.

Cunderi’s art market collective is one of the first establishments visitors will see and her vast array of goods are up to the challenge of the most discerning tastes.

“The cruise people, they love it when they come down,” Cunderi said. “They want to take home something that's some sort of connection to the Pacific Northwest, to their trip here."

Same goes for the Seattle Antiques Market next door, where random items are the shop’s specialty.

“The cruisers are people who are intentionally out having fun. They are in spending mode, and we retailers love that,” said Ken Eubanks, the owner of Seattle Antiques Market. “Year by year we've seen an increase. The number of ships, obviously, has increased. This year we're anticipating a huge bump in terminal stops this year."

Linda Springmann, the director of cruise business and Elliott Bay operations for the Port of Seattle, said this year's cruise season will set a new record with 298 sailing, which includes the addition of a totally new brand.

“Cunard Line is bringing the Queen Elizabeth to Seattle. She'll sail 10- and 11-day cruises,” Springmann said.

Between now and October, nearly 2 million cruise ship passengers will come through Seattle, generating $900 million for the local economy.

The city, in return, will have a few surprises.

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“For people coming off of the cruise ships, maybe folks who have seen Seattle previously, they are in for a really special treat,” said Barbara Lee, with the Seattle Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects & Sound Transit.

There is a wide and welcoming promenade, a new overlook that makes for an easily walkable connection to Pike Place Market, as well as the addition of the ocean pavilion at the Seattle Aquarium.

For the first time, the Port of Seattle will also provide shore power to the ships at all three terminals.

“They will burn their diesel engines,” Springmann said, “and if we can have them power those down and use our electrical grid, it's much cleaner."

The Norwegian Bliss is expected to arrive around 8 a.m. Saturday. It will load up with passengers and head off to Alaska. Next year, two more lines will be added. Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises will begin their first home port Alaska seasons, showing the cruise line industry in Seattle just continues to grow.

“Because this is a totally different place, a totally different experience,” Lee said. “It's also a new experience each time you are here, so it's not just for tourists anymore. It's for everybody."

Holland America also provided information for this year’s cruise season.

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"During the 2025 season, our ships will call in Seattle 43 times— meaning over 88,000 Holland America guests will travel through the Port of Seattle between now and the end of October. Each of them enjoying meals, snack, libations and more made onboard with items from our valued local Seattle suppliers--like Pike Brewing and Beecher’s Cheese, and our local fish and produce suppliers like Sterino Farms and Pacific Seafoods,” Dan Rough, VP of Revenue and Management for Holland America, said through an email.

In addition to sailing to Alaska, Holland America will also offer trips that cross the ocean to Japan and Australia, as well as a round-trip cruise from Seattle to both Alaska and Hawaii.

Holland America has also been plugging into shore power since 2005 and was among the first cruise lines to do so in Seattle.