Port officials anticipate 298 cruise ship calls and $900 million in local revenue
SEATTLE — The 2025 cruise season is set to be Seattle’s biggest yet, with a record 298 cruise ship calls expected between April and October, according to the Port of Seattle. That’s up from 275 in 2024 and surpasses the previous record of 295 set in 2022.
Officials estimate that cruise activity this year will bring in about $900 million in economic impact, supporting local hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and suppliers.
“I like to say we’re their once-a-week grocery shopping,” said Linda Springmann, director of cruise and maritime marketing at the port. “The provisioning for the ships’ weeklong cruise to Alaska is happening here.”
Alaska Cruises Lead the Way as New Lines Join
The majority of Seattle-based cruises head to Alaska, a top destination for travelers and a key reason cruise lines continue to expand service in the city.
This year, Cunard Line — known for its long maritime history and ties to literary icons like Charles Dickens and Mark Twain — will begin operating six cruises from Seattle. In 2026, MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages will also begin sailing from the city, signaling continued growth in international cruise offerings.
“Those new lines are great opportunities for us to continue to lift that international visitation here into Seattle — that’s been one of the slowest areas to recover,” said Michael Woody, chief strategy officer of Visit Seattle.
Cruise Passenger Stays Targeted for Growth
While Seattle’s cruise berths are hitting their busiest weekends, port officials say there’s still room to grow. With operations running at about 60% capacity, the Port is working to shift some ship arrivals to weekdays.
Currently, passengers spend an average of two nights in Seattle before or after their cruise. Springmann said the goal is to increase that to three nights, helping boost local spending and tourism numbers.
New Shore Power Infrastructure Cuts Emissions
In addition to increased ship traffic, Seattle is making environmental upgrades. The city now offers shore power connections for three cruise ships simultaneously, making it one of the few ports worldwide with that capacity.
The $44 million investment allows ships to plug into Seattle City Light instead of burning fuel while docked — powering lighting, air conditioning, and other onboard systems. All cruise ships will be required to use shore power by 2027.
“From the first call, in two weeks, we expect ships to be plugging in,” Springmann said.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, only 120 cruise ships globally are currently shore-power capable. That number is expected to rise to 239 by 2028.
