By Mark Edward Nero
The Port of Seattle said April 27 that it has kicked off its biggest cruise season yet with more than a million revenue passengers on 218 vessels, making Seattle the biggest cruise port on the West Coast.
“A record number of cruise passengers this season means local agriculture and food companies, among others across our region, benefit from these provisioning ships,” Port of Seattle Commissioner Stephanie Bowman said.
New this year will be the opening of the renovated Pier 66 cruise facility homeport for Norwegian Cruise Line. The historic and unprecedented 15-year lease is estimated to generate $2.3 billion in total business revenue for the region, nearly 900 jobs and more than $65 million in state and local taxes, according to the port.
The cruise industry in Seattle is responsible for over $500 million in economic impact to the region, according to the port, and provides more than 4,000 jobs and $18.9 million in state and local taxes, with each homeported vessel generating $2.7 million to the local economy.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
