The record 1,114,888 cruise passengers using the two cruise terminals of port Seattle in 2018 is set to be broken in 2019 via the arrival of a pair of new ships.
Nearby port of Vancouver handled over 900,000 cruise passengers during the last year, so together the two cruise ports now account for over 2 million cruise passengers who are sailing mainly to Alaska.
In the summer, Norwegian Bliss became the biggest ship to sail from port Seattle to Alaska. For 2019, her sistership Norwegian Joy will come to Seattle along with Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas that is also due to enter Seattle-Alaska service. Both cruise ships will sail on a weekly basis, with each carrying over 4,000 passengers. Both operators are reporting the new ships sold out for 2019, with 2020 bookings now being taken.
Currently, Seattle has two cruise ship terminals. Bell Street Pier at Pier 66 serves as the homeport for Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, while Smith Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 is the homeport for Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America and Royal Caribbean Line.
Smith Cove serves a pair of ships and, just like Canada Place in Vancouver, offers connections to the power grid of the city.
In 2019, Port Seattle is due to host 7 homeporting cruise brands operating 10 Seattle-based ships. Most frequent (with 3 liners) will be Holland America, while Princess and NCL Norwegian will each operate 2 homeported vessels.