The 2025 cruise season kicks off on Saturday, April 12, at the Port of Seattle’s Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. The arrival of Norwegian Bliss marks the first sailing of the Seattle-to-Alaska season. This is the first full season with all three of Seattle’s cruise berths having shore power, allowing cruise vessels to shut off their engines while at berth. Seattle is one of the only home ports that has all of its cruise berths shore power–enabled and can have three ships plugged into shore power simultaneously.
2025 season by the numbers
The 2025 season runs from April to October. The season is expected to support:
- 298 sailings
- 1.9 million revenue passengers, which comes out to more than 900,000 unique passengers
- Nearly $900 million in economic impact including tourism, provisioning, and jobs supported by cruise
- 5,500 jobs
“The Seattle to Alaska cruise season drives our local economy through spending from cruise guests and through the provisioning of local goods and services to the cruise lines,” said Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck. “The 2025 cruise season marks a major milestone as the first full season of clean energy shore power available at all three berths making our home port an international leader in shoreside decarbonization. This continues our work to advance maritime decarbonization as we build a port for the future. Also this year, Carnival Corporation will conduct a biofuel pilot in our region to provide additional learnings on future tools to further reduce carbon emissions. Alternative sustainable fuels are a critical element in the maritime industry’s decarbonization strategy. The Port of Seattle remains committed to worldwide leadership that encourages the future of cruising that serves our communities and passengers while minimizing environmental and social impacts.”
Three new lines to call Seattle home next two seasons
This June, Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth will spend its first home port season in Seattle. The vessel will offer eleven sailings this season, with 7- to 11-day itineraries from June to September.
“We're so excited to be homeporting in Seattle from June 2025 for our incredible Alaska itineraries on Queen Elizabeth,” said Cunard Senior Vice President Commercial North America Liz Fettes. “We really look forward to working with our new partners and welcoming guests that are new to Cunard — and bringing loyal Cunarders to Seattle.”
In 2026, Seattle will also welcome Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises for their first home port Alaska seasons.
"The beginning of cruise season is a time to celebrate the important part this sector plays in the $8 billion tourism industry in Seattle and King County," said Visit Seattle President and CEO Tammy Canavan. "The cruise passengers who come to Seattle for their adventures support thousands of local jobs each season and contribute to the vibrancy of our city’s distinct neighborhoods. We are proud of the Port’s standing as a vanguard of shore power–capable cruise terminals, a commitment found nowhere else in the country. The Port is a crucial partner that amplifies economic opportunity for our residents while working to responsibly preserve our destination’s natural assets. The whole cruise experience in Seattle is unparalleled, and we applaud its impact."
Alaska cruise operations support a broad range of the local economy from guests visiting the region pre- and post-cruise to those who provision the ships and the longshoreman who safely move the goods and passengers on and off the ships.
“Seattle is an incredible city to enjoy as part of the Alaska cruise experience, and 2025 promises to be another exciting cruise season,” said Sally Andrews, Vice President Communications & Public Affairs, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). “With some of the most technologically advanced ships sailing in the region, the cruise industry is leading the way in helping to protect beautiful destinations like the Pacific Northwest.”
As the West Coast’s largest home port, the Port of Seattle remains committed to being an economic engine for our region that creates quality jobs while establishing worldwide leadership demonstrating how cruise ship operations can provide first class service for passengers and serve our communities while minimizing environmental impacts. The Port 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 the industry on the long-term decarbonization of cruise travel.
Cruise lines operating in Seattle follow the Port’s best practices along with state and international regulatory guidelines while also voluntarily adapting operations and equipment to protect air and water.
Contact
Chris Guizlo | Port of Seattle Media Officer
[email protected]
