The Port of Seattle kicked off the 2009 cruise season with a new cruise terminal and expectations for record ship calls.
The port expects a record 211 cruise ship calls this year, though the total volume of passengers is expected to fall below 2008’s record of 886,000 passengers.
The majority of those cruise ship calls will be handled at the port’s new Smith Cove Terminal north of downtown. The port built a $72 million terminal at Smith Cove to replace a temporary terminal near Safeco Field that is returning to cargo use.
The new terminal comes as the Alaska cruise business is slowing. Tourism experts predict 100,000 fewer cruise passengers this year.
The port expects a record 211 cruise ship calls this year, though the total volume of passengers is expected to fall below 2008’s record of 886,000 passengers.
The majority of those cruise ship calls will be handled at the port’s new Smith Cove Terminal north of downtown. The port built a $72 million terminal at Smith Cove to replace a temporary terminal near Safeco Field that is returning to cargo use.
The new terminal comes as the Alaska cruise business is slowing. Tourism experts predict 100,000 fewer cruise passengers this year.