2022 Seattle cruise season exceeds pre-pandemic levels

The Port of Seattle says the first full cruise season since the pandemic shut things down in 2020 was much better than expected.

Seattle's cruise season kicked off in April and the last ship set sail in late October.

“Cruise means big bucks for downtown workers and businesses, and boosts our city’s health and vibrancy,” said Jon Scholes, Downtown Seattle Association president and CEO. “The cruise industry reinforces downtown’s strengths while filling our waterfront with life and distributing a host of benefits to our community.”

The Puget Sound Business Journal reports a total of 295 ships passed through Seattle between spring and fall of 2022. There were only 85 ships in 2021, and 211 in 2019.

The Port says that 640,000 individual travelers hopped on a ship for trips between Seattle and Alaska alone. That is a 6% increase over 2019 levels.

“More passengers means significantly more economic activity in our region,” said Maritime Managing Director Stephanie Jones Stebbins. “For local businesses that means more revenue for jobs and wages. The Port directs additional revenue right back into our community and maritime industries.”

The Port further reports that hotel occupancy in downtown Seattle went up 67% in May, and 63% in June over pandemic levels.

“This is due in no small part to the return of a full cruise season," said Tammy Blount-Canavan with Visit Seattle. "Passengers staying prior to and after Alaska cruises have been the key to survival for so many small businesses that make up the fabric of our culture and our community’s vibrancy.”

The Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority reports similar results. It covers the area around Tukwila, SeaTac, and Des Moines. Hotels in this area saw higher revenues this year than in 2019, according to the Port. Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority CEO Mark Everton credits the location — between Sea-Tac Airport and the ships on the Seattle waterfront — along with access to light rail for the the good numbers.

"The additional cruise guests in our region also boosted restaurant and retail spending," Everton said.

Dyer Oxley contributed to this article.