Seattle Wraps Record 2026 Cruise Season With 330 Ship Calls
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The Port of Seattle ended its 2026 cruise season on October 18, 2026 with a record number of ship calls, revenue passengers, and homeported ships.
Cruise activity generated an estimated $1.2 billion in regional economic benefits, while shore power was utilized by a record 66% of ships.
Newcomers to the port helped fuel growth, with MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages homeporting ships in Seattle for the first time.
The Port of Seattle officially wrapped up its 2026 cruise season on October 18 and has reported record-breaking figures. The Washington port recorded 330 total ship calls and nearly 2 million revenue passengers throughout the season.
Additionally, 16 ships across 10 Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) affiliated brands utilized Seattle as a homeport for Alaska itineraries. Cruise lines that homeported in Seattle in 2026 included Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line, among others.
These figures represent new records for the port, surpassing the previous record figures from last year. Cruise Hive previously covered Seattle’s 2025 cruise season, during which the port saw 298 ship calls, 1.9 million revenue passengers, and 14 homeported ships across 8 brands.
Cruising also contributed heavily to the local economy. The Port of Seattle reported that cruise activity brought an estimated $1.2 billion in economic benefit for the region and supported more than 5,120 local jobs, holding steady from the same figures in 2025.
Despite setting new records, Seattle’s passenger traffic fell short of the port’s initial forecast. When the season began in April 2026, the port expected approximately 2.1 million revenue passengers, compared with the nearly 2 million ultimately reported.
Shore Power Usage Reaches New High
The Port of Seattle has invested heavily in shore power in recent years. In 2024, it became the first port in the U.S. to independently mandate that all homeported ships utilize shore power by 2027.
An uptick in shore power usage was reported at the port in 2026, with a record 66% of ships utilizing the technology at berth, compared to 65% in 2025. This usage avoided an estimated 6,189 metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions and 1.52 metric tons of diesel particulate matter.
All three cruise berths in Seattle are already shore power equipped and the port is continuing to invest in shore power infrastructure to support even more future utilization. Work will continue this fall on dredging and electrification projects to expand shore power at Pier 91.
This season, Princess Cruises also marked a first in further environmental improvements at the port. The 177,800-gross-ton Star Princess completed the first LNG bunkering operation in Elliott Bay, with 3% of the LNG supplied from renewable sources.
New Cruise Lines Help to Drive Seattle’s Growth
As cruising to Alaska grows in popularity, more cruise lines are looking to Seattle as a strategic homeport. In 2026, two cruise lines homeported from Seattle for the first time ever.
Sailing from Pier 91, MSC Cruises made its debut in the Emerald City with MSC Poesia. The 2,550-passenger ship sailed 7-night Alaska itineraries, departing from the port on Mondays throughout the season.
Another newcomer to the port was Virgin Voyages. The cruise line offered 7- to 12-night Alaska voyages aboard the 2,770-guest Brilliant Lady from Seattle beginning on May 21.
With the 2026 season behind it, the Port of Seattle is now looking ahead. In 2027, the port anticipates 326 calls and approximately 2 million revenue passengers.