PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 

COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      3a 
STAFF BRIEFING 
Date of Meeting      May 12, 2015 

DATE:    April 22, 2015 
TO:     Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Michael McLaughlin, Director Cruise & Maritime Operations 
SUBJECT:  2015 Cruise Season 
SYNOPSIS 
The 2015 cruise season kicked off on Saturday, May 2 with the arrival of Holland America's
Westerdam to Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Terminal 91. This year, Seattle will serve an
estimated 192 cruise vessel arrivals and we are expecting close to 900,000 passengers to be
processed through our cruise terminals; nearly a 9% increase in passengers. 
The 2015 cruise season will showcase five new ships including Holland America Line's new 14-
day itinerary on board the Statendam. New and larger vessels for 2015 reaffirm the cruise line's
confidence in the strength of the Alaska market and in Seattle's commitment to the cruise
industry.  These premier vessels include Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas, the Carnival
Legend and the Ruby Princess and Crown Princess.  Three of our new homeport ships have
capacity for an additional 500 passengers each. To enhance the benefits the cruise industry
provides to the region, the Port of Seattle continues to partner with our cruise line customers,
Visit Seattle and other industry and tourism stakeholders to promote pre and post cruise stays
that boost the economic impact of the cruise industry. 
BACKGROUND 
Cruise operations for the 2015 cruise season at the Port of Seattle are estimate to create the
following economic impacts: 
$441 million  annual business revenue 
3,647 jobs 
$17.2 million  annual state & local taxes 
Each time a homeport ship docks it contributes $2.5 million to the local economy. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
PowerPoint slide presentation 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
May 6, 2015 - Seaport Presentations: Maritime Festival and Opening of Cruise Season