08 Apr Seattle Times coverage of Opening Day of Cruise Season

By Caitlyn Freeman

Seattle Times staff reporter (Link to article)

As thousands of people flocked to the Seattle waterfront on Saturday to embark on the first cruise of the year, climate activists protested nearby demanding the cruise industry do more to address pollution. 

From April to late October, nearly 1.7 million passengers are expected to depart Seattle on 276 cruises, Stephanie Jones Stebbins, managing director of the port’s maritime division, said during a news conference Saturday morning. This year marks the 25th year of cruises between Seattle and Alaska.

She said this cruise season is estimated to provide almost $900 million in economic impact to the city’s tourism and other sectors. The port calculates that each ship that home ports in Seattle has a $4 million impact on the local economy. “Over the last 25 years, the cruise business has become a significant part of our local economy, contributing to hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs,” Port Commissioner Ryan Calkins said in a statement. 

While thousands of voyagers wove through customs lines at Pier 66 to board the Norwegian Bliss headed to Alaska, members of activist group Seattle Cruise Control rallied outside. The volunteer organization is focused on educating people on the environmental impacts of the cruise industry. 

The demonstration included children in sea creature costumes, a live band and a performance by the Red Rebel Brigade, a climate activist performance troupe.

The group wants the port to reduce the number of cruises it sends out and make the route from Seattle to Alaska a no-waste-dumping zone. 

The port says it’s committed to being one of the most “environmentally progressive” cruise ports in North America. The current goal is to phase out seaport-related emissions by 2050. Additionally, the port plans to start shore power at Pier 66 this summer, meaning ships can plug into the power supply when docked at the port rather than run their engines, reducing emissions.

Seattle Cruise Control activists say the plan isn’t enough. 

Elizabeth Burton, a member of the organization, said she doesn’t believe shore power in Seattle will be an effective solution because a ship plugging in for one stop of its trek only addresses a small percentage of the ship’s overall emissions throughout a trip. 

For much of the time, she said, “The cruise ships are still polluting the air and wrecking the climate.”

Burton said she feels sorry for passengers of the Bliss because they don’t realize the harm being caused. 

“We’re not trying to run their vacation, but we’d like to raise the consciousness in general,” she said. “Is it really worth wrecking the future for all future generations? So you can go on this trip?” 

Standing in the customs line less than 25 feet from the demonstration, David Torok was ready to hop on the Bliss. The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, resident said he’s hoping to see the northern lights and whatever Alaska has to offer, whales included. 

“I’m sorry that people get mad about the cruise boat, but oh, well,” Torok said. “Tell them to go on a cruise. Maybe they’ll change their mind.”

Caitlyn Freeman:  cfreeman@seattletimes.com;