'Each one of those ships means over $2 million for the local economy, and over 4,300 regional jobs during the cruise season,' said Port Commission president Gael Tarleton in a statement.
On Saturday, the 2012 season’s first cruise ship arrived in the Port of Seattle’s Smith Cove Cruise Terminal. The Holland America Line’s MS Oosterdam was the first of 202 cruise ship calls scheduled, according to the Port of Seattle.
Cruise ships are expected to bring about 864,330 passengers through Seattle in 2012. Seattle is busiest cruise port on the west coast, according to the Port of Seattle, leading in passenger volume and ship calls.