Port of San
Francisco to Host Record Cruise Business in 2003
Three major cruise lines have announced 2003
itineraries based at the Port of San Francisco that will push the
Port’s passenger volume to a 17 year high. Princess Cruises,
Celebrity Cruises and Crystal Cruises each will homeport vessels in
San Francisco next year. All told, more than 110,000 passengers will
sail on 62 cruise voyages embarking from the Port, providing a
significant boost to the region’s visitor and maritime industries.
“These Cruise lines’ announcements couldn’t
have come at a better time for San Francisco’s visitor industry,
” noted Doug Wong, Port of San Francisco Executive Director. “
We’ve been working hard for the past several years to develop more
cruise business to support our planned international cruise terminal
at Piers 30 & 32. This news shows that the cruise industry
supports our aggressive investment in this important segment of the
maritime industry,” he said.
The economic impact to the Bay Area of the cruise
business will exceed $50 million in wages, taxes, and the primary
purchases of goods and services. Local labor, tug operators, cabs,
bus tours, hotel rooms, restaurants, the airport and gift sales will
all benefit from this additional tourism.
Celebrity Cruises announced that it will homeport
its premium ship Celebrity Mercury in San Francisco for the fall
season next year and the spring of 2004, conducting a regular series
of sailings every Sunday. These cruises will feature scenic
California ports such as Catalina Island, Santa Barbara, and
Monterey, as well as San Francisco. They will also visit Ensenada
Mexico.
Princess Cruises meanwhile, announced the
introduction of its newest vessel, the Pacific Princess to San
Francisco’s lineup for next year. The Pacific Princess is a small
688-passenger ship with “big ship choice,” according to the
line, including Princess’ trademark balconies and alternative
dining options. It will continue Princess’s dedication to the
roundtrip Alaska service out of San Francisco by offering 10
sailings every eleven days throughout the summer, beginning May
29th. The ship, formally of Renaissance Cruises, was constructed in
1999.
Crystal Cruises will base the luxurious Crystal
Harmony in San Francisco again next summer offering 9 twelve-day
cruises to Alaska. The Crystal Harmony carries 940 passengers and
has been homeported in San Francisco every year since 1997.
For additional information contact a cruise travel
professional or Celebrity Cruises @ 1-800-235-3274, Crystal Cruises
@ 1-800-820-6663 or Princess Cruises @ 1-800-Princess