The Port of Seattle announced that 1500 cruise ships, more or less, will dock in Seattle this season. Although most will go to Alaska once a week there are some that will do some experimental local cruising.
We don’t expect to see any of these monsters in our lakes and streams but we do expect to see at least one parked next to the Alaskan Way Viaduct at any given time.
We don’t expect to see any of these monsters in our lakes and streams but we do expect to see at least one parked next to the Alaskan Way Viaduct at any given time.
It takes a surprising amount of toil and coordination to make these things work. They have to get the passengers out of the airport, train, bus, trolley, and boat terminals and deliver them and their luggage to the ship. They also have to clean out the ship, change the sheets, reload the food locker, empty the tip jars, and hire a new captain once a week.
Watching the non-stop loading ballet is entertaining, too. If they mess up just a little it can delay departure and that is a travesty. I know where I’ll be a couple times this summer.
The reason everyone is so excited about this is the fresh money they think we’ll get. And there’s something to that. When you consider one ship holds 5000 passengers and three times that many crew (if you count the wine stewards) you can see that a lot of stuff will be purchased in Seattle.
Not to mention wine. Gallons of it. Barrels even. We need a pipeline. I’m pretty sure the State DOT won’t let them haul too much wine on the roads unless they have plenty of brake shoes. So the auto parts stores will do well. See how these things mushroom? It’s a bonanza. Seattle hasn’t seen this much potential cash since the Alaska Gold Rush.
Heck, we might get enough money to build a new basketball arena. OK, now I’m exaggerating.
Anyway, Elliott Bay will get more crowded. We have big container ships, bulk grain ships, and cargo barges already. We also have thousands of fishing boats and private recreation boats. Then there are ferries, harbor tours, and lots of official boats, tugs, and Coast Guard. The Navy likes to run some of its big ships now and then. Add a bunch of cruise ships and we’ll have lots of free entertainment.
And that means a little friendly competition between the ships. When you get too many ships for the number of open docks they have to work harder to get there first. Last week I saw a race between one of our leaky ferries and a container ship. But just wait! It’s going to get even better when Norwegian, Carnival, Cunard, Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess are all trying to crowd the ferry boats for dock space. Maybe I don’t want to watch after all.
Al
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