The Port of San Diego’s upcoming cruise season is expected to be busier than the past seven years, the agency announced Wednesday.
The Port expects 92 cruise calls this year, up from 84 last year, and a 15 percent increase in passenger count from the previous season.
A Port spokeswoman released numbers that 295,000 people are anticipated to cruise out from San Diego’s port during the 2018-2019 cruise season, which is up from 256,000 the previous season.
“The Port of San Diego offers a unique opportunity to enjoy both an amazing destination on land and an incredible cruise adventure on the water,” said Rafael Castellanos, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. “Our cruise terminals are ideally situated on the picturesque San Diego Bay, right in the heart of the city, with many unique attractions to discover.”
Voyages for the upcoming season range from two-day excursions to 14-day cruises along the Mexican Riviera to a 35-day cruise to South America. San Diego’s primary cruise lines include Holland America Line and Disney Cruise Line. A full schedule is available online here.
With each ship that comes in, San Diego sees a boost to the economy as travelers stop to eat at local restaurants, shop at local shops, visit attractions and lodge at hotels.
An economic impact analysis commissioned by the Port in 2015 found that each cruise, primarily based in San Diego, generated an average of $2 million in economic stimulation to the San Diego region. That economic impact for the region has grown from $82 million in 2014 to approximately $131 million in 2018.
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The Port of San Diego is California’s third busiest cruise port, behind Long Beach and Los Angeles.
This season, the Port of San Diego has new cruise business from Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Star and Norwegian Ocean Cruises’ Norwegian Pearl. Carnival Cruise Line’s vessel, Miracle, is expected to join San Diego’s cruise business next season, according to the Port.
The cruise season begins Friday, Sept. 14 and lasts through May.
