When Holland America Line's Oosterdam arrives at Seattle this Sunday, May 6, it will mark the beginning of the city's summertime Alaska homeport cruise season. The line's Westerdam arrives Saturday, May 12, and ms Amsterdam begins its roundtrip Alaska sailings from Seattle on Friday, May 18.
In addition to the 52 roundtrip Seattle cruises this season, six South Pacific or Pacific Northwest cruises will either begin or end at Seattle, for a total of 58 calls and more than 104,000 guests.
"We always look forward to the start of the Alaska season because it represents a homecoming of our ships to our hometown of Seattle," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "It's meaningful not only for our officers and crew, but also for our shoreside employees and the many vendors and service providers we support in Seattle and throughout Washington State."
With three Seattle-based ships sailing out of the homeport for the five-month cruise season in 2011, Holland America Line contributed US$186 million to the Seattle economy and US$222 million across Washington State just from cruise ship calls alone. Factor in office and payroll costs for the 1,335 people the line employs locally at its headquarters, and its total economic impact rises to US$372 million in Seattle and US$526 million statewide.
Indeed, for each port call by the 1,380-guest Amsterdam the line spends approximately $169,000 locally on provisions. For the 1,916-passenger Oosterdam and Westerdam, provisioning costs about $272,000 per week. Holland America Line works with 654 local vendors, from food and beverage suppliers to piano tuners, office supply stores and marine suppliers, among many more.
Holland America Line provisions each ship on "turnaround" dates. Provisioning a ship means bringing aboard all of the supplies and food products needed during a cruise. For example, Oosterdam requires some over 23,000 eggs and 1,375 gallons of milk each week - all coming from local farmers. In addition, local growers supply 147,550 pounds a week of fresh produce.
Also contributing to Holland America Line's economic impact in 2011 was spending by passengers and crew in local shops, restaurants, hotels, museums, sightseeing attractions and taxicabs. Other expenditures include maintaining its ships, plus port fees, charges and taxes.
