Carnival Cruise Lines to start sailing from Seattle in 2010

Carnival Cruise Lines will start sailing out of Seattle in 2010 for Alaska cruises, the first time the popular cruise line will base a ship here.

Its 2,124-passenger ship Carnival Spirit will sail from Seattle each Tuesday starting in May 2010 on seven-day round-trip cruises to Southeast Alaska.

The midweek departures are a boon for the Port of Seattle; the major cruise ships currently all depart and arrive on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Seattle and the port has been seeking to spread out the crowd.

"Our cruise business started with just six (ship) calls less than 10 years ago, and we have become a major home port for cruise ships today. The addition of Carnival really helps us fill out the week in terms of ship calls," said Commission President Bill Bryant.

Seattle has two cruise terminals. The new Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, near Magnolia, will open on April 24. The Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal will continue to serve cruise ships on the downtown waterfront.

There are expected to be 211 cruise ship calls in Seattle this season as the ships shuttle back and forth to Alaska for the late April-September season. Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International will sail out of the Smith Cove terminal; Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line will sail from the Bell Street terminal.

For information on sailings from Seattle, see www.portseattle.org/seaport/cruise/