![]() ![]() But the ship will dump the waste elsewhere along the route. In 2004, the Washington State Department of Ecology signed a memorandum of understanding with all the major cruise ship lines that forbids any wastewater discharge in Washington State waters. In these waters, the Oceanic Topaz will keep its sewage and gray-water tanks closed. For a ship carrying 3,600 people, that amounts to about 400 eight-person hot tubs worth of sewage and over 3,000 hot tubs worth of gray water each day. As the ship, which is in the midsize range for those heading to Alaska, passes through the shadow of the Olympic Mountains, its 3,600 passengers go about their daily business, flushing toilets, showering, and brushing teeth.Įach passenger will produce a daily average of 30 liters of sewage-also known as black water-and about 250 liters of wastewater from showers, pools, laundry, and other non-sewage runoff known as gray water. Once the Oceanic Topaz departs Seattle, it glides north through Puget Sound and the Juan de Fuca Strait. In this feature, we follow the Oceanic Topaz, a fictional but representative cruise ship, on a seven-day journey from Seattle to Alaska, stopping at various ports. They are an integral part of the Pacific Northwest’s tourism economy, but they come with environmental and human costs.Ĭarbon emissions, wastewater discharges, engine and propeller noise, mountains of trash, and an influx of visitors have a cumulative impact on ecosystems and tiny communities. Touted as inexpensive, all-inclusive vacations, cruises deliver thousands of people to the glaciers, fjords, and small towns of southeast Alaska. These travelers voyage on increasingly massive ships-some about three sport fields in length-that can house, feed, and process the waste of upward of 4,000 human beings. This year, an estimated 700,000 passengers will depart Seattle, Washington, on hundreds of different cruises. The “Cell Phone Lot” is an innovative way to contact your ride when you are ready to leave.This article was originally published in Hakai Magazine, an online publication about science and society in coastal ecosystems, and is republished by permission.Īfter a one-year pandemic pause and a limited season in 2021, cruises to Alaska resumed and surged in popularity in 2022. When you return to port at the end of your cruise vacation, your friends and family have a free parking lot to await your arrival. They will be delivered and picked up directly to and from your stateroom. You needn’t worry about transporting them. Their premier service will help you arrange wheelchair rentals along with other equipment. Learn about this unique Port Valet Program.įor special needs travel, the Port of Seattle wins the award for convenience. You also have the option of storing your luggage with the concierge services at the end of your cruise. Port of Seattle will transfer your luggage to your airline as a complimentary service. You can enjoy a quick city tour of Seattle after disembarking. (As my fellow green nerds know, cold ironing with engines off is a terrific way to reduce emissions in port!) Point of interest: Pier 91 offers the option for two ships to connect to the city’s grid while docked. Our free cruise newsletter offers the latest cruise news and deals: Sign Up This terminal serves Norwegian Cruise Lines and Oceania Cruises. Parking for Pier 66 is ample, secure, and covered. It also has speedy baggage handling, and new escalators for convenient ‘rides’ from point to point. There are now VIP passenger lounge areas with views of the Olympic Mountains and the waterfront. The facility itself has recently benefitted from an extensive upgrade. This terminal is also within walking distance of downtown, close to many of the local points of interest. For those arriving by air, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is only a 15-minute ride from port. The locals refer to this area simply as “Pier 66”. So consider these tips for knowledgeably navigating among the throngs of fellow passengers. This is the number one busiest port on the west coast. For your next cruise to Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, or points west across the ocean, you will likely launch your voyage at the Port of Seattle, Washington, USA.
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