The Port of San Diego officially started the cruise season by welcoming back longtime homeport partner Holland America Line. This year's launch was marked by a donation from the Holland America Line Foundation to the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, underscoring the strong commitment between the cruise line and the port.
Since the 1980s Holland America Line has been a homeport partner with the Port of San Diego, and this year, their partnership was celebrated with the company's $10,000 donation to the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation. Captain Ryan Whitaker of the Holland America ship ms Volendam presented the check "in honor of its longstanding relationship with and commitment to the Port, the city of San Diego, and the community," according to the company.
"We are incredibly excited to launch our annual cruise season, and what better way to do it than with Holland America, which has been calling here since the 1980s. On behalf of the Port of San Diego, we are happy to welcome back cruise customers for what will be a fun and adventurous season with great benefit to our regional economy," said Chairman Rafael Castellanos - Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
Cruising from San Diego
Holland America Line's presence in San Diego is substantial, with half of its fleet scheduled to visit the Port this season. Departing on cruises that stretch as far as Australia, San Diego has become one of the cruise line's vital homeports. Beth Bodensteiner, Chief Commercial Officer for Holland America Line, expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank the Port of San Diego for decades of partnership and look forward to a successful cruising season."
The official kickoff for the season took place on October 2, with a lineup featuring not only Holland America Line but also other esteemed cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, and more. Additionally, this season welcomes the first-time visits of the Disney Magic, the Viking Star, and MSC Explora, enhancing the variety of cruise experiences available in San Diego.
Contributing to the Regional Economy
San Diego stands as California's third busiest cruise port, following Long Beach and Los Angeles. The Port's two cruise ship terminals on B Street and Broadway Piers are strategically located in the heart of the city on the North Embarcadero. This season, the Port of San Diego expects 100 different port calls and anticipates bringing a staggering 338,000 passengers to the region by the end of the spring season. This influx of visitors is expected to have a substantial economic impact on the local businesses, restaurants, and tourism industry, further underscoring the importance of the cruise industry to San Diego's economy.
