History of the Alaska Cruise Industry

In 2009, 1 million cruise ship passengers visited Alaska, a giant increase from the 22,800 passengers recorded in 1970. The roots of the industry trace to 1946, when the Alaska Steamship Company began offering passenger services from Seattle to Alaska.
















Early Potential
In 1954, Alaska Steamship ended passenger services due to labor problems and increased competition from air carriers. In the 1960s, a former bush pilot named Chuck West revived the notion of cruising in Alaska and started Westours, connecting Vancouver and Glacier Bay. Awed passengers returned with reports of seeing glaciers calving icebergs, herds of moose and soaring bald eagles.












Forerunners
In the late 1960s, P&O and Princess began offering Alaska cruises. By 1970, West had over-expanded and had to sell his company to the Holland America line. In 1975, Holland America launched its first cruise, on the Inside Passage. By 1996, Holland America had expanded its Alaska fleet to six ships.















Expansion
"The Alaska cruise business grew tenfold from 1970 to 1985," note economists John M. Monro and Warren G. Gill. Cunard, Royal Viking, Norwegian, Celebrity, Crystal and others joined the game. The number of ships grew from 20 in 1990 to 32 in 2006, operated by 12 cruise lines, leading to environmental concerns.

Economic Impact
The cruise ship industry generates an estimated $1.35 billion in direct and indirect purchases and wages, according to a 2007 study.
Video:
This video shows Alaska touring from 1954, “When cruise ships were smaller, intimate…[and not] floating Vegas condos.”

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