Carnival Corporation Marks 20 Years of Shore Power in Seattle
SEATTLE (June 18, 2025) – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, today marked 20 years of plugging into landside electrical power in Seattle in a milestone that underscores the long-standing partnership with the Port of Seattle.
On June 18, 2005, Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess became the first ship to connect to shore power in Seattle. The city was the second place in the world to have shore power after Juneau Alaska, where Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises had first pioneered and invested in the technology.
Shore power allows cruise ships docked in port to switch off their engines and connect directly to onshore energy sources, such as the local electricity grid, to power onboard systems and equipment.
“As a corporation, we are proud of pioneering shore power in Seattle 20 years ago and our role in supporting a technology that is now accepted around the world,” said Robert Morgenstern, senior vice president of Alaska Operations for Carnival Corporation. “This milestone is also a recognition of a long-standing collaboration with the Port of Seattle and its support for what was a novel technology two decades ago.”
Port of Seattle CEO Steve Metruck said the collaboration had provided the impetus for Seattle to have all three cruise berths providing shore power.
Carnival Corporation first initiated shore power at the former cruise berth Terminal 30 where Diamond Princess became the first ship to connect 20 years ago. When the current Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91 opened in 2009, the company moved its shore power equipment and has been plugging in at this location ever since.
“The Port of Seattle is proud to be one of the few cruise homeports with shore power at multiple berths. This is possible because of dedicated partners in the cruise industry and our local utility, Seattle City Light, to make real progress on shared goals and scale sustainable solutions. We thank Carnival Corporation for their leadership in starting us all on this journey,” Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins said.
The shared focus on shore power was also the catalyst for another home-grown success story with Seattle business, Watts Marine, now recognized as global leaders in their field.
Watts Marine recently completed the installation of shore power at Pier 66 with principal, Mike Watts, involved in completing the electrification of all three facilities and the evolution of shore power technology more than 20 years.
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About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.
For more information, please visit www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruises.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com.
To learn more about Carnival Corporation’s purpose and our positive impact worldwide on people and the planet, go to www.carnivalcorp.com/impact/.
About the Port of Seattle
Founded in 1911 by a vote of the people as a special purpose government, the Port of Seattle’s mission is to promote economic opportunities and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner.
The Port owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Fishermen’s Terminal — home of the North Pacific fishing fleet — and public marinas. The Port also owns two cruise ship terminals, a grain terminal, real estate assets, and marine cargo terminals through its partnership in the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
Port operations help support nearly 200,000 jobs and $7 billion in wages throughout the region. Over the next 13 years, the Port’s Century Agenda seeks to create an additional 100,000 jobs through economic growth while becoming the nation’s leading green and energy-efficient port.