2024: A Year of Landmark Firsts for Cruise Ship Visits
February 15, 2024
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AVALON— The 2024 cruise ship schedule will be unlike any other year, with significant changes in various cruise line itineraries and ships docking on the West Coast. Avalon is poised to welcome four more inaugural visits during the year, with one, by the Seaborn Sojourn, already having occurred. Moreover, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International are all set to make maiden visits with ships from their fleets. Here are the inaugural visits scheduled for 2024:
- Seaborn Sojourn sailed in Jan. 12
- Celebrity Summit, May 5
- Carnival Firenze, May 13
- Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas, Sept. 27
- Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas, Oct. 4
In addition, the port of Avalon will see the return of two Holland America Line ships that have not visited for some time:
- Holland America Zaandam, last here in 2010, returns April 21
- Holland America Eurodam, last here in 2018, returns April 28
“Cruise ship visitors play a vital role in bolstering the local economy, particularly during the winter and spring seasons when other forms of travel to the island are typically reduced,” stated Jim Luttjohann, president and CEO of Love Catalina. “In most years, cruise ship visitors constitute approximately 25% of the total visitor volume for Catalina.”
According to data presented by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) at the Seatrade Cruise Conference last year, up to 40% of cruise ship travelers who experienced a destination for the first time expressed their intention to return for a longer visit.
“This underscores the significance of each cruise ship visitor we welcome to the port of Avalon,” added Luttjohann. “They are provided with a glimpse of what makes Catalina special, encouraging them to return for extended stays, explore our hotels, partake in longer excursions, and savor the island’s relaxed pace.”
Catrina Awalt, proprietor of Twos Company, a well-established gift and jewelry boutique in Avalon, expressed enthusiasm about this year’s diverse lineup of cruise ships.
“The variety of cruise lines visiting our shores is fantastic news for retailers,” she remarked. “We’re attracting some of the top-tier cruise lines, bringing a discerning clientele to our community.” Awalt added, “The return of Royal Caribbean and the recent addition of Disney Cruises have notably impacted our local economy.”
Luttjohann emphasized the economic significance of cruise passengers for the city of Avalon. “Cruise passengers contribute to the city’s revenue through port fees,” he explained. “Wharfage fees are levied on every passenger, and these fees help offset the operational expenses of the Avalon Harbor Department.”
He further noted the impact of Measure H, approved by voters in 2020, which introduced additional fees for hospital construction to fares for passenger ferries and cruise ships arriving in Avalon Harbor. “These economic benefits underscore the importance of such visitors to the future prosperity of our community,” he concluded.
Despite the excitement surrounding these inaugural visits, the total number of ship visits for 2024 is expected to be 104, a slight decrease from the 116 visits recorded in 2023. The schedule of ship visits can be accessed at https://www.lovecatalina.com/community-information/cruise-ship-schedule/, while valuable information to aid cruise visitors is available at cruisetocatalina.com.
