“Half of our fleet is homeporting in Los Angeles half the year,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “It hosts our classic Mexican Riviera (cruises) and our access to South America, Antarctica, Hawaii and our exotic itineraries.”

Gene Seroka is the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, said the port of Los Angeles expects over 1 million cruise guests.

“Every cruise ship that calls here is a million dollars for our local economy,” said Seroka, adding the port was expecting 250 calls this year.

Padgett said the company was prepared to grow into the future and partner with Los Angeles.

“Not the entire world is equal in the recovery coming out of the pandemic. Asia is still very complicated … we have repositioned some of those assets back to North America. A key driver behind that growth has been Los Angeles and having that drive-to market.”

Padgett continued: “Our assets are mobile and they will stay where the demand is.”

The port of Los Angeles has issued a RFP to developed a new outer harbor cruise terminal, to help support further growth.