The Port of Los Angeles is preparing to build out another cruise terminal on its outer harbor and redevelop the existing cruise facility.
The port has issued a draft request for proposals for the construction of a new Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal, a site with views of the coastline and Catalina Island. The port is accepting input on the draft RFP until March 3.
The project would also redevelop the Los Angeles World Cruise Center, also called the Inner Harbor Cruise Terminal. The structure currently has two cruise berths, two terminal buildings and a baggage-handling structure.
It's good news for Princess Cruises, which will spend half of the year homeporting half of its fleet out of Los Angeles, said Princess president John Padgett.
Princess sails cruises to the Mexican Riviera and has access to South America, Antarctica, Hawaii and the South Pacific from Los Angeles, along with repositioning sailings to Alaska.
"For us, it's super important," said Padgett during a live-streamed press conference on Thursday. "We have amazing assets, there's an amazing location. It should be an epic experience for our guests."
Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka said every cruise ship that calls in Los Angeles means about $1 million to the local economy. Seroka said the port is predicting an impact of $250 billion in 2023.
Seroka expects the port to exceed 1 million cruise passengers when the fiscal year ends on June 30. In the calendar year 2023, he said the port expects 250 calls, although the port issued a press release in late January stating it expects to hit that number by 2026.