SAN DIEGO — The Port of San Diego has launched its largest cruise season in more than 15 years. On Sept. 14, the 2026-27 schedule embarked, bringing 183 voyages and more than 700,000 cruise passengers to the region.
The season began when the Ruby Princess arrived at the B Street Pier Cruise Terminal for a seven-day Classic California Coast voyage. This year’s 183 scheduled calls represent a 68% increase from 109 calls last season and a significant jump from the 75 calls recorded during the 2024-25 season, according to the Port.
“We cannot wait to welcome more than 700,000 cruise passengers who will visit San Diego this year,” Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners Vice Chair Michael Zucchet said. “The year-over-year growth shows that passengers and cruise lines come to San Diego for our beautiful waterfront, strategic location on the West Coast, and our proximity to Baja Mexico.”
The expanded season includes several notable additions, including new homeport operations from Royal Caribbean and increased Disney Cruise Line service with the addition of the Disney Magic.
Disney and the Port have an agreement extending through at least 2031 that is expected to approximately double the number of Disney cruises departing from San Diego. More than one million Disney passengers are anticipated over the course of the agreement.
According to the Port, the agreement also marks the first time in more than 20 years that a cruise line has provided a minimum annual guarantee for San Diego.
Princess Cruises, which helped open the new season, has maintained a relationship with San Diego for more than 50 years.
“San Diego has been an important part of the Princess Cruises story for more than 50 years, and we’re proud to continue our longstanding relationship,” Princess Cruises Chief Marketing Officer Marie Lee said. “With an exciting lineup of ships and itineraries ahead, we look forward to helping more guests discover this incredible West Coast destination and create unforgettable memories both on land and at sea.”
The 2026-27 schedule also includes longtime Port customer Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, which is entering its second year of San Diego homeport calls. MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Silversea Cruises and Viking Cruises are among the other cruise lines scheduled to visit San Diego.
The increase has implications beyond activity at the cruise terminals. The Port estimates its cruise industry supports more than 2,000 jobs in local tourism and maritime businesses while bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the San Diego Bay waterfront.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said additional cruise passengers also translate into visitors staying at area hotels, dining at restaurants and spending money at local businesses, while generating hotel tax revenue for the city.
San Diego is California’s third-busiest cruise port, behind Long Beach and Los Angeles. Its location also makes it the closest West Coast cruise port to Mexico, positioning the city as a departure point for Mexican Riviera itineraries.
The Port’s cruise terminals are located along San Diego’s downtown waterfront, allowing passengers relatively easy access to hotels, restaurants and other regional attractions before and after their voyages.
With 183 calls on the calendar, new homeport operations and expanded service from established cruise partners, the 2026-27 season represents a substantial rebound from just two years ago, when San Diego recorded 75 cruise calls.
Additional information about San Diego cruise operations and upcoming voyages is available through the Port of San Diego cruise website.
