Pet Boarding, South Bay Live Cam 3

The Port of Los Angeles welcomed more than one million cruise passengers at its World Cruise Center in calendar year 1998, marking the first time that the busiest cruiseport on the U.S. West Coast surpassed that threshold. Larry A. Keller, executive director for the Port, stated, "Unprecedented cruise and cargo business last year is testament to the Port of Los Angeles' tremendous diversification and capability. There is no other seaport in the United States that can match our expertise for attracting and serving the world's cruiseships and cargo vessels".

A total of 1,000,778 passengers sailed on cruiseship voyages last year, a 1.6% increase of 16,165 customers over the previous record set in 1997. The Port's cruise business has increased every year since 1995, when the Port handled 759,509 passengers. In just three years, customer volume rose by 241,269 passengers for a 31.8% increase in business, with strong expectations for continued growth.

Keller cited five major reasons for the Port's record-setting cruise business last year: Economic prosperity increases the probability and frequency of cruise travel. He explained, "Our cruise passengers are people with discretionary income who are embarking on their first vacation at sea, as well as repeat customers who thoroughly enjoy the floating resort hotel experience".