Cruise Ship Season Drops Anchor Off Santa Barbara’s Coast

Cruise ship season has dropped anchor along Santa Barbara’s coast.

The first of 11 luxury liners arrived Thursday, bringing tourist from around the world to Santa Barbara. Thousands will jump off the boat and into the local economy.

“The numbers seem to indicate a couple hundred dollars per couple,” Harbor Operations Manager Mick Kronman said. “We’ve got a ship that holds 2,800 (passengers), 1,500 crew, so you might see a good economic pop for Santa Barbara.”

From restaurants and shopping all the way to the Santa Ynez wine country, the cruise ship industry is bringing in the dollars.

Exact numbers on the impact these cruise’s have will be completed when the 11th and final liner heads down the coast in early November.