Alaska is likely one of the hottest cruise locations and a bucket-list itinerary for a lot of cruisers. However will as many cruisers be capable to go to the capital of the Final Frontier if a brand new initiative passes?
The brand new measure, filed on Monday, April 7, 2025, seeks to solidify extra informal agreements into precise regulation for the Metropolis and Borough of Juneau. This may defend the voluntary limits already in place from a Memorandum of Settlement signed in Could 2024.
The proposal units a complete annual cap of cruise ship friends at not more than 1.5 million and a every day restrict of 16,000 Sundays by means of Fridays, with not more than 12,000 on any Saturday.
If handed, not more than 5 giant ships can be permitted every day. The measure defines a “giant cruise ship” as one carrying 950 friends or greater primarily based on whole capability – no matter what number of may very well be aboard on any given voyage.
The measure has been dropped at the municipal clerk’s workplace by Juneau resident Karla Hart, who has been concerned within the cruise ship restrict combat for years, advocating for ship-free Saturdays completely.
“We’re simply asking for a restrict that may enable us, let the city, meet up with the cruise ship passenger numbers and to degree off, and never have all of the stress and battle that now we have,” Hart instructed the Juneau Empire.
Juneau has a inhabitants of roughly 32,000. It’s straightforward to grasp how a number of cruise ships carrying a whole bunch or 1000’s of friends may rapidly overwhelm town.
“The cruise trade is important to our native financial system, and we have to enhance our infrastructure and develop our tour capability to create an incredible visitor expertise and cut back impacts on residents,” stated Alexandra Pierce, Juneau customer trade director, when the Memorandum of Settlement was signed.
When Ships Might Go to May Additionally Be Restricted
The brand new proposal wouldn’t simply be limiting the variety of friends capable of go to Juneau, nonetheless. It might additionally restrict when ships can go to Alaska’s capital metropolis.
Included within the rules is a be aware for “no medium and enormous cruise ships earlier than Could 1 or after September 30.”
April and October are the so-called “shoulder months” for the Alaska cruise season. As a result of Alaska may be such a worthwhile vacation spot for cruise strains and sailings might promote out years prematurely, including extra cruises in these shoulder months is a well-liked approach to develop the season.
Native residents, nonetheless, could also be lower than passionate about extending the cruise season. Alaska’s hottest points of interest are its gorgeous pure magnificence and wildlife, however very early and really late within the season, these attributes aren’t at their finest.
I’ve cruised to Alaska in late April. Whereas it was nonetheless a surprising vacation spot, we didn’t see almost as a lot wildlife as friends would possibly spot in June or July and Mom Nature was nonetheless waking up from her lengthy winter slumber. However, it was nonetheless an incredible expertise.
Learn Additionally: Your Information to the Greatest Alaska Cruise Ports
Due to the seasonal nature of tour work in Alaska, some tour operators have issue staffing their operations very early and late within the season. This will dramatically affect the standard of a cruise visitor’s expertise.
The brand new measure proposal comes precisely as town of Juneau has authorized improvement of a fifth cruise ship dock, this one in downtown Juneau on Egan Drive, and to incorporate retail area, a welcome heart, and a cultural heart.
The brand new challenge is beneath the management of the Huna Totem Company, which additionally developed the favored port vacation spot of Icy Strait Level. The brand new dock is slated to be able to welcome ship for the 2026 cruise season.
If handed, the brand new measure limiting the sizes of ships and the size of the Alaska cruise season will take impact from October 1, 2027.
