The Norwegian Bliss leave Juneau’s downtown harbor after its first visit on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. (Juneau Empire File)

The Norwegian Bliss leave Juneau’s downtown harbor after its first visit on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. (Juneau Empire File)

Empire Live: Norwegian Cruise Lines reps discuss plans for Juneau at Chamber Luncheon

Representatives from the cruise ship company discuss plans for a future dock

Summary: Sherman says he understands there’s a lot of uncertainty around what might happen with the property and how many people are coming to Juneau and that makes people nervous. Norwegian is open to an agreement with the city where Juneau would have some control over berthing and cruise ship scheduling.

He didn’t take any questions from the audience but says he’s looking forward to having conversations with the community.

Read the Empire’s full coverage of the luncheon.

12:55 p.m.

He is just now getting to potential plan’s for NCL’s Juneau property. The company has begun working with architects to look at potential plans. The seawalk is one of their top priorities, as well as shore power.

Juneau can provide shore power, but drought conditions in recent years have made that difficult as Juneau’s electricity is generated from hydro-electric dams.

Sherman thinks there’s more room for green space, up to an acre with areas for pedestrians and bicycles.

12:45 p.m.

Seattle and Juneau see the same amount of passengers, he says, but Seattle takes in more money. He believes there are opportunities for Juneau to capture some of that revenue, mainly from increasing the numbers of hotels.

Many cruise passengers return to destinations after having first visited on a cruise. By increasing the number of hotels he believes Juneau could increase its revenue from tourism. He points to Cozumel, Mexico as an example of a city that has taken this approach.

12:40 p.m.

Juneau has some world-class and innovative tourism management he says, like the long-range waterfront plan and the tourism best practices guidelines.

Sherman’s personal favorite is the seawalk he says, but notes that Norwegian’s new property is right in the middle, what he calls a lynch-pin property. He hasn’t talked much about what Norwegian plans to do with the property.

12:35 p.m

Sherman is running through a number of NCL’s projects around the country. He notes however that these are all much larger than what Juneau has the capacity for.

His spent a few minutes talking about Icy Strait Point and the ongoing projects there. He spoke very highly of what the Hoonah Totem Corporation has done with Icy Strait.

His point when it comes to NCL is that they didn’t build a massive structure like the kind they built in Miami. The structure was made to fit the local aesthetic and not be invasive to the local environment.

12:25 p.m.

NCL loves public-private partnerships, he says, because the company isn’t interested in “cookie cutter,” construction. They want to build things that are unique to the specific location that serves the needs of both the company and the people who live there.

He is showing the chamber slides from Norwegian’s Pier 66 project in Seattle. There are spaces for conferences and its top deck has become a popular location for weddings he says.

“It’s used more by the people (of Seattle) than it is by us,” Sherman says.

12:15 p.m.

Today’s speaker is Howard Sherman, executive vice president of onboard revenue and destination services for Norwegian.

NCL doesn’t have a firm design plan, he says about the plot of land. The purpose of this trip is to listen and learn. “What should the future of Juneau look like,” he asks rhetorically.

12:10 p.m.

It’s an absolutely packed house at the Moose Lodge today, some attendees are even standing around the edges of the room.

12:05 p.m.

Representatives from Norwegian Cruise Lines will be speaking at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at the Moose Lodge. In September NCL spent $20 million to purchase a plot of land on the downtown waterfront with the intent of building a new cruise ship dock. Company officials have said in the past they’re keen to invest in Juneau as a tourist destination.


Contact reporter Peter Segall at 523-2228 or psegall@juneauempire.com.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

President Donald Trump speaks to a capacity crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on July 9, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Here’s what Trump, after 20 days of his second term, has done so far specifically affecting Alaska

Nixing rules that limit oil drilling, renaming Mt. McKinley, shaking up U.S. Coast Guard among actions.

President Donald Trump walks away from the podium after speaking about a plane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport during a news conference at the White House in Washington, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. President Trumpճ remarks, suggesting that diversity in hiring and other Biden administration policies somehow caused the disaster, reflected his instinct to immediately frame major events through his political or ideological lens. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
All of the Trump administration’s major moves in the first 20 days

The New York Times is tracking the actions of President Donald Trump… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team pose outside Kodiak High School during their sweep over the Bears this weekend. (Photo courtesy JDHS)
JDHS boys topple Kodiak on the road

Crimson Bears sweep island Bears in two-game series.

Aaron Surma, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Council, gives a solo testimony to the Juneau Board of Education on Feb. 6, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
On top of a flat-funded BSA, Juneau Board of Education considers loss of local funding and grants

Principals and mental health advocate give feedback as the Juneau School District plans FY26 budget.

Cars arrive at Juneau International Airport on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s airport asking long-ago manager Dave Palmer to return temporarily amidst leadership changes

Palmer would return in April as longtime manager retires; Assembly removes two airport board members.

Pittman’s Pub, which has a bar tent located next to the Hooter chairlift and Fish Creek Lodge, will not open this season, its co-owners told Eaglecrest Ski Area’s board of directors Thursday. Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Pittman’s Pub owners say they won’t open at Eaglecrest this year due to cost, space difficulties

Couple says they would like to take over ski area’s restaurant, continue as a year-round operation.

The Alaska Senate unanimously approves a bill Friday rejecting a recommendation to adjust lawmakers’ salaries for inflation. (Official Alaska State Legislature livestream)
Alaska Senate unanimously rejects automatic salary hikes for top state officials

Commission recommendation for adjustments matching inflation takes effect unless lawmakers say no.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read