cruise ships

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty discusses Juneau’s tourism this summer during a meet-and-greet aboard the Serenade of the Seas cruise ship. He said ships in most ports are at 100% “load factor” this summer after dropping to zero at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in Alaska sailings are about 70% full as the end of the season nears. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cruise CEO cherishes post-Covid comeback

New Royal Caribbean leader hosts meet-and-greet with Juneau tourism leaders as end of season nears

 

People walk the docks as the sun sets in downtown Juneau on Monday night. The City and Borough of Juneau recently signed a memorandum of agreement with member companies of Cruise Lines International Association to come to an agreement on a number of tourism management issues in Juneau. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire)

City, cruise lines agree on goals to manage tourism impacts

The list includes communication on scheduling, less landfill waste and a focus on local businesses

 

Norwegian Cruise Line announced Tuesday that it would donate a 2.9-acre plot of land owned by the cruise line since 2019 on Juneau’s harborfront to Huna Totem Corp. to develop. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Pier to peer sharing: Cruise line gives waterfront property to Huna Totem Corp

The plan for developing the land is still on track.

 

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police ID man missing from cruise ship

Coast Guard suspends search efforts

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discontinued a program of monitoring the COVID levels aboard cruise ships operating in the United States on Tuesday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

CDC coronavirus-status program for cruise ships discontinued

Politicians and industry officials lauded the move.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discontinued a program of monitoring the COVID levels aboard cruise ships operating in the United States on Tuesday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Tourists walk the piers downtown on July 14, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Mid-season passenger numbers at roughly two-thirds capacity

There’s about the same number of hulls, but less passengers aboard than pre-pandemic.

Tourists walk the piers downtown on July 14, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A Princess Cruise Line ship is docked in Juneau on Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for the week of July 3

Here’s what to expect this week.

A Princess Cruise Line ship is docked in Juneau on Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
The Norwegian Sun sat moored in Juneau on Monday after striking striking ice Saturday afternoon near Yakutat Bay on its way to Skagway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Cruise ship that hit iceberg arrives in Seattle for repairs

It spent over a day in Juneau after striking ice.

The Norwegian Sun sat moored in Juneau on Monday after striking striking ice Saturday afternoon near Yakutat Bay on its way to Skagway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Sun sat moored in Juneau on Monday after striking striking ice Saturday afternoon near Yakutat Bay on its way to Skagway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: Cruise ship that struck iceberg departs Juneau

It’s heading to Seattle for repairs.

The Norwegian Sun sat moored in Juneau on Monday after striking striking ice Saturday afternoon near Yakutat Bay on its way to Skagway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This screenshot of Google Earth shows the area of a proposed “green corridor” from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. (Screenshot)

Juneau joins first effort at ‘green corridor’ for cruise ships

Government, industry officials in Seattle, Canda and Juneau set goal of net-zero emmisions by 2050.

This screenshot of Google Earth shows the area of a proposed “green corridor” from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. (Screenshot)
A Carnival Cruise Lines vessel similar to one due in Juneau following a COVID outbreak aboard steams past Douglas in 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

City contacting ship on way to town following COVID outbreak

The ship, due to arrive here Saturday, experienced an outbreak enroute from Miami to Seattle.

A Carnival Cruise Lines vessel similar to one due in Juneau following a COVID outbreak aboard steams past Douglas in 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Protestors critical of the cruise ship industry gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, April 25, 2022, the same day the first large ship of the season arrived in Juneau. Demonstrators said the industry had a poor environmental record and called on the state to continue to Ocean Rangers program, a voter-approved initiative which put state monitors aboard ships to ensure compliance with state regualtions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Protesters call for more enforcement of environmental regulations aboard ships

As cruise ships return, some residents remain wary.

Protestors critical of the cruise ship industry gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, April 25, 2022, the same day the first large ship of the season arrived in Juneau. Demonstrators said the industry had a poor environmental record and called on the state to continue to Ocean Rangers program, a voter-approved initiative which put state monitors aboard ships to ensure compliance with state regualtions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday

2022 cruise season begins

Visitors and Juneau locals alike were excited for the arrival.

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Amy Purvis, a private security officer who’s been a Juneau resident since 2000, sketches a heart and rose for a piece of woodburning art she hopes to sell to tourists this summer on the still mostly empty pier at Marine Park on Friday.

Modest welcome and big hopes for 1st cruise ship of the season

City officials predicting near-normal season, but many uncertainties linger

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Amy Purvis, a private security officer who’s been a Juneau resident since 2000, sketches a heart and rose for a piece of woodburning art she hopes to sell to tourists this summer on the still mostly empty pier at Marine Park on Friday.
This August 2021 photo shows a Princess Cruise Line ship docked in Juneau. The cruise line announced this week that a controversial contactless payment method will not be expanded to Alaska in the immediate future. Prior to the decision, MedallionPay was panned by members of the business community. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)

Princess puts plans for ’contactless’ MedallionPay system on hold in Alaska

Businesses and municipal officials bristle at proposed no-contact system.

This August 2021 photo shows a Princess Cruise Line ship docked in Juneau. The cruise line announced this week that a controversial contactless payment method will not be expanded to Alaska in the immediate future. Prior to the decision, MedallionPay was panned by members of the business community. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)
Hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau on Monday, April 18, 2022. Over a million passengers are expected to arrive aboard large cruise ships this summer, and local business say its been a challenge finding enough workers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Cruise ships are returning to Juneau, will seasonal workers?

Businesses cite disruption, housing in challenging hiring market.

Hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau on Monday, April 18, 2022. Over a million passengers are expected to arrive aboard large cruise ships this summer, and local business say its been a challenge finding enough workers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Passengers disembark from the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship Monday, March 16, 2020, in Charleston, S.C. Federal officials are dropping a health warning that they have attached to sailing on cruise ships since the start of the pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday, March 30, 2022 that they will leave it up to vacationers to decide whether they feel safe getting on a ship. (AP Photo / Mic Smith)

CDC drops COVID-19 health warning for cruise ship travelers

Cruise-ship operators welcomed Wednesday’s announcement.

Passengers disembark from the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship Monday, March 16, 2020, in Charleston, S.C. Federal officials are dropping a health warning that they have attached to sailing on cruise ships since the start of the pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday, March 30, 2022 that they will leave it up to vacationers to decide whether they feel safe getting on a ship. (AP Photo / Mic Smith)
The Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau passed an amendment allowing for the possibility of a fifth cruise ship pier in the city’s Long Range Waterfront Plan on March 15, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City OKs ordinance allowing for fifth pier in long-term plan

It’s not that it will be built, but that it can be built under the plan.

The Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau passed an amendment allowing for the possibility of a fifth cruise ship pier in the city’s Long Range Waterfront Plan on March 15, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Docks and Harbors department is readying for the inbound cruise season as it makes headway on other projects around the city, said the harbormaster. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Docks and harbors rigs for cruise season

It’ll be the first full season since 2019.

Juneau’s Docks and Harbors department is readying for the inbound cruise season as it makes headway on other projects around the city, said the harbormaster. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
In this Empire file photo, a Princess Cruise Line ship is seen docked in Juneau on Aug. 25, 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday the company pleaded guilty to violating the terms of its probabtion stemming from a 2017 conviction for illegal wastewater dumping. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)

Princess Cruises pleads guilty to probation violation

U.S. Dept. of Justice says company violated probation terms.

In this Empire file photo, a Princess Cruise Line ship is seen docked in Juneau on Aug. 25, 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday the company pleaded guilty to violating the terms of its probabtion stemming from a 2017 conviction for illegal wastewater dumping. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)