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Firefighter medic Andy Tighe snaps a photo of the breakaway plus-class cruise ship Norwegian Bliss while Captain Tracy Mettler operates a fireboat in the Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan, Alaska, on June 4, 2018. President Joe Biden signed into law Monday, May 24, 2021, legislation that opens a door for resumed cruise ship travel to Alaska after the pandemic last year scrapped sailings. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News)

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Biden signs bill opening door for Alaska cruises to resume

The measure will allow large cruise ships to sail directly from Washington state to Alaska.

The Norwegian Pearl, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. Big-deck cruise ships may be seen in Juneau this year yet as a bill allowing them to bypass Canada passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 20, 2021. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

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US House passes bill that could allow an Alaska cruise season

The bill would allow cruise ships to skip Canada on their way north.

A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill that could allow cruise ships to come to Alaska. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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U.S. Senate passes bill that could allow cruise ships to come to Alaska

It now heads to the House.

Howard Sherman, executive vice president, onboard revenue and destination development for Norwegian Cruise Lines, sat down with the Empire this week to conduct a wide-ranging interview. He said that Alaska remains an in-demand destination for cruise ship travelers but that he suspects the overall passenger load is close to the cap. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

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Covering the water: Execs talk restarting cruises, industry future and ballot initiatives

There’s a lot to talk about.

The Symphony of the Seas cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, in a Wednesday, May 20, 2020, photo, in Miami. Cruise lines can soon begin trial voyages in U.S. waters. They’ll have to carry some volunteer passengers, who will have to wear face masks and observe social distancing while on board. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave ship operators final technical guidelines Wednesday, May 5, 2021 for the trial runs. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)

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CDC sets rules for trial cruises with volunteer passengers

Voyages would be in U.S. waters.

The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. The future of large vessel cruise ship-based tourism is a topic of debate as a group of cruise reform activists are trying to advance ballot measures aimed at limiting cruise ships in Juneau. Another community group has started a Stop the Sign campaign to prevent the questions from appearing on the ballot in October's municipal election. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

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Cruise control on the ballot?

Not so fast, says Protect Juneau’s Future committee

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a news conference on April 9, 2021, to promote the state’s tourism industry, announced Tuesday Alaska was joining Florida’s lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for preventing cruise ship sailings. Dunleavy had said at the conference joining the suit was a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Alaska joins Florida lawsuit over cruise ship pause

CDC stands by decision.

A shop on South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau has its doors open on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. In a normal year shops like this would be preparing for the summer tourist season and the thousands of tourists brought to Juneau daily by cruise ships. But the growth of the cruising in Alaska has some residents concerned about the regions dependence on the industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Ballot initiatives seek to curb cruise ships

Three initiatives for city election.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Juneau’s downtown waterfront sits empty Monday. In a typical year, businesses would be getting ready for the flood of local tourists. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, Alaska’s cruise ship season remains uncertain.

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New guidelines for cruise ships, but Alaska’s still off the itinerary

Maritime law cuts off Alaskan tourism.

House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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House OKs resolution urging federal action to allow cruise ships to come to Alaska

Juneau’s lawmakers say tourism needed for Southeast.

A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. A resolution urging federal action on maritime laws was held up by House Republicans with legal concerns. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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House Republicans balk at cruise ship waiver language

Will they waive them through?

The Holland America Line cruise ships Eurodam, left, and Nieuw Amsterdam pull into Juneau’s downtown harbor on May 1, 2017. Holland America extended its pause on sailings to Alaska until mid-May as the company tries to find ways to sail under new health regulations. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

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Cruise lines announce sailings pause

Exact dates not set.

A conceptual drawing showing a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line's property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL's largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy image / MRV Architects)

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Norwegian Cruise Line seeks public feedback on dock proposal

Take the survey.

Carnival cruise line ship Carnival Magic is docked at Port Canaveral, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., in April. Carnival Cruise Line is canceling most U.S. sailings through the end of this year, the latest sign that the cruise industry’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic could still be many months away. The company said Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, it is canceling sailings from all ports except its home ports of Miami and Port Canaveral, Florida. (AP Photo / John Raoux)

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Carnival cancels most 2020 US cruises as CDC extends ban

The latest sign that the cruise industry’s recovery could still be many months away.

The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. Emissions are among the many grievances raised by the Global Cruise Activist Network against the cruise industry. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Cruise control: Activists voice goals for cruise industry reform

Pollution, human rights and community determinism are all on their agenda.

UnCruise’s first sailing was recalled to port on Aug. 4 after a passenger received positive coronavirus test results. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Rapid testing essential to future of industry, UnCruise CEO says

With the ability to quarantine guests before boarding, the industry could ensure clean boats.

The Wilderness Adventurer returned to Juneau after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. There were 66 people, 36 guests and 30 crew members, on board the ship. The canceled trip by UnCruise was the first of the season. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau’s first cruise of the year ends after positive COVID-19 test

The ship didn’t make port anywhere else, and crew and passengers are now quarantined.

In this Sept. 11, 2018 photo, the Holland America Line ship Amsterdam sits at port in Juneau. Holland America is selling the Amsterdam, Maasdam, Rotterdam and Veendam, which reduces its fleet to 10, the company said. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

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Seattle cruise line sells 4 ships; cruise ban extended

Holland America Line announced move after CDC extended cruise ban until the end of September.

A fishing vessel is drawfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

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State shares results of Juneau air quality study

More monitoring is expected this year.

Large cruises banned in Canada at least until Oct. 31

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Large cruises banned in Canada at least until Oct. 31

Alaska will feel the effects.