tourism

A wire cable stretches high above the forest ground and connects two platforms for zip lining at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Zip line tours are set to be offered again this summer at the ski area starting in late June after three years of halted operations due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Zip line tours to restart at Eaglecrest in late June

It remained out of commission for the past three years.

 

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Lanie Downs with Cruise Lines International Association Alaska addresses the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce along with other members of the community on cruise line projections and economic impact expected for 2023.

Cruise ships projected to be closer to capacity this season

Last year ships were about 74% full, industry official says 90% projected for 1st quarter 2023.

 

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire McKinley Research Group President Susan Bell, left, and CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce discuss the results of an annual survey of residents about tourism during the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center.

Leaders: Record cruise tourism, limits both possible

City may see record number of tourists next year, but residents want cap on ships, businesses told.

 

An Alaska Coach Tours bus sits parked beside the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau. Alexandra Pierce, the CBJ tourism manager, said this year’s season went “relatively smoothly” and said the revival of tourism was overall well received by the residents and downtown businesses. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Final cruise ship of 2022 leaves Juneau

Capital city says farewell to its last ship of the season

An Alaska Coach Tours bus sits parked beside the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau. Alexandra Pierce, the CBJ tourism manager, said this year’s season went “relatively smoothly” and said the revival of tourism was overall well received by the residents and downtown businesses. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
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

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)
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)
An old timber dock near the village of Klawock on Prince of Wales Island will soon be renovated to be able to receive cruise ship passengers as soon as next year after several Alaska Native corporations announced a joint-venture to develop the project. (Courtesy Photo / Na-Dena` LLC)

Cruise ships are coming to Klawock

Next May.

An old timber dock near the village of Klawock on Prince of Wales Island will soon be renovated to be able to receive cruise ship passengers as soon as next year after several Alaska Native corporations announced a joint-venture to develop the project. (Courtesy Photo / Na-Dena` LLC)
A sign marks the location of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Tourist dies near Mendenhall Glacier

The death is not considered suspicious.

A sign marks the location of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Ben Hohenstatt / 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.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire This photo shows a rockfish in the aquarium at Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc. on April 22, 2022. The hatchery is reopening to the public beginning Monday.

DIPAC to reopen doors to public

Put it there, chum.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire This photo shows a rockfish in the aquarium at Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc. on April 22, 2022. The hatchery is reopening to the public beginning Monday.
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)
Alaska Independent Coach Tour’s busses will be running with the same looks but new management after a joint venture between Huna Totem Corporation and Doyon, Limited founded a joint venture purchasing a controlling interest in the transport company. (Courtesy photo / AICT)

Huna Totem and Doyon announce new joint venture

Their aims are the promotion of sustainable, cultural tourism in transportation, lodging, and tour opportunities.

Alaska Independent Coach Tour’s busses will be running with the same looks but new management after a joint venture between Huna Totem Corporation and Doyon, Limited founded a joint venture purchasing a controlling interest in the transport company. (Courtesy photo / AICT)
A float plane takes off over Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska., on May 30, 2018. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, that he will propose a $5 million grant in his upcoming budget to support tourism marketing efforts amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy proposes grant for Alaska tourism effort

Proposal part of upcoming budget.

A float plane takes off over Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska., on May 30, 2018. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, that he will propose a $5 million grant in his upcoming budget to support tourism marketing efforts amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
The Juneau headquarters of Alaska Light & Power on Dec. 9. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Grant process leaves city high and dry, but electrification plans still on deck

When will their ship come in?

The Juneau headquarters of Alaska Light & Power on Dec. 9. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire The Nieuw Amsterdam sails into Juneau on July 26, 2021. On Monday night, city leaders reviewed the results of a community survey aimed at learning more about community attitudes about the impact of large cruise ships.

Tourism survey yields ‘remarkable,’ ‘interesting’ data

Questionnaire shows little movement in public opinion despite visitor surge

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire The Nieuw Amsterdam sails into Juneau on July 26, 2021. On Monday night, city leaders reviewed the results of a community survey aimed at learning more about community attitudes about the impact of large cruise ships.
A plane lands at Juneau International Airport on May 25, 2021, as the number of travelers in the state started to rise after the lockdowns of 2020. Travel numbers are not back up to their pre-pandemic levels, but they are increasing according to local travel authorities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

After steep decline, transportation numbers are slowly taking off again

Passengers are coming back by boat, plane and bus, but not yet at pre-pandemic numbers.

A plane lands at Juneau International Airport on May 25, 2021, as the number of travelers in the state started to rise after the lockdowns of 2020. Travel numbers are not back up to their pre-pandemic levels, but they are increasing according to local travel authorities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
The Serenade of the Seas arrives in Juneau early Friday morning. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the first large cruise ship to come to Juneau since the pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 cruise ship season and delayed the 2021 season. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

They’re back: Large cruise ships return to Southeast Alaska

Juneau’s first large cruise ship since start of the pandemic arrived today.

The Serenade of the Seas arrives in Juneau early Friday morning. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the first large cruise ship to come to Juneau since the pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 cruise ship season and delayed the 2021 season. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)