Alaska's Capital To Limit Cruise Ships But Will It Really Change Anything?

However, critics argue that the proposed limits are insufficient.

The agreement, which was finalized last week, proposes a daily limit of 16,000 cruise passengers from Sunday to Friday, and 12,000 on Saturdays. However, officials clarified that these figures do not guarantee the presence of such a large number of people every day.

Following two years marred by the pandemic, the number of cruise passengers surged, reaching a record high of over 1.6 million in Juneau last year. This surge has sparked tension between businesses dependent on tourism and residents who are frustrated with increased traffic, crowded trails, and the constant drone of helicopters transporting visitors to glaciers.

Cruise seasons have also extended, with the first ship this year docking in Juneau in early April and the last one expected in late October. On peak days, passenger numbers have approximated two-thirds of Juneau's population of about 32,000 people.

A separate agreement signed last year imposed a daily limit of five large ships for the current season. Alexandra Pierce, Juneaus visitor industry director, stated on Tuesday that the objective of the current agreement is to maintain cruise passenger numbers around the 1.6 million mark.

"The idea is that the agreement buys everybody time not only to see if it is sustainable but also to build the infrastructure that will help it feel more sustainable," Pierce explained. She anticipates several projects will be completed in the next five years to make the current numbers feel less impactful. These include a gondola at the city-owned ski area, updates to the downtown sea walk, and increased visitor capacity at the popular Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.

The agreement, signed by the city manager and major cruise line executives, also stipulates annual meetings to review the previous season's operations and align on community and industry parameters, goals, and opportunities.

Pierce emphasized that city leaders are striving to balance the needs of residents, the economy, and future opportunities for people to remain in the community.

However, Karla Hart, a vocal critic of the industry, expressed skepticism about the new agreement, arguing that it fails to adequately address many residents' concerns about the sustainability of current tourism levels.

"It feels like were just getting led along again, and expansion will continue and more time will pass" and impacts will continue, Hart warned.

Hart is advocating for a local ballot initiative that would establish "ship free Saturdays," prohibiting cruise ships with a capacity of at least 250 passengers from docking in Juneau on Saturdays or on July 4. The signature-review process for the proposed measure is currently underway. If certified, it could appear on the October ballot.

Rene Limoge Reeve, vice president of government and community relations for Cruise Lines International Association Alaska, a trade group, criticized such initiatives, arguing that they "remove the opportunity for collaboration and discussion, and I think that that leaves a lot to be desired."

Reeve emphasized that the agreements with Juneau are the industry's first in Alaska and highlight the cruise lines' commitment "to being good partners in the communities that we visit." Juneau and other southeast Alaska communities are popular stops on cruises departing from Seattle or Vancouver. The much smaller community of Sitka is also wrestling with the debate over tourism numbers.

Reeve and Pierce also participated in a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce news conference on Tuesday to discuss the agreement.