Juneau Residents Reject Proposal to Ban Large Cruise Ships

Juneau residents voted down a proposal that sought to prohibit large cruise ships from docking in the town on Saturdays.

The "Ship-Free Saturday" proposal, as its supporters called it, was intended to provide locals with "a respite" from the constant flow of tourists.

Out of the 28,113 registered voters, 10,880 cast their ballots, with 4,196 supporting the measure and 6,575 opposing it, according to a report by The New York Times.

“The pollution from the ships and the overwhelming number of visitors is undeniable, but banning them for an entire day isn’t the solution,” said Laura Murray, a resident who voted against the initiative, in an interview with the newspaper.

“We need to find better ways to protect the environment without damaging the local economy,” Murray added.

Had the measure passed, it would have prohibited all cruise ships carrying 250 passengers or more from docking in Juneau on Saturdays. Additionally, vessels would have been banned from docking on July 4th, when the city hosts its annual downtown Independence Day parade.

Juneau, a major port of call for Alaskan cruise routes, regularly sees visits from large vessels belonging to various major cruise lines.

According to research by Cruise Industry News, at least 12 large cruise ships would have been impacted if the ban had been approved. Among the ships that typically dock on Saturdays are Carnival’s Luminosa and Spirit, as well as Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess and Regent Seven Seas’ Explorer.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 4,200-passenger Norwegian Joy is scheduled for six Saturday visits to Juneau in 2025, while Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, Holland America’s Zaandam, Seabourn’s Quest, and Disney’s Wonder are also slated to dock in Juneau on the 4th of July.

Data from the city indicates that in 2023, Saturday cruise ship visits contributed $30 million in direct spending, with over $3.6 million going to the municipal government.