Norwegian Bliss Sparks Emissions Concerns in Juneau

On April 14, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss became the first ship to arrive in Juneau for the 2025 cruise season, marking the official start of the year’s maritime tourism. However, while the ship's arrival generated excitement among many, it also reignited controversy due to concerns about visible smoke emissions.

A photo shared on social media by local environmental advocate Kate Troll, accompanied by a letter from Juneau resident Scott Ranger, quickly gained attention. In his letter, Ranger criticized the heavy exhaust coming from the Bliss, describing it as "unusually heavy" compared to previous experiences.

“Much of Juneau was excited to welcome the first visitors of the year. A significant part of Juneau was not. I'm pretty much in the first category as I take folks whale watching from the cruise ships. Yesterday, I immediately moved into the second category. The attached photograph shows why. I'm used to the Norwegian Jewel and Sun spewing copious amounts of exhaust, but not the Bliss or the Encore as they are much newer ships. This is not good," Ranger wrote.

He further expressed his disappointment in Norwegian Cruise Line's community relations efforts in Juneau, warning that the heavy emissions could fuel local support for stricter regulations on cruise traffic.

“If the cruise line continues operating like this, polluting one of the nicest places on the planet, opposition will grow rapidly. We have a second initiative to place legal, hard limits on cruise ships to Juneau. What the Bliss did yesterday will pretty much insure that enough signatures will be gathered to put it on the ballot and that many more people will vote for it than last year's initiative," he added.

“This is an ignominious way to begin the 2025 cruise ship season.”

Ranger’s comments reflect growing frustration among segments of the Juneau community who are concerned about the environmental impact of expanding cruise tourism.

Public reaction has been divided. Some residents voiced agreement, raising alarms about potential long-term effects on air quality and the community’s overall well-being. Others urged restraint, suggesting that the situation may have been exacerbated by unusual circumstances, such as a medical emergency onboard that required faster travel and, consequently, higher emissions. “If so, I can be very forgiving,” one resident commented. “But an official explanation from the cruise line would be helpful.”

As of now, Norwegian Cruise Line has not issued a statement regarding the incident.

The 2025 cruise season begins amid continued debate about the scale of tourism in Juneau. According to GM Today, last year voters narrowly defeated a proposed ballot initiative aimed at banning cruise ship dockings on Saturdays, known as "ship-free Saturdays." Despite the setback, advocacy groups have vowed to push forward with new efforts to impose limits on cruise ship traffic.

This is not the first time Norwegian Cruise Line has come under scrutiny for its ships' emissions. In March 2025, a cloud of white smoke from the Norwegian Epic while docked in the British Virgin Islands caused concern among local residents. Following an investigation, the local Environmental Health Division found the emissions to be within safe levels but encouraged the cruise line to consider using low-sulfur fuels at berth to minimize visible exhaust and improve air quality.

With tensions around cruise ship impacts continuing to simmer in communities like Juneau, the handling of such incidents—and the responses from cruise companies—will likely play a major role in shaping the industry's future in sensitive destinations.