Stormy Seas: Celebrity Edge Drifts from Pier in Juneau Amid Squall

On June 16, 2025, strong winds swept through Juneau, Alaska, catching the Celebrity Edge while it was docked. A sudden squall, with gusts reaching between 45 and 60 mph, struck the area, leading to a severe thunderstorm warning—the first in nearly six years.

Footage captured by both bystanders and passengers on board showed the ship’s mooring lines snapping under the intense conditions, allowing it to drift into Gastineau Channel among other anchored vessels. Observers described the rapid onset of the storm, with the sky darkening and fierce winds descending suddenly.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group confirmed that the gusts had dislodged the ship from its berth. The captain acted swiftly, maneuvering the ship back alongside the pier, which allowed the cruise to continue its planned itinerary through Alaska without any reported injuries or incidents.

Local meteorologists noted that winds shifted dramatically, with speeds increasing from 5 mph at 2:05 p.m. to 26 mph by 3:30 p.m., accompanied by gusts of up to 35 mph. Harbor officials termed the conditions a “perfect storm,” explaining that the broadside winds exceeded the mooring lines’ capacity, prompting crews to release all lines to safeguard the pier.

Passengers commended the crew’s professionalism during the incident. One passenger mentioned that the vessel was redocked within an hour after the crew cleared the broken lines from the water. Nearby vessels prepared to back away as the situation unfolded, anticipating potential collisions.

This incident reflects a worrying trend of strong wind events impacting large cruise ships. In recent weeks, similar failures have occurred with Holland America Line’s Westerdam in Ketchikan and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic in Sicily, both amidst severe weather patterns—though injuries were avoided in all cases.

Once the storm subsided, the Celebrity Edge resumed its scheduled voyage, heading to Skagway to complete its 7-night journey from Seattle. While the weather in the North Pacific can be unpredictable, such events serve as a reminder of the vulnerability of ships even when docked.

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