Wrapping Up: Juneau’s 2025 Cruise Ship Season Comes to a Close

The Norwegian Encore departed Juneau on October 14, 2025, marking the conclusion of the city’s cruise ship season, which lasted nearly 200 days. This year began with considerable uncertainty, as the Trump Administration’s tariffs impacted the global economy, leading to job losses for many residents and reduced staffing at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center—Juneau’s most popular tourist spot, attracting over a million visitors last year.

Despite these challenges, Juneau’s Tourism Director Alix Pierce reported that various organizations collaborated to ensure visitor safety during the summer. The number of cruise passengers is projected to be between 1.6 and 1.7 million for the year, with expectations for a similar figure in 2026. However, new regulations will limit daily cruise ship visitors to 16,000 on most days and 12,000 on Saturdays—down from peak counts of 21,000 on busy days. Additionally, cruise seasons will be shortened, avoiding most of April and October.

Pierce emphasized the ongoing discussions about managing cruise tourism in Juneau. The recent municipal election included a ballot question on implementing a seasonal sales tax, but preliminary results indicate voters may be against it.

The 2026 cruise season is set to begin on April 27, with the last ship scheduled to arrive on October 6.

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