Juneau Passenger Caps Prompt Alaska Cruise Ships to Shift Focus to Ketchikan

Ketchikan is poised to surpass Juneau in cruise passenger numbers for the first time, largely due to new limitations set by Juneau that regulate the number of ships and visitors. Juneau typically hosts a large volume of tourists, but recent caps on daily cruise ship arrivals and passenger numbers are altering the cruising dynamics in Southeast Alaska.

Beginning in 2024, Juneau will cap the number of cruise ships allowed in port each day to five, with a maximum of 16,000 passengers, dropping to 12,000 on Saturdays. While Juneau’s tourism officials anticipate maintaining close to 1.69 million passengers recorded in 2025, these new regulations will lead to a notable shift in regional cruising patterns.

Royal Caribbean Group’s changes to its Alaskan fleet have significantly influenced this shift. The cruise line will reduce its calls to downtown Juneau from four ships in 2025 to three in 2026 while increasing its presence in Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point. Plans for a new cruise facility in Douglas Island, expected to accommodate up to two ships daily starting in 2028, remain under consideration, although how this will fit within Juneau’s current limits is still to be decided.

Ketchikan has already benefited from private cruise infrastructure, with the Mill at Ward Cove opening in 2021 to enhance visitor capacity and diversify attractions. This growth has prompted proposals for further expansion and improved connections with downtown Ketchikan.

Community sentiment towards cruise tourism is mixed in Juneau, with surveys indicating a divide on whether the benefits of cruise tourism outweigh its drawbacks. Other areas, like Wrangell and Haines, express more support for the industry. In Sitka, there is strong community interest in finding a balanced approach to cruise limits.

As discussions about regional partnership continue, Juneau’s Visitor Industry Task Force, recently reactivated, is set to review the latest community surveys concerning cruise management and the balance of economic interests.

Read more about Juneau’s tourism adjustments here.

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