Alaska Residents Push for ‘Ship-Free Saturdays’ Amid Growing Cruise Passenger Concerns

Alaska's capital city has reached a new agreement with major cruise lines to cap the number of daily cruise ship passengers starting in 2026. This move comes in response to rising tensions over increased tourism and its impact on local communities.

The agreement, finalized last week, sets a daily limit of 16,000 cruise passengers from Sundays through Fridays and 12,000 on Saturdays. Despite these limits, officials clarified that the maximum number of passengers might not be reached every day.

Cruise tourism surged after two years of pandemic restrictions, with Juneau experiencing a record 1.6 million passengers last year. This influx has strained the balance between tourism-dependent businesses and residents frustrated by congestion, busy trails, and helicopter noise.

A separate agreement last year introduced a daily limit of five large ships. This measure aimed to manage the tourism impact better, with current efforts focusing on sustaining around 1.6 million passengers annually.

Juneau’s visitor industry director, Alexandra Pierce, emphasized that the new agreement provides time to evaluate sustainability and develop infrastructure to mitigate tourism’s impact. Projects like a gondola at the city-owned ski area, downtown sea walk improvements, and increased capacity at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area are expected to help manage visitor numbers better.

Critics argue the measures don't go far enough. A longtime critic of the cruise industry supports a proposed local ballot initiative for "ship-free Saturdays," banning cruise ships with at least 250 passengers on Saturdays and the 4th of July. The initiative is currently under review and could appear on the October ballot.