Key Aspects:
- Goldbelt Tram, a popular attraction enjoyed by cruise guests in Juneau, is temporarily closed following an accident.
- The cruise lines have not commented publicly on the incident, but will likely automatically refund Goldbelt Tram shore excursions for the time being.
- More than a dozen cruise ships are expected in Juneau over the next week from brands like Carnival, Princess Cruises, and more.
An accident has temporarily closed one of the most popular shore excursions in Juneau, Alaska, just as the 2026 cruise season kicks off.
Juneau’s Goldbelt Tram is closed at least through the weekend of May 2-3, 2026, and likely longer, following an incident on the night of April 30, 2026, that sent two people to the hospital.
The famous attraction offers a scenic, six-minute ride from the cruise port to the top of Mount Roberts, where guests can take in the beautiful sights of Juneau from 1,800 feet high.
The major cruise lines that visit Alaska frequently sell tickets to the tram as a shore excursion. This includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and more.
But at least for now, this excursion will be put on hold until the issue behind the recent accident is identified, fixed, and thoroughly inspected by the appropriate authorities.
What Went Wrong?
On Thursday night, five tram employees were riding the tram when it came into the base station too fast and stopped abruptly and rather violently.
The Capital City Fire Rescue team responded to the scene, where first responders “successfully stabilized the cabin and gained access to all occupants.”
All of the employees had minor injuries. Two of the five employees, one of whom was knocked unconscious, were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Both have already been released.
There was initially concern that the injured people may have been guests of Carnival Luminosa, which was docked in Juneau at the time as part of a 10-night Alaska sailing. However, it has been confirmed that all five people were employees.
The cause behind the incident is still unclear and is under investigation, but the attraction will not be reopened until the investigation is complete and any necessary repairs have been made to prevent this situation from happening again with cruise guests.
“It came in faster than anticipated, so it was just docking at a higher rate of speed,” Ben Moorhead, the tram’s director of operations and facilities, told The Juneau Independent on May 1.
“Today we’re just trying to figure out everything that happened…So I’m in contact with the lift manufacturer and in contact with people to make all the repairs,” Moorhead continued.
Because of the time required to investigate and fix the tram, as well as inspections to confirm it is safe to reopen, Cruise Hive expects that the attraction will likely stay closed at least into the week of May 4, 2026.
Most likely, the cruise lines will automatically refund any Goldbelt Tram shore excursions booked directly through them while the famous attraction remains shuttered.
Usually, refunds in cases like these will either go back to the original form of payment or will be provided as credits, which can be used to book a new tour from the cruise line’s repertoire.
Which Cruise Ships Will be Impacted?
The Alaska cruise season doesn’t typically peak until mid-June to mid-August, but there are still plenty of cruise ships coming to Juneau over the next week.
So far, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Miracle, which is operating a 10-night Alaska sailing out of Seattle, was in Juneau on May 1, 2026, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.
On Saturday, May 2, UnCruise Adventures’ Wilderness Legacy, Carnival’s Carnival Spirit, and Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess are on the port schedule.
Sunday, May 3, is quieter. UnCruise Adventures’ Wilderness Discoverer is the only ship on the schedule, and is a small vessel with room for only 76 passengers.
The next week, however, looks busier. 13 ship calls are scheduled from May 4 to May 8 from brands like Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Lindblad Expeditions.
During its busy period, Alaska’s capital can accommodate up to five large cruise ships at its docks, as well as a sixth anchored vessel through tendering operations.
However, it will likely be rare to see the port at capacity going forward, as Juneau has implemented a daily passenger cap of 16,000 cruise guests on weekdays and a reduced limit of 12,000 on Saturdays.
Cruise guests who are booked on the Goldbelt Tram in the near future should look out for communication from the cruise line or the tram company (if booked independently) for potential updates about the ongoing closure and refunds.
