Working closely with Royal Caribbean Group, the Seward Company has revealed its plans for a new cruise terminal in the Port of Seward in Alaska. Seward, deemed the gateway to Kenai Fjords, will welcome the new terminal by spring 2026.

Transformative Project Now Underway

The Seward Company has announced ambitious plans to transform the Port of Seward, Alaska, by constructing a new, state-of-the-art cruise terminal and pier by early 2026.

Breaking ground immediately, the Seward Company will replace the existing Alaska Railroad cruise port facility with a modern structure designed to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the region, including Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships.

“Maximizing the 13 acres of upland space, the integrated transportation hub, terminal building and double-berth pier are designed to streamline the boarding experience while simplifying the operational requirements of a full-service port,” said the Seward Company.

Modernizing Seward’s Port

The current Alaska Railroad cruise port, constructed in 1965, is deemed obsolete. The 2023 Freight Traffic Study highlighted the urgent need for replacement, citing the degradation of the port’s supporting structures.

Currently equipped with a 736-foot dock, the Port of Seward says the “passenger dock is only occasionally used for light freight and logistics.”

The Seward Company’s plans include the erection of a 41,500-square-foot cruise terminal and the addition of a floating double berth pier, measuring 748 feet in length and 100 feet in width. The pier will be able to support simultaneous docking of two vessels at the same time.

The floating berth is being designed to accommodate Alaska’s extreme tides and will include a 200-foot-long split-transfer to facilitate embarkation and debarkation.

Worth Reading: Alaska Approves Legislation to Fund New Cruise Terminal

The world-class port will also feature a parking lot with 32 bus stalls and 48 car spaces. Turnagain Marine will oversee the engineering, design, and construction of the project, which will total $137 million.

Upgrade Suitable for Quantum-Class Ships

Royal Caribbean, the key cruise line behind the port renovation and expansion, will be able to accommodate its Quantum-class ships at the new port which can accommodate up to 4,100 passengers.

Currently, Royal Caribbean is operating a number of Alaska sailings for 2024 and 2025.

Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas are slated to sail in Alaska throughout the summer 2024 and 2025 season, with departures from Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Anthem of the Seas will make her debut in the region in 2025.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Announces Four-Ship Line-Up for Alaska 2025

Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Seabourn Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and Disney Cruise Line also offer Alaskan itineraries. 

The new cruise port opens the opportunity for more passengers to visit a newer destination in the “Last Frontier,” which is seeing a spike in travelers arriving via cruise ship. The state expects to bring in more than 1.65 million passengers in 2024 via the various cruise lines who have added the picturesque state to its voyages. 

CLIA, the Cruise Line International Association, reported that around 60% of summer visitors to the state arrive via cruise and direct visitor spending totals nearly $2.2 billion a year. CLIA reported the figure increases to $3.7 billion when factoring in labor, bringing the total economic impact to $4.5 billion.

The port is adjacent to the Alaska Railroad and Seward Highway, with shuttles to Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, making it a call that can lead to more internal explorations of Alaska.

However, already well-established ports are concerned about the size of ships docking in its harbors. Residents of Sitka, Alaska, for example, have created petitions to limit the number of ships and passengers calling. Residents of Seward are watching the updates with anticipation.

The New York City Council has approved landmark legislation aimed at reducing emissions from cruise ships docked at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

The new law will require ships to utilize shoreside power connections where available, but what about cruise ships not yet updated to access a local power grid?

Lawmakers Aim to Cut Emissions From Docked Ships in NYC

In a unanimous vote on March 7, 2024, members of the New York City Council voted to pass legislation titled “Introduction 4-A, Our Air Our Water Act,” designed to significantly cut harmful emissions from cruise ships docked with engines running at the Brooklyn and Manhattan cruise terminals.

Without a shoreside power source, cruise ships must keep engines running to operate hotel services while docked, causing harmful emissions from fossil fuels. More ships are being outfitted with shoreside power technology, but there is still a long way to go before all cruise vessels have the capability. The Cruise Lines International Association has a stated goal of a net-zero carbon industry by 2050. 

The text of the legislation reads: “This bill would alter the terms of the contract between the city and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) by requiring EDC to compel cruise terminal operators to require cruise ships with shore power capability to connect to shore power systems when docked, whenever shore power is available, and it is safe and practicable to do so.”

The key phrase is “require cruise ships with shore power capability,” because the bill’s text does not indicate any mandate for ships that are not equipped for shoreside connections. Moreover, the Manhattan Cruise Terminal has not been updated with any shore power capabilities, so cruise ships docking there cannot hook into the local grid even if they have the technology to do so. 

The Manhattan Terminal is the bigger of the two, and serves Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Oceania Cruises, among others.

The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which serves Cunard and Princess Cruises, was outfitted with a shoreside power source for cruise ships in 2017, but the connections are not always used because the sockets the terminal installed are not compatible with all cruise ships. 

These impediments to a full utilization of shoreside power would have to be removed before any meaningful level of emissions reduction can be achieved. Still, the New York City Council appears to see the passage of the legislation as a step forward. 

“Today, the Council is passing critical legislation to protect and support residents who live in communities surrounding our city’s terminals,” New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said. 

“By requiring cruise ships to connect to shore power, this law will limit harmful emissions and mitigate pollution, noise, and other impacts on local neighborhoods,” Adams added. 

The bill was introduced by Council members Alexa Avilés, who represents Brooklyn, and Erik Bottcher, representing Manhattan. 

New Law Also Targets Local Traffic From Cruise Guests

In addition to addressing engine emissions at the docks of two cruise terminals, the legislation has a traffic component, requiring that the EDC create and update traffic mitigation plans in the neighborhoods around each terminal.

The plans will provide strategies to cut pollution, noise, and “other disruptions” caused by cruise passenger transits to and from the cruise terminals.

The bill, which sat for several months in the Council’s Committee on Economic Development, appeared to gain steam in February 2023. It was approved by the committee the same day that the full Council passed it.

“This is a community-led victory that’s been years in the making, a step toward righting historical wrongs, and I’m grateful to play a part in its passage,” said Council member and bill sponsor Alexa Aviles. 

“With our air and water at stake, I remain committed to putting community health needs over the corporate greed of the cruise ship industry and last mile polluters. This fight is far from over,” said Aviles.

The legislation does not make clear the Council’s policy regarding ships that are not equipped with shoreside power connections, nor does it indicate an effective date for implementation of the mandate.

The government of Haiti declared a national state of emergency on Sunday, March 3, 2024 after a massive prison break involving thousands of inmates who are now escaped.

The tense situation has cruise travelers concerned about whether or not itineraries that include Haiti might be altered, but no cruise line has yet confirmed adjustments to remove ports of call in Haiti or in the Dominican Republic, as the two nations share the island of Hispaniola.

Escalating Crime and Prison Break in Haiti

Crime and violence has been on the rise in Haiti for some time, along with increased gang activity. This culminated in a massive prison break on Saturday, March 2, 2024 when gangs descended on two prisons – the National Penitentiary in Port-Au-Prince as well as a nearby jail facility in Croix des Bouquet.

In total, anywhere from 3,500-4,000 prisoners or more are believed to have escaped, though exact numbers are not able to be verified, due to the lawlessness of the situation. Among the escaped prisoners are murderers, kidnappers, and other types of violent criminals.

In July 2023, the US Department of State elevated the travel advisory level for Haiti to Level 4: Do Not Travel – the highest warning level available. Violent crime, kidnapping, and civil unrest were all cited as reasoning for the advisory. Following the prison break, US citizens in Haiti were advised to depart the country as soon as possible.

What About Cruises to Haiti?

Only one cruise destination is found in Haiti – Labadee, a private destination for Royal Caribbean International. Labadee is on the nation’s northern coast, roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) from Port-Au-Prince.

Read Also: Labadee, Haiti – What You Need to Know

Labadee is not a private island, but rather a private development on the mainland. While it surrounded by fencing and security, it would not be impossible for the destination to have trouble with criminals. At this time, however, there are no confirmed reports that any gang-related violence is moving toward the cruise destination, or that travelers are at elevated risk in visiting Labadee.

At the moment, there have been no itinerary changes for ships scheduled to call on Labadee, though such changes may always be made as last-minute decisions en route as the most current situation is assessed.

In the next few days, several Royal Caribbean ships are scheduled for calls on Labadee, including Independence of the Seas (March 9), Adventure of the Seas (March 12), Liberty of the Seas (March 13), Oasis of the Seas (March 14), and Symphony of the Seas (March 15). Additional ships have calls scheduled throughout the month, and vessels visit the private port throughout the year.

It is possible that Royal Caribbean may adjust some itineraries for ships to visit CocoCay in The Bahamas in lieu of Labadee, but such decisions would depend on each ship’s itinerary and what the individual port schedules may be.

The Dominican Republic Is Nearby

Because Haiti and the Dominican Republic are both on the island of Hispaniola, cruise travelers visiting popular Dominican Republic ports are also showing concern about the rising violence in the adjacent nation.

It should be noted, however, that the top cruise ports in the Dominican Republic – Amber Cove and Puerto Plata – are 215-310 miles (350-500 kilometers) from Port-Au-Prince, depending on the route traveled.

A variety of ships from different cruise lines call on the ports in the Dominican Republic, including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, and more.

At the moment, no cruise line has adjusted itineraries for the Dominican Republic due to the violence in Haiti. Cruise travelers with sailings to any of the ports on Hispaniola will want to stay in close contact with their cruise line to be immediately updated should there be any itinerary modifications.

All cruise lines do reserve the right to change or cancel port visits for any reason, including war, hostilities, national emergencies, and general safety.

For example, many cruise lines dropped visits to Russia when tensions with Ukraine escalated in early 2022, and likewise, ceased calls to Israel following the violence in October 2023.

Currently, the situation in the Red Sea is causing many cruises to be adjusted – including Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise aboard Serenade of the Seas.

The Port of Copenhagen, famous for its maritime heritage and its environment-friendly policies, is marking a robust cruise tourism recovery with an enviable rise in cruise ship calls.

Known as the gateway to the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic, the port operates three cruise terminals at Ocean Quay, and is close to the city center and Copenhagen Airport.

Copenhagen Welcomed Nearly 300 Ships in 2023 

The Port of Copenhagen welcomed more than 750,000 cruise arrivals and close to 300 cruise ships in 2023. The numbers reflect a robust recovery from the pandemic era, but do not quite reach the arrival levels of 2019, when the port received 348 ship calls and about 940,000 cruise arrivals.

Port officials are bullish about 2024, expecting similar ship and guest arrivals, and with ship visits anticipated year-round. In fact, 50-plus ship calls are slated from October 2024 to April 2025, a healthy number considering it is the winter season.

Also in 2024, a number of high-profile cruise ships will call at the port, including the new Cunard ship, Queen Anne, which will be christened in June 2024; TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7, a new-build will debut in June 2024; Azamara Cruises’ Azamara Onward; Albatross Expeditions’ Ocean Albatross; and Villa Vie Residences’ Villa Vie Odyssey, to name a few,

Copenhagen Malmö Port AB operates the port in Copenhagen and in Malmö, Sweden; the two ports are located on opposite sides of Øresund, the strait that separates the two countries. 

For the fifth time in its history, the Port of Copenhagen was named Europe’s Leading Cruise Port 2024 by the World Travel Awards, held March 6, 2024 in Berlin. The port previously won the honor in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The award is seen as a major boon to the port and to the city of Copenhagen, which is rich in cultural and historical sites.

“This is just what we need when we travel around the world to promote Denmark as a cruise destination. Especially at a time when we are working hard to get more – especially the American cruise lines – to come back to Copenhagen and the Baltic Sea region,” said Klaus Bondam, Director of Cruise at CruiseCopenhagen. 

“This award helps to convey that there is so much else and more to experience, especially in our capital Copenhagen,” added Bondam.

Luis de Carvalho, Commercial Cruise Director of Copenhagen Malmö Port, accepted the award, offering his thanks to the cruise lines and the local companies and stakeholders that create memorable experiences for the cruise arrivals.

Environmental Policies Buoy Port’s Reputation

The Port of Copenhagen is known for its environmental policies that will make it climate neutral by 2025. The policies were among the reasons why MSC Cruises chose the site for the christening of the new-build MSC Euribia in June 2023.

The 6,334-guest ship is the cruise line’s second vessel powered by LNG (liquified natural gas), one of the cleanest marine fuels available. The cruise line said the Danish port was chosen specifically for Denmark’s efforts in environmental sustainability.

Read Also: Boarding a Cruise Ship – All You Should Know

Cruise guests who visit Copenhagen have a wealth of attractions to visit, including historic sites such as Amalienborg Palace, seat of the Danish monarchy, and Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in 1420 and famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

Other major tourism sites are Tivoli Gardens, Christiansborg Palace, the National Museum, and the 17th century Round Tower, said to be the oldest functioning observatory in Europe.

Just days after Bar Harbor, Maine received federal judge approval to limit cruise ship tourists to no more than 1,000 visitors per day, new details have been confirmed about how cruise ships will be handled moving forward into the 2024 summer season and beyond.

The Bar Harbor Town Council issued some clarifications in a statement on Wednesday, March 6, addressing items such as when enforcement will begin, how ship reservations will be handled, and the status of future reservations.

Bar Harbor Town Council Reacts to Ruling

On February 29, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, led by Judge Lance Walker, upheld the local ordinance in Bar Harbor to limit daily cruise ship guest disembarkation to no more than 1,000 visitors. This landmark ruling gives unprecedented control to the community to decide how they will handle the ever-increasing sizes of cruise ships and their growing passenger capacities.

The ordinance went through the local legislature and all appropriate legal channels, including public comment periods and community surveys, though it was challenged by local businesses, many of whom rely heavily on tourism.

The cap of 1,000 cruise guests per day is scheduled to begin with the 2024 sailing season, which runs from early May through late October. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem and Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas are the first and last ships of the season, respectively.

Now, Bar Harbor Town Council has clarified how the ordinance will be handled as the season’s cruise ships are just weeks away from arriving.

“Enforcement will begin immediately,” the council said. “This Council has already directed the Harbor Master to cancel, or reject, requests for reservations made after the day of the vote for all ships with lower berth capacities greater than 1,000 passengers.”

“However, the Council will honor reservations made before the town voted. Passengers from these 2024 ships will not be subject to the disembarkation limits of the Ordinance.”

Any new reservations made will be confined to the terms of the ordinance. The town voted on the ordinance on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Of 3,053 total votes cast regarding the ordinance – a 61% turnout for the town’s registered voter population on that date – 1,780 (58%) voted for the ban while 1,273 (42%) voted against.

Because cruise lines generally plan and secure itineraries years in advance, it is likely that most of the 2024 calls will not be changed. Calls for 2025 and beyond are likely to see greater impacts and cruise lines will have to adjust their itineraries to other destinations without similar visitation caps.

How Much Will Cruise Visitation Be Cut?

For 2024, it is expected that the visitor reduction will be approximately 50% from peak year numbers. If the proposal were fully implemented, the reduction could be as much as 80% or higher.

“This will be a good opportunity for us all to experience the impact of such a reduction on our quality of life and Town operations,” the council said. “This is the fairest and most legally responsible approach, based upon careful consideration of costs and risks associated with enforcement.”

“Cancelling the bulk of the 2024 season now would be fundamentally unfair, would potentially expose the Town to additional legal liabilities, and would have a drastic fiscal impact on an already strained and nearly complete municipal budget.”

The council is already reviewing the 2025 season, confirming that reservations made and accepted after March 17, 2022 will be subject to the ordinance. If necessary, the town will pursue legal action in the event of visitor cap violations.

Rules for enforcement are still being drafted and will be made public as soon as they are ready for a public hearing. Should there be a need for any additional amendments to the ordinance, they will require a town meeting vote to be confirmed.

“The Council remains committed to listening to all individuals, parties, and stakeholders to ensure that the regulation of cruise ship tourism works for the entire community,” the statement from the town council concluded.