Residents Propel Initiative to Limit Cruise Ship Activity in Juneau

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Residents of Juneau, Alaska, the state capital, have successfully collected the necessary signatures for a crucial ballot measure aimed at limiting large cruise ship activities.

The initiative, labeled โ€œship-free Saturdays,โ€ proposes to prohibit cruise ships carrying over 250 passengers from docking on Saturdays and on July 4 each year.

Despite missing the required 2,359 signatures needed to certify the petition by the Clerkโ€™s office in June, the campaign gained the momentum it needed by July 1.

Cruise Ships in Juneau, Alaska
Cruise Ships in Juneau, Alaska (Photo Credit: David Rajter / Shutterstock)

โ€œThe Clerkโ€™s office has completed its review of the initiative petition and concludes that with the supplemental signatures submitted, it meets the requirement to obtain 2,359 signatures in order to certify the petition and is therefore considered sufficient,โ€ wrote Elizabeth โ€œBethโ€ McEwen, CBJ municipal clerk/election official, to Juneau Cruise Control.

The organization is focused on balancing the economic benefits of the cruise industry with the sustainable and controlled development of Juneau.

The letter went on to say that McEwen would be โ€œforwarding this certification to the Assembly,โ€ which has until August 15 to take action. 

โ€œShould the Assembly choose not to act, the question will appear on the October 1, 2024, Regular Municipal Election Ballot,โ€ she said.

This would give Juneau residents a chance to officially place a ban on cruise ships, already limited to 16,000 passengers per day and 12,000 on Saturdays per a recent agreement between the city and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

However, the Assembly could โ€œactโ€ by formally rejecting the petitionโ€™s proposals, which could result in the residents needing to take legal action to get the initiative on the ballot in October. 

Juneau Grapples with Cruise Control

In 2023,ย Juneauย recorded a historic high of 1.6 million visitors, marking a 23 percent increase over the busiest pre-pandemic year, 2019. Residents claim the surge has significantly impacted local life and the natural surroundings that make the city a sought-after cruise destination.

In an attempt to balance cruise tourism with sustainable community objectives, Juneauโ€™s local government and CLIA recently instituted the daily cap on cruise ship passengers for the 2024 season, which runs from late April through the end of October.

In a Memorandum of Agreement, effective May 4, CLIA also committed to providing detailed, quarterly updates on cruise schedules well in advance, minimizing the offloading of bulky waste items, and curtailing their purchase of local drinking water during periods of drought.

Cruise Ships Visiting Juneau, Alaska
Cruise Ships Visiting Juneau, Alaska (Photo Credit: Steve Heap)

However, many local residents argue the measures fall short of addressing the full scope of issues, such as congestion and environmental degradation, as well as their quality of life, thus pushing for tighter restrictions on weekends.

Read Also: Your Guide to the Best Alaska Cruise Ports

All major cruise lines currently operate in Alaska, with Juneau serving as a key port of call. Last Saturday, July 6, the city welcomed Carnival Cruise Lineโ€™s 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit and 2,866-passenger Carnival Luminosa and Princess Cruisesโ€™ 2,600-passenger Grand Princess, all operated by Carnival Corporation. The more than 7,500 passengers that arrived that day does not include crew members.

A recent attempt to get a partial cruise ship ban on the October 1 ballot in Sitka, Alaska, has been rejected three times by its municipal clerk. In that town of only 8,300 residents, residents, are fighting to limit passengers to 4,500 per day, spurred by Juneauโ€™s original success at limiting passenger counts.

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Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot has been covering travel for more than a decade, including sites such as TripAdvisor, CruiseCritic, The Points Guy, Family Vacation Critic, and Family Traveller. Her love of travel has led Lissa to visit more than 43 countries and has her on a mission to see every state in the U.S. (only 4 states to go!). When she's not traveling, she's exploring new attractions and events on the weekends, be it in New York City or Philadelphia, as Lissa lives between both fabulous cities.

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