Whittier Cruise Ship Dock Declared Total Loss Following Fire

It’s a harsh blow for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and guests sailing to Whittier, Alaska as the dock for the Chugach Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal has been declared a “total loss” following the fire on Monday, September 14, 2026.

According to Anchorage Daily News, officials with the Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office made the determination on Wednesday, September 16, two days after the hours-long blaze.

Cruise Hive previously reported on the fire, which was first noticed shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday but which the US Coast Guard determined was not fully extinguished until 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) stated on Facebook on Tuesday, September 15 that there was no working hydrant near the dock and both an engine and two tenders were used to fight the blaze.

Whittier Fire & EMS, Girdwood Fire and Rescue, and other local emergency services all responded to the emergency.

The fire was reported at the dock where Klondike Express, a local tour boat operated by Phillips Cruises & Tours that offered day cruises through Prince William Sound, was moored. There were no passengers aboard at the time, but the boat did sustain significant damage. There were no injuries reported related to the fire.

Norwegian Jade was also nearby but moved quickly away from the dock to stay safely away from the blaze. There was no damage to the cruise ship, and her embarkation that day was moved to Cruise Terminal 1, roughly 1.5 miles away.

The Chugach Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal first welcomed ships in September 2024. A joint project between Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and the Huna Totem Corporation, the $80 million terminal includes the double berth dock as well as the terminal facility.

At this time, Huna Totem Corporation is still assessing the extent of the dock damage and no further information is available about any rebuilding plans or future operations for the facility.

The Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office is still investigating the cause of the fire, which Austin McDaniel, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, confirmed has not yet been determined.

US Coast Guard teams from Sector Western Alaska and US Arctic are also conducting pollution assessments and a marine casualty investigation to determine if there is any contamination as a result of the fire. No significant pollution has yet been noted and a “small sheen” first noted immediately after the fire has already dissipated.

What Will This Mean for Future Cruises?

While the 2026 Alaska season is drawing to a close with just a few ship visits remaining on Whittier’s schedule this year, it is not yet known what impact the fire may have on the 2027 season.

The new terminal offered first right of scheduling for ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings family: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, with ships from other lines such as Princess Cruises and Holland America Line utilizing Cruise Terminal 1 but also able to use the new dock as needed.

It is likely that all ships will use Cruise Terminal 1 until repairs can be made, but no cruise lines have made any announcements about terminal changes or itinerary updates for the 2027 season as yet.

The first call to Whittier in 2027 is to be Coral Princess on Tuesday, May 4, while the first vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are planned to be Oceania Riviera on Sunday, May 9, Norwegian Jade on Monday, May 17, and Seven Seas Explorer on Wednesday, May 19.

Seven Seas Explorer is also the last planned call for the 2026 season, arriving in Whittier on Monday, October 5. With no other ships planned that day, the 750-guest ship will most likely use Cruise Terminal 1 without difficulty.