Following a record-breaking year, the number of cruise visitors to Alaska is expected to remain stable this summer. Industry members believe this could enhance the experience for both tourists and locals.
According to Renee Limoge Reeve, vice president of government and community relations for CLIA Alaska, the steady numbers are beneficial. "It gives communities time to decide how to manage cruise traffic and tour operators the ability to refine their operations," Reeve said. She added that flat growth will help businesses expand their tour operations or excursion availability.
Alaska welcomed a record 1.7 million cruise visitors in 2023, up from the previous high of 1.3 million in 2019, as reported by the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA). This surge required communities around cruise destinations to adapt quickly. "What you're seeing now is communities have an opportunity to take a breath and say, 'OK, this is where we're at,'" Reeve noted.
Juneau has already taken steps to manage cruise traffic. The city and borough collaborated with CLIA to limit the number of cruise ships to five per day, effective this season. This cap, however, does not restrict the size or capacity of the ships. Jillian Simpson, CEO of the ATIA, expects more discussions around similar measures in other tourist destinations across the state.
Simpson pointed out that while cruise numbers have grown gradually, the increase seems more dramatic due to the pandemic years when tourism plummeted. Despite the stable traffic, several ports are looking to expand, and new ones are opening, helping to distribute cruise traffic more evenly.
One such development is the new indigenous-owned cruise port near the Tlingit village of Klawock, which opened in May. Port Klawock, accessible only by sea or air, will primarily host small premium and luxury ships this year. This project is a joint venture between Alaska Native corporations Huna Totem and Doyon, and Klawock Heenya.
Additionally, the state of Alaska has approved the replacement of an aging cruise ship dock in Seward to accommodate larger ships. The Alaska Railroad is also pursuing a $137 million plan to build a terminal with shore power capabilities, expected to be ready by the 2026 cruise season.
While cruise traffic is predicted to stay steady, several cruise lines have increased their advertising for Alaska sailings and are deploying newer and larger ships. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line have launched new marketing campaigns, and Celebrity Cruises will sail an Edge-class ship in Alaska for the first time. The Celebrity Edge will operate seven-day cruises out of Seattle, while Silversea Cruises' new Silver Nova will sail weeklong cruises from Vancouver and Seward.
"You can see water everywhere," said Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, explaining the decision to deploy newer ships to Alaska. "A lot of it is not just stopping at a destination. It's sailing through the fjords and seeing all the wildlife and nature."
Alaska has been a top-performing destination for Royal Caribbean Group this year, maintaining a record booked position, according to the company.
