City and Borough of Juneau and Cruise Lines Agree on Port Capacity Guidelines

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) and major cruise lines calling on the port have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to help manage visitor volume in the Capital City by establishing a threshold of no more than five large ships in port per day. The agreement, negotiated by CBJ and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) on behalf of its cruise line members, is based on recommendations established by the Visitor Industry Task Force (VITF) in 2020 and furthers the partnership among the parties.

The threshold of five large ships per day is intended to provide a positive experience for the benefit of both residents and visitors, while providing a reliable market for the many local businesses that rely on the visitor industry, especially cruise. It also demonstrates the collaborative partnership that exists between the community and the cruise industry as we work together to maintain a vibrant and sustainable visitor industry in Juneau and Southeast Alaska.

“This agreement provides our community with the assurance we need to plan for the future. The visitor industry is vital to our local economy and it’s essential we preserve the things that make Juneau an incredible place to live and to visit. We hope to have a thriving tourism economy for many years to come,” said Alexandra Pierce, Tourism Manager at the City and Borough of Juneau.

“Our work on this MOA recognizes the importance of cooperation, collaboration, and communication made possible by Juneau’s leadership. They continually keep the wishes of the community at the forefront of the conversation, while ensuring the cruise industry is still able to deliver a world-class visitor experience in Alaska’s capital city,” said Renée Limoge Reeve, Vice President of Government and Community Relations at CLIA. “Destination stewardship remains one of our highest priorities. We support the VITF’s recommendations and can assure the community that our work together is ongoing.”

Cruise schedules are set well over a year in advance. The development of a 2024 schedule that met this five big ship per day threshold was made possible by all parties, including Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska, working together even before this MOA was finalized. CBJ and cruise lines are continuing to further improve the functionality of the port and enhance the Juneau experience for all.

“We appreciate the industry’s willingness to listen and learn as we worked through the VITF process and the commitment to meeting our community goals,” said Pierce. “We value our open and collaborative relationship with both the cruise lines and CLIA and look forward to continuing our work together to achieve a positive outcome for our community and its visitors.”

This is the second MOA based on VITF Goals. In July of 2022, the parties agreed to a series of industry management objectives. This agreement is an important next step as CBJ and cruise lines continue to work together to meet community goals while considering the complex logistics of cruise line operations.

Find information on the Visitor Industry Task Force and the agreement at juneau.org/tourism.