The Koningsdam and Eurodam cruise ships remain docked in Juneau early Tuesday morning after arriving Monday, due to a storm that brought high winds to many parts of Southeast Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cruise ships remain in Juneau overnight after canceling Southeast stops elsewhere due to storm

Two ships arriving Monday staying until Tuesday, with a third making an unscheduled stop in Juneau

This is a developing story.

A storm that brought strong winds to some parts of Southeast Alaska resulted in the cancellation of cruise ship stops in Sitka and other ports, with two of the three ships arriving in Juneau on Monday remaining overnight until Tuesday evening, according to officials.

Winds were most severe along the outer coast of the Southeast Panhandle, with a peak speed of 81 miles per hour on Annette Island near Ketchikan, according to National Weather Service Juneau. The strongest winds in Juneau were 62 mph at the AJ Dock and 59 mph in south Douglas — causing rough waves were the two ships were docked overnight — although peak winds only reached 46 mph at the Juneau Public Library several hundred yards away.

The storm had passed in Juneau by early Tuesday morning and a high wind alert for other parts of Southeast was canceled at about 6:30 a.m., although winds gusts up to 40 mph were forecast in some areas for the remainder of the day, according to NWS Juneau.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 
An alert issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday shows high winds forecast in many coastal areas of Southeast Alaska on Monday and Tuesday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

An alert issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday shows high winds forecast in many coastal areas of Southeast Alaska on Monday and Tuesday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

The 2,650-passenger Koningsdam arrived early in Juneau at about 9:30 a.m. Monday — instead of its originally scheduled 1:30 p.m. — after skipping its Monday stop in Skagway, according to Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska. The ship was scheduled to depart at 7 p.m. Tuesday instead of 10:30 p.m. Monday.

The other ship remaining overnight was the 2,104-passenger Eurodam, which arrived as planned at midday Monday and was scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. Tuesday instead of 10 p.m. Monday.

Also docking in Juneau on Monday was the 4,004-passenger Norwegian Bliss from 2:30-10 p.m. It departed as scheduled and was heading toward Skagway on Tuesday.

Among the other schedule changes due to the storm, Ovation of the Seas, which was in Juneau on Sunday, canceled its scheduled Monday in Skagway due to the storm forecast. Drew Green, port director for Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska in Juneau, said the ship is also skipping a stop in Ketchikan as it heads south.

The Noordam is also “pursuing an alternate itinerary due to the storm,” with a stop in Juneau planned from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to Cruise Line Agencies.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Elon Musk on stage with a chainsaw gifted to him by President Javier Milei of Argentina, left, during the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in National Harbor, Md., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Musk to all federal workers: Explain accomplishments during past week by Monday or lose your job

Some agency leaders tell employees to hold off on responding as further guidance is sought.

Jude Humphrey, a Student Conservation Association intern for the U.S. Forest Service, reads a story about snowflakes to kids during a Mendenhall Minis event at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Firing on: Remaining Forest Service staff fill in to keep Mendenhall Glacier activities flowing

As visitor center continues lectures and kids’ events, fired employees get a show of community support.

The University of Alaska Southeast class of 2024 receives their degrees during a commencement ceremony Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the UAS Recreation Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska removing DEI references from all print and online materials

UAS chancellor says deletions are to comply with Board of Regents’ directive issued Friday afternoon.

A bike is parked outside the main entrance of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday, July 27, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
About 100,000 Alaskans could lose health insurance under GOP plan backed by Trump, hospital officials say

Cut affecting Medicaid could also be costly to state and other policyholders, letter to delegation asserts.

Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Immigrants and refugees in Alaska feel uncertainty under Trump administration

Policy changes spur preparation outreach from immigration advocates.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Begich supports Trump’s federal cutbacks, but ‘I recognize the process won’t be perfect’

Congressman says cutting most Mendenhall Glacier staff may have been hasty; also wants faster flood fix.

Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read