Cruises

A lifeboat from the Sapphire Princess cruise ship loads passengers and crew from the Wilderness Discoverer after an engine fire on the vessel Monday morning. No significant injuries were reported and U.S. Coast Guard officials said the disabled vessel will be towed to Ketchikan. (Photo by Dan Reilly)

Nearly 70 people rescued after engine fire aboard small cruise ship in Glacier Bay

No significant injuries reported as large cruise ship, Coast Guard respond to disabled vessel Monday

 

A Carnival Cruise Lines vessel similar to one due in Juneau Saturday following a COVID-19 outbreak aboard steams past Douglas in 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Formerly infected cruise ship to dock as usual

Most passengers were let off in Seattle, and the city is satisfied with measures in place.

 

Peter Segall/Juneau Empire One of the last cruise ships of the 2021 season docks in Juneau on Oct. 20, 2021. Local operators say it’s too early to know how the upcoming cruise season will unfold, but they’re cautiously optimistic.

Smooth sailing for the 2022 season?

Cautious optimism reigns, but operators say it’s too early to tell.

 

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation to permanently exempt large ships from the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which threatened Alaska's cruise ship season this year. The PVSA puts regulations on large cruise ship vessels, like this one entering the Gastineau Channel on Aug. 22, which are critical to the local tourism industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski enters bill to exempt Alaska from Passenger Vessel Services Act

Legislation would let ships travel to Alaska without stopping in Canada.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation to permanently exempt large ships from the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which threatened Alaska's cruise ship season this year. The PVSA puts regulations on large cruise ship vessels, like this one entering the Gastineau Channel on Aug. 22, which are critical to the local tourism industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line’s property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL’s largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy Image / MRV Architects)

New cruise ship dock project moves ahead

Memorandum of understanding signed with proposed Alaska Ocean Center.

A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line’s property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL’s largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy Image / MRV Architects)
UnCruise, operating small-deck vessels like the one seen above, will be one of very few companies that can continue to operate in Alaska this summer following a surprise announcement by the Canadian government banning cruise ships in its harbors until 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Alaska congressional delegation: Canadian cruise ban unacceptable

While small-deck cruises are still viable, their support for their heftier colleagues is ardent.

UnCruise, operating small-deck vessels like the one seen above, will be one of very few companies that can continue to operate in Alaska this summer following a surprise announcement by the Canadian government banning cruise ships in its harbors until 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line's property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL's largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy image / MRV Architects)

Priorities emerge for cruise line’s proposed dock project

Event space is popular.

A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line's property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL's largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy image / MRV Architects)
<em></em>The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has installed three air quality sensors, like the one pictured here off of Whittier Avenue on Nov. 16, 2020, around Juneau to mention the effects of cruise ships on air quality, following an inconclusive 2019 study. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

State places air quality sensors downtown for ongoing monitoring

The program is to monitor effects of cruise ships on air quality.

<em></em>The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has installed three air quality sensors, like the one pictured here off of Whittier Avenue on Nov. 16, 2020, around Juneau to mention the effects of cruise ships on air quality, following an inconclusive 2019 study. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Grand Princess maintains a holding pattern about 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco, carrying multiple people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in March. On Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, U.S. federal health officials issued new rules that will enable large cruise ships to start sailing again in U.S. waters, though not immediately. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)

CDC sets rules for cruise ships to resume sailing

Testing and a seven day limit are among requirements.

  • Oct 31, 2020
  • By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer
  • NewsCruises
The Grand Princess maintains a holding pattern about 30 miles off the coast of San Francisco, carrying multiple people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in March. On Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, U.S. federal health officials issued new rules that will enable large cruise ships to start sailing again in U.S. waters, though not immediately. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
UnCruise’s first sailing was recalled to port on Tuesday after a passenger returned a positive coronavirus test. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

UnCruise guests quarantined, undergoing tests

UnCruise is paying for quarantine lodging, meals, and testing.

UnCruise’s first sailing was recalled to port on Tuesday after a passenger returned a positive coronavirus test. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Aa cruise ship passenger photographs a ship in Juneau’s downtown harbor in August 2017. (Michal Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Seattle cruise operations postponed indefinitely

This follows the closing of Vancouver to cruise ships.

Aa cruise ship passenger photographs a ship in Juneau’s downtown harbor in August 2017. (Michal Penn | Juneau Empire File)