Thousands of Juneau (Alaska) residents are currently voting on an initiative that could ban cruise ships with capacities exceeding 250 passengers from docking on Saturdays and the Fourth of July.
The initiative, known as "Ship-Free Saturday," seeks to limit overtourism and return weekends to the local population. Karla Hart, one of the residents behind the proposal, gathered 2,359 signatures to bring it to the ballot.
Mail-in voting started on September 12th, and ballots must be submitted by October 1st. If passed, the ban would impact major cruise shipping companies such as RCI-Royal Caribbean, NCL-Norwegian, CCL-Carnival, DCL-Disney, and Viking, which frequently include Juneau in their Alaskan itineraries.
Cruise travel to Alaska has seen significant growth in recent years, accounting for 65% of the state's summer visitors, according to Jillian Simpson, CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Juneau, home to 32,000 residents, welcomed a record 1.65 million visitors in 2022, with up to 20,000 cruise passengers arriving on peak days.
The financial implications of the initiative are significant, as cruise tourists contributed US$30 million in direct spending and US$3.7 million in municipal revenue on Saturdays alone during season 2023, which spans from April to October.
Opposition to the initiative has grown, with cruise operators and businesses threatening legal action if the ban is enacted. Royal Caribbean and other entities have signaled their intent to challenge the proposal, which would affect both city-owned and privately operated docks.