Juneau (Alaska)

Juneau is a major port and Alaska's capital city, with population around 32,000. It is located in the state's southeastern part, sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by a belt of islands 120 km (75 mi) wide. The town is built on a small land strip between the Gastineau Channel (separating mainland Alaska from Douglas Island) and Mount Juneau (approx 2,5 km / 1,5 mi east of downtown) at Lynn Canal's southern end.

In April 2023, the City and Borough of Juneau and major cruise shipping companies (represented by CLIA-Cruise Lines International Association) signed an MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) to limit the number of visiting large vessels per day to five, starting in 2024. In June 2024, the city reached an agreement with CLIA Alaska to restrict daily cruise passenger arrivals to 16,000 (Sundays to Fridays) and to 12,000 (on Saturdays). The restrictions are for vessels with capacity 250+ passengers. On October 1st, 2024, Juneau’s residents voted for the Ship-Free Saturdays proposal to ban vessels with 250+ passengers from visiting the city on Saturdays. The initiative was defeated with +59% opposing voters.

For 2023, Port Juneau reported record-breaking visitor numbers - 1,65 million cruise ship tourists, or +23% over 2019's 1,33 million (previous record). According to a McKinley Research Group report, in 2023, the cruise shipping industry contributed US$375M in direct spending, supported 3850 jobs, and generated over US$40M in municipal revenue.

Juneau Port (locode USJNU) is a major Alaskan cruise port and a fishing port. Cruise vessels dock directly in downtown (at Egan Drive) and you can explore on foot popular places like Red Dog Saloon, State Capitol, Governor's Mansion, Cultural Arts Park, Mt Roberts Goldbelt Tramway.

Out-of-the-city recreational activities include gold panning, hiking (Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area via the East Glacier Loop), trailing (Nugget Falls/near the Glacier), canoeing and rafting (Mendenhall Lake), sports fishing, boat tours (wildlife viewing, whales), helicopter tours (Mendenhall Glacier), floatplane excursions (brown bears, glaciers, waterfalls, forests), dog sledding, kayaking (Smuggler’s Cove, Mendenhall Lake), Douglas Island (rain forest), Goldbelt Tram.

In early 2017, the Juneau Assembly proposed to exempt cruise companies from sales tax for sold goods and services while their vessels are in port. On January 11, 2017, the city's finance committee voted 7-1 to approve a motion by the Mayor to amend the tax code and formalize the exemption. The proposed ordinance has to be drafted and brought to a public hearing before being enacted. The Mayor's initiative was welcomed by the cruise industry, which customers pay nearly USD 8 million in sales tax while ships are docked in Juneau. However, it has historically not paid sales tax for any merchandise or services sold onboard the cruise ships while in port. A similar exemption exists in Port Ketchikan AK created as an incentive for cruise vessels to dock there longer. Cruise ships close all onboard shops while in port.

• A long-standing agreement requires cruise ship operators to pay sales tax. That would not change. In mid-April 2016, in US federal court in Anchorage AK a lawsuit against the Borough of Juneau was filed by CLIA ("Cruise Lines International Association"). It is over the spending of USD 5 per pax tax. Cruise ships collect port fees and pass them on the city. Juneau receives USD 5 entry fee per passenger ("marine passenger fee") in addition to a port development fee of USD 3 per passenger plus USD 5 (state head tax) to a total of $13 pp.
• CLIA's Alaska-based cruise liners pay USD 34,50 pp head tax to the state, which tax is inclusive of Juneau's $8 (5+3). CLIA estimated it has given Juneau over USD 35 million in entry fees in the period 2011-2015. CLIA represents 12 cruise line companies, among which are Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess, NCL-Norwegian, Disney. They contend Juneau has used portions of the fees on projects that don't benefit cruise passengers, thus violating federal restrictions on entry fee taxes. The lawsuit remains pending.
• To defend itself in this lawsuit, the Assembly spent (as of 2017) over USD 0,38 million. CLIA also argues that the coastal park on Gastineau Channel has a bronze whale sculpture that is an illegal use of the cruise funds. In April 2017, Juneau Assembly approved a change in small boats charging rates for potable water at public docks and harbors. The new rate is 150% of the utility rates for commercial customers. The new rate replaces the old (USD 4,67 per 1000 gallons) rate.
• On December 6, 2018, US District Court ruled that Juneau can collect the fees, but their use must constitute an exclusive (ship only) service and not general public-accessible facilities or amenities.

Season 2017 (summer) was the port's busiest ever. As statistics, CLIA revealed a record number of booked cruise passengers (~1,055 million). The estimated by CLIA cruise passenger spending in Juneau was ~USD 183 million. The statistics showed that in the period May 1st through September 30th, the cruise port receives an average of USD 1,233 million per day.

Port Juneau provides shore-to-ship power capabilities. The technology (by Nidec Corporation, Japan) enables docked vessels to receive electricity from the city's power grid. From the berth, vessels can plug-in directly to the grid which allows full onboard operations without using the diesel engines (being shut down right after docking). The Japanese company has installed such shore-power systems in ports Los Angeles CA, San Francisco CA, Goteborg, Travemunde, Livorno, Genoa.

In September 2019, the world's 4th-largest passenger shipping company - Norwegian Cruise Line Holding (NCLH) announced plans to build an additional cruise ship dock at Egan Drive (downtown Juneau).

• On Sept 9th (2019), NCLH purchased (for USD 20 million) a 2,9-acres/1,2-hectares land area at Egan Drive (across from Juneau Arts and Culture Center and adjacent to the USCG Juneau station).
• The land was owned by Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and sold to NCLH in a sealed bid auction.
• RCG-Royal Caribbean Group was the next highest bidder (USD 13M), followed by Godspeed Inc (USD 12,8M), Survey Point Holdings Inc (USD 5,255M) and City of Juneau (USD 4,25M).
• On August 23, 2022, NCLH announced that it donates the undeveloped waterfront parcel to Huna Totem Corporation (native-owned/by 1450+ aboriginal shareholders). Huna Totem will now has to develop the new cruise pier and the ship dock-related infrastructure on the former NCLH property. The donation deal was signed by Dan Farkas (NCLH's Executive VP) and Russell Dick (Huna Totem Corporation's President and CEO).

The town was named after the Canadian prospector Joseph Juneau (1836-99) who together with the Irish-American prospector Richard Tighe Harris (1833-1907) co-founded "Juneau City" in 1881. The town was incorporated in 1900 and became Alaska's capital in 1906, Greater Juneau Borough in 1963, and City and Borough of Juneau in 1970. Gold mining here started in 1880, when Joe Juneau and Richard Harris (helped by the Indians) finally found large nuggets of gold and, eventually, three of the world's biggest gold mines.

The current-day city's economy is based on services (state-federal-municipal governments), but mainly on tourism. During the summer season (May through September) the cruise shipping industry alone brings ~1 million tourists to the city. The fishing industry is another major contributor to Juneau's economy. Other industries include real estate, road construction, mining. There are no direct road connections to Juneau, so the access is either by sea (Alaska Marine Highway's ferries and cruise ships) or by air (Juneau International Airport).

Cars and trucks access the city either via cargo barges or via the ferryboats serving the Alaska Marine Highway. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge (length 189 m / 620 ft, over Gastineau Channel) connects to Douglas Island (which is part of the city and west of downtown, and has two communities/settlements - Douglas, and West Juneau).

Juneau Airport is approx 13 km (8 mi) northwest of downtown and handles both cargo and passenger aircraft. Cargo flights (by the airlines Alaska Air Cargo, Empire Airlines, Alaska Central Express) link to Anchorage, Ketchikan, Seattle. Regularly scheduled passenger flights (by Alaska Airlines, Alaska Seaplanes, Harris Air) link to Petersburg/Mitkof Island, Seattle, Sitka, Anchorage, Ketchikan, Yakutat, Gustavus. Seaplanes/floatplanes interlink Juneau with Admiralty Island (Angoon), Chichagof Island (Elfin Cove, Pelican, Tenakee Springs), Baranof Island (Sitka), as well as with seaplane bases on mainland Alaska (Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah/Icy Strait Point, Kake, Skagway) and with Yukon Canada (Whitehorse).

Juneau cruise terminal

Juneau tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

In 2023, ABAK/Above & Beyond Alaska LLC (Juneau-based, employee-owned tour company specializing in Wilderness Adventure Tours) inaugurated the "Fly-In Norris Glacier Hike & Pack Raft" tour. The multi-sports tour starts with flightseeing (floatplane flight over Taku Inlet) followed by land-based activities - pack rafting and Norris Glacier hiking. Pieces started at US$749 per person.

Popular shore excursion options in Juneau AK include visiting the Alaska State Museum (displaying native and historical artifacts), and the Sealaska Heritage (Native nonprofit, authentic house and an exhibition, for Native-made souvenirs).

Mount Roberts Tramway (an aerial tram ascending 1745 ft / 532 m up to Mt Roberts) provides great panoramic views of Juneau City and the nearby located glaciers.

Mendenhall Glacier (width 1,5 mi / 2,4 km, length over 12 mi / 19 km to Mendenhall Lake) is another tour destination. It has an Info Center, exhibitions, and a viewing platform.