Cruising in Alaska has ballooned in popularity since the pandemic. The lines have invested newer, bigger ships and stretched the season longer. But as growth occurs, concerns of overtourism rise, too. The capital, Juneau, is introducing passenger limits in order to curb crowding, and other ports are watching the move closely.
On this episode, host Rebecca Tobin talks with cruise editor Andrea Zelinski and Russell Dick, the CEO of Alaska native corporation Huna Totem, which has been working in cruise port development for 20 years, on the current situation in the Last Frontier. Huna Totem has a different perspective on cruise growth, and its port-development plan is one its on which its hoping to expand.
This episode was recorded Sept. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by AmaWaterways: https://www.amawaterways.com
Related links:
Huna Totem Corp. https://www.hunatotem.com/
Alaska's cruise conundrum https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum
On the Record: Carnival Corp.'s Robert Morgenstern on the future of Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Robert-Morgenstern-Carnival-Corp-Alaska-cruising
Royal Caribbean is partnering to bring free Internet access to downtown Juneau https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Alaska-cruise-conundrum
Tyler Hickman of Icy Strait Point on growth and managing Alaska cruising https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Tyler-Hickman-Icy-Strait-Point
Cruise lines tap Alaska demand with record deployment https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-lines-tap-Alaska-demand-record-deployment