Tag Archives: Ketchikan

MSC Removes Visits to Tracy Arm Fjord in 2026

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MSC Removes Visits to Tracy Arm Fjord in 2026

MSC Cruises is removing Tracy Arm Fjord from the itineraries of its inaugural season in Alaska, which is scheduled to start in May.

According to a statement sent to booked guests, the MSC Poesia will now visit a different glacier in the region.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to proceed with the planned navigation around the Tracy Arm Fjord, as current ice conditions and geological instability prevent safe navigation in the area,” the company explained.

“Since your safety and comfort are our top priority … we are pleased to offer you an alternative and equally enriching experience: you will navigate around Endicott Arm, a beautiful nearby fjord renowned for its spectacular scenery,” MSC added.

According to the company’s revised itinerary, the MSC Poesia is also set to offer scenic cruising at Dawes Glacier.

“Although this change is due to reasons beyond our control, we sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause,” MSC added.

As part of MSC Cruises’ maiden season in the region, the MSC Poesia is scheduled to arrive in Seattle on May 11, 2026.

Sailing from its new summer homeport, the 2008-built vessel is poised to offer a series of seven-night cruises to destinations that include Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Victoria.

The season runs through late September, when the ship is scheduled to embark on a repositioning cruise to Florida.

Joining MSC’s lineup in Miami, the MSC Poesia offers a series of ten- and 11-night cruises to the Southern, Western and Eastern Caribbean during the 2026-27 winter season.

In related news, Carnival Cruise Line also announced plans to remove visits to Tracy Arm Fjord from its itineraries for the upcoming summer.

With three ships sailing in the region, the company replaced the visits to the glacier with scenic cruising at Endicott Arm Fjord.

Noordam Starts Repositioning Cruise to West Coast

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Noordam Starts Repositioning Cruise to West Coast

The Noordam sailed from Australia earlier this month to kick off a 36-night repositioning voyage to the West Coast.

Sailing between Sydney and Seattle, the month-long itinerary started in mid-March and includes destinations in the South Pacific, French Polynesia and Hawaii.

The cruise is highlighted by overnight visits to Honolulu and Tahiti, as well as stops in 15 additional ports of call.

In addition to traditional destinations such as Nouméa, Lautoka and Nawiliwili, the cruise also features stops at less-visited ports, including Vava’u in Tonga, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, Fakarava in French Polynesia and Kailua-Kona in Hawaii.

Upon completing the repositioning voyage, the Noordam is set to kick off its summer deployment in Alaska.

Part of the company’s six-ship lineup in the region, the vessel will operate a series of seven-night cruises departing from Seattle.

In addition to Alaska, the itineraries of the 2006-built ship sail to the Great Bear Rainforest, with visits to Victoria, Prince Rupert, Nanaimo and Ketchikan.

The vessel’s season also includes a unique 28-night voyage that sails to the Arctic Circle during the summer solstice.

Part of Holland America’s Legendary Voyages schedule, the itinerary features visits to ports in Southwest Alaska and the Far North, including Kodiak, Dutch Harbor and Nome.

Wrapping up its deployment in the region, the Noordam also offers the company’s “Great Alaska Explorer” itinerary in late August.

The 14-night cruise sails roundtrip from Seattle and features visits to Nanaimo, Prince Rupert, Ketchikan, Juneau, Valdez, Anchorage and Kodiak, as well as scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier.

The Noordam is also scheduled to offer a 28-night itinerary that combines ports of call in Alaska and Hawaii before repositioning back to Australia for the 2026-27 winter.

Starting in mid-November, the ship operates 14- to 35-night cruises in the South Pacific departing from Sydney and Auckland.

Juneau Eyes New Seasonal Tax System Aimed at Cruise Visitors

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Juneau Eyes New Seasonal Tax System Aimed at Cruise Visitors

After doubling the fees that cruise lines pay to dock in the town, Juneau is now pursuing a plan to introduce a new seasonal sales tax system.

According to KTOO, the change is aimed at capitalising on the 1.7 million cruise ship passengers that visit the town every summer.

The new structure would raise sales taxes in the summer months and lower them in the winter, according to the local news website.

After being greenlighted by the Juneau Assembly, the proposal will now be presented to residents later this month.

Assembly members want to hear from locals before deciding whether to put it on a municipal ballot scheduled for October.

Other Southeast Alaskan towns, including Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway, already adopt seasonal taxes, KTOO said.

Residents and visitors currently pay a five per cent tax on year-round sales in Juneau, the website explained.

If voters approve the proposed seasonal tax system, consumers will instead pay a 7.5 per cent tax in the summer and a 3.5 per cent tax in the winter.

The proposal determines that the summer season starts in April and ends in September, while the winter season runs from October through March.

In June, Juneau agreed to double the fees that cruise lines pay to dock their ships at the city-owned piers.

The change was unanimously approved by the town’s assembly and applies only to large cruise vessels.

At the time, Juneau’s Visitor Industry Director, Alix Pierce, said that the change was aimed at making the dockage fees in the town more competitive with the private sector.

“We know that our rates are definitely low compared to the private docks here, and other ports in the region are also looking at their fee structure,” she explained.

While dockage fees were previously calculated using vessels’ tonnage and length figures, the new rates are based on the ships’ passenger capacities.