A rupture in relations between RCI-Royal Caribbean International and the Alaskan port of Juneau has recently resulted in the cancellation of multiple scheduled calls by RCI.
The itinerary changes follow a recalibration of docking tariffs implemented on May 19th, which increased fees on vessels based on passenger capacity, rather than volume/gross tonnage—a move projected to yield approximately US$5 million more revenue this season.
Satellite AIS tracking and news outlets confirm that Ovation of the Seas has had at least 4 sailings diverted—one in June and another in July—with Royal Caribbean attributing the omissions to “port availability changes in Juneau, Alaska”.
Though RCI has not explicitly linked the cancellations to the rise in fees, the timing and strained relations between the parties hint at a connection.
The tension between Royal Caribbean and Juneau has been simmering for years, marked by a public dispute over ‘ship‑free Saturdays’ in 2024—an initiative the cruise line opposed, even funding the campaign against it—and a controversial plan to construct its own private berth with a local Indigenous partner. Juneau’s officials reported being blindsided by the announcement.
With the private port yet to materialize and the dockage fee rise fully enacted, Royal Caribbean appears to have delayed calls while aligning operations for the new facility due in 2027. The current dispute leaves passengers without their planned port call to Juneau—long known for whale‑watching, glacier tours, and ecotourism—and local merchants facing the loss of business on those calling days.
At present, RCI has substituted alternative ports of call such as Ketchikan or Sitka on affected voyages. The company has stated that the adjustments stem from changes in port availability. The situation remains fluid, and whether additional sailings will omit Juneau depends on evolving port arrangements, the completion of the private berth, and the resolution of the fee dispute.
This incident underscores the complexities of cruise‑port relations in Alaska, where shifting regulations, commercial competition, and community pressures converge to reshape itineraries and local economies.