Juneau city leaders declined a US$2 million donation from NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings amid concerns from Assembly members about the public perception of accepting the money.
The cruise company, which operates NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, in May announced plans to donate US$10 million to Alaska port communities with tourist economies hit hard by the lack of cruise passengers amid the pandemic.
NCLH purchased an empty waterfront lot in Juneau AK, where the company wants to build a dock.
According to City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Member, Carole Triem, the proposed dock was factoring heavily in her decision to vote against accepting the donation.
According to assembly member Wade Bryson, the path for the company getting a dock was already charted out. He added that rejecting the donation would be “foolish and fiscally irresponsible.”
The Assembly has asked the city manager to suggest to the cruise company donating the US$2 million directly to an organization instead of the port city.