"Ship-Free Saturdays" is Now Goal of Activist Group Centering on Popular Cruise Port

Photo byThomas Lange | Dreamstime

A local ballot measure in Juneau, Alaska, is proposing to ban large cruise ships from visiting the city on Saturdays and the Fourth of July.

But the definition of "large" is somewhat subjective in the modern era of cruising, with some ships capable of carrying 10,000 people at once.

According to news reports, this would give residents a break from the constant influx of tourists during the summer.

The proposition, known as "Ship-Free Saturdays", aims to ban cruise ships carrying over 250 passengers from visiting Juneau on Saturdays and the Fourth of July.

Supporters of the initiative argue that the constant stream of tourists overwhelms the city's infrastructure, disrupts daily life, and negatively impacts the environment.

"What would we do if we had Saturdays?" asked Juneau resident Steve Krall at a recent forum. "We'd actually live our lives like we used to."

Karla Hart, a longtime anti-tourism activist and leader of the Ship-Free Saturdays campaign, emphasized the need for a weekly reprieve from the crowds.

"Ship-Free Saturdays would give us a relief," she said. "Every week we will have one day of a pause."

However, local businesses are not happy with the measure and are planning to fight it so they don't lose more income from the influx of visitors.

Protect Juneau's Future, a group comprised largely of business owners, argues that the proposition would harm the local economy and discourage visitors.

McHugh Pierre, president and CEO of Goldbelt Incorporated, a local Alaska Native corporation with substantial tourism investments, warned of the potential negative consequences.

"This effort by a few of our neighbors... to say they don't want people here, is very damaging to us," he said.

Legal challenges against the measure are also growing. Some businesses and cruise lines have threatened to sue the city if voters approve it.

The outcome of the Ship-Free Saturdays initiative will likely have a lasting impact on Juneau's relationship with the cruise industry and its future as a tourist destination.