Popular Cruise Destination Is Considering Banning Large Ships

As undeniably popular as cruising is, the industry is saddled with all sorts of controversy. Even if we were to put aside all the misgivings people have about cruise itineraries and the ships themselves (including how cruises handle on-board incidents), we're still left with two big concerns: ocean cruises generally have a harmful environmental impact, and they can significantly contribute to overtourism in popular destinations.

Of course, some tourism can be very beneficial to local economies, but it can easily turn into too much of a good thing, especially when smaller cities have to accommodate large cruises on a regular basis. This reality has gotten so bad in one very popular cruise destination that the locals are considering a major crackdown on large cruise ships:

If you've ever gone on an Alaskan cruise , you've almost certainly stopped in Juneau at some point. It's the state's capital city and is surrounded by glaciers, channels, and vast scenic wilderness, making it an ideal Alaskan port city both for its convenience and cultural significance. But with a current population of 31,337 (according to World Population Review ), Juneau's still a fairly small city, and the overwhelming cruise crowds are wearing out their welcome with the locals, who vented their frustrations to @abcnews .

Related: Man Gets Upgraded to $50k Cruise Suite and People Can't Get Over the Deck

The cruise industry quickly regained its footing during the  post-pandemic travel boom, and Alaska became an even more popular cruise destination than it already was. In the years since, the seasonal rush has only gotten more and more intense, overwhelming the locals and finally pushing them into action. "Ship-Free Saturdays," a new initiative that's gaining steam in Juneau, would ban large cruise ships from docking in the city on Saturdays, giving locals a weekly break from the touristy chaos.

"I personally came to the realization that Alaska was being sold as a friendly place, and that, my friendliness was a commodity for the cruise lines ," said Karla Hart, leader of the "Ship-Free Saturdays" initiative. "The idea is just one day every week to just take a pause, to have our community back."

Responses to the Ship-Free Saturdays Initiative

Juneau is far from the only community to push back against the onslaught of overtourism. As reflected in the ABC News report, communities throughout the US and across the world are taking steps to crack down on overtourism. For many communities that count on the tourism industry, it's a delicate balancing act. Constant overtourism can significantly contribute to environmental degradation, gentrification, and general quality-of-life issues for locals, but too little tourism can cripple the local economy.

Again, it's important to keep this "Ship-Free Saturdays" initiative in perspective. This measure would not constitute a total cruise ship ban; merely a weekly one, and not even for all cruise ships. According to ABC News , the measure would still allow small cruise ships with under 250 passengers to dock on Saturdays. Locals merely want a respite from the giant "floating island" ocean liners that drop off thousands of tourists per day!

Currently, the initiative seems to have popular local support, and it qualified for a vote on the October 1 municipal ballot. But support for "Ship-Free Saturday" is not unanimous. Juneau gift shop owner Laura McDonnell told AP News that she makes 98% of her annual revenue during the summer season. She, along with other tourism advocates, fear the repercussions of "shrinking [their] economy."

Ultimately, this comes down to the Juneau community and what the majority thinks is best for them. Hopefully, by October 1, prospective Alaskan cruisers will know what to expect for next summer!

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