Juneau Moves Another Step Closer to New Downtown C...

The Metropolis and Borough of Juneau and the Huna Totem Company have finalized a tidelands lease settlement that strikes one step nearer towards a brand new downtown cruise dock for the capital of Alaska.

Named Áak’w Touchdown, the venture is greater than only a cruise dock, however is a whole waterfront vacation spot that won’t solely present berth house, but additionally eating, retail, and cultural experiences cruise company and Juneau residents will each have the ability to take pleasure in.

“Áak’w Touchdown is a significant funding in Juneau’s future,” stated Russell Dick, president and CEO of Huna Totem Company. “The venture creates a welcoming house to share our tradition and offers alternatives for native companies, occasions, and neighborhood use, additional revitalizing the downtown waterfront.”

Of particular curiosity to keen cruise company is the truth that the brand new dock might be proper in downtown Juneau, a wonderful location for day port visits within the vibrant neighborhood.

Cruise Hive has beforehand reported on the collaborative venture, which was green-lit by the Juneau Assembly precisely one 12 months in the past, in early April 2025.

The two.9-acre stretch of land on which the brand new dock might be constructed was donated to Huna Totem by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) in 2022. Whereas NCLH’s cruise manufacturers, together with Norwegian Cruise Line, can have preferential berthing rights on the dock, it won’t be an unique terminal.

This might be nice information for the bustling cruise port, significantly since crowded days in Juneau have meant that some ships must resort to tendering guests ashore moderately than docking, as Grand Princess not too long ago introduced for her Might 27, 2026 go to to Alaska’s capital metropolis.

A complete of 95 ships are anticipated in Juneau in 2026, and the demand for Alaskan itineraries is barely rising. The extra capability offered by the brand new dock would assist preserve operations clean and environment friendly, each by way of offering house for ships but additionally with its walkability to downtown sights, eating places, and outlets.

It will present an extra financial profit for native companies, significantly from cruise company who might not ebook excursions or excursions however preferring to discover ports independently.

Sustainability can also be an enormous a part of the venture and shore energy might be included into the power. It will allow ships to cut back emissions whereas docked, preserving the environmental integrity of the area.

In the mean time, ships which might be tendering due to a scarcity of obtainable berth house should proceed to run their engines your complete time whereas in Juneau, creating sturdy environmental issues.

Three Section Building

Áak’w Touchdown is meant to be built in three phases. The primary contains the dock on Egan Drive, underground parking services, retail house, and the welcome heart for the property.

The second part contains extra retail areas and an upper-level plaza with cultural connections, whereas the third part is the Indigenous Data, Science, and Cultural Studying Heart.

The general design of the complete venture has but to be finalized, however now that the lease settlement is confirmed, improvement can proceed. Huna Totem intends to maintain neighborhood involvement as a key element all through all phases of the venture.

“This venture displays a few years of in depth neighborhood enter and collaboration,” Dick stated. “Because the venture strikes into its subsequent part, we stay dedicated to working intently with the neighborhood as we deliver this distinctive improvement to life.”

The company can also be collaborating with the US Coast Guard to make sure the power serves much more public curiosity. The dock alignment is supposed to be appropriate with the Coast Guard’s proposed pier, and the USCG might use the dock often for icebreakers and different assist vessels as wanted.

This distinctive collaboration throughout native tribes, metropolis officers, and the US Coast Guard will guarantee the brand new facility is totally built-in in the neighborhood and a helpful addition to Juneau for years to come back.