Cruise lines have confirmed they currently have no plans to remove the port of Ketchikan from cruise itineraries, despite the tragic landslide at the port which killed a local resident.
The landslide occurred on 25th August 2024 and damaged several homes in the community as well as taking the life of one resident, and injuring three others.
The town is a popular cruise port for guests on Alaskan cruises, and social media saw several debates around whether cruise ships should continue to visit as the community mourned and struggled with the damage of the landslide.
Several argued that ships should skip the port, and allow the residents time to recover. Others argued that the town relies on tourism and that several local business owners would be hit hard if ships didn’t visit the port.
So far, Norwegian Cruise Line and the Carnival Group (Carnival, Holland America and Princess for Alaska cruises) have confirmed that, following discussions with the local authorities in Ketchikan, the ships will continue to sail to the port.
“Our thoughts are with the people of Ketchikan impacted by the tragic landslide. Ketchikan is a valued partner for our Alaska vacations, and our cruise lines are working directly with the borough government on how we can best help as well as any changes we should make in our planned visits.
“Based on that consultation, there is no change in our scheduled calls. However, it is likely that some planned shore excursions will change or be cancelled, and we are communicating directly with our guests on any changes. All decisions will prioritize the safety of our guests and team members as well assuring we are not impeding any ongoing recovery or repair efforts in Ketchikan.“
Carnival Group statement
It’s not clear what caused the latest landslide and the Ketchikan mayor has confirmed they’re working with specialists to identify the causes of increased landslides in recent times.
In November 2023, a landslide in nearby Wrangell tragically took four lives. Landslides in Alaska that result in loss of life or injury are extremely rare, but they often cause problems for businesses and can block major roads too.
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