Alaska elected officials and cruise industry representatives have joined members of the Ketchikan community to welcome the return of the first large cruise ship to Alaskan shores since 2019.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer, and City of Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen joined community members in Ketchikan at an event hosted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the trade association for the global cruise industry, as Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas became the first large cruise ship to return to Alaska following the suspension of cruise operations due to the pandemic.
The event on Friday marked the return of cruise tourism to Alaska nearly two years since cruise ships last operated in the state. Prior to the pandemic, cruise passengers represented more than 60% of all mainland visitors to Alaska, and the industry’s operations generated more than $3 billion to the Alaskan economy per year, supporting 23,000 local jobs.
U.S. Senator Murkowski, Alaska Lieutenant Governor Meyer and City of Ketchikan Mayor Sivertsen spoke at the event, as did representatives from CLIA, Royal Caribbean Group, and Patti Mackey, president and CEO of the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau. CLIA concluded the speaking program with a tribute to U.S. Senator Murkowski for her leadership in the passage of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, which was instrumental in facilitating the return of cruise tourism in Alaska this summer.
Michael McGarry, Senior Vice President Global Government Affairs and North American Secretariat, CLIA said, “CLIA and our ocean-going member lines have been hard at work to bring cruise business back to Alaska and to support a vibrant tourism economy, with enhanced health and safety measures.”
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski said, “Tourism is the lifeblood for hundreds of Alaska small businesses and thousands of employees. It was an all-hands-on-deck effort to find a solution to the 2021 cruise ship season and bring a much-needed economic boost to our communities.”
Alaska Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer said, “The cruise ships are back, and we look forward to many more to come. This is the boost Alaska needs for our economy and businesses. This industry is critical to our state livelihood.”
City of Ketchikan Mayor Bob Sivertsen said, “Having the ships return is like a late spring. As with spring it brings hope, joy and the anticipation of brighter days ahead. Ketchikan is ready for the hustle and bustle of a vibrant economy. We are excited to see our cruise partners back.”
Russell Benford, Vice President, Government Relations, Americas, Royal Caribbean Group said, “We are celebrating the much-anticipated return of cruising to Alaska today thanks to the determination and close collaboration of the cruise industry, policymakers and communities that are so reliant on tourism.”
Patti Mackey, President and CEO, Ketchikan Visitors Bureau said, “The arrival of Serenade in Ketchikan and the promise of additional ships sailing in Alaska this season is welcome news after a 21-month absence and the resultant economic disaster for Ketchikan’s visitor industry businesses. The loss of both independent and cruise visitors in 2020 was devastating and only added to the impacts of the pandemic.”
Nine large cruise ships are currently scheduled to operate in Alaska this year, with 78 sailings to take place through Oct. 21, 2021. All sailings must receive approval from, and meet the requirements of, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Since cruise operations from U.S. ports were suspended in March 2020, it is estimated that more than 300,000 American jobs have been impacted or lost, with a corresponding loss of over $39 billion in economic activity. Nearly 70 percent of the industry’s economic contributions in Alaska benefitted local small businesses in 2019 — the highest percentage of any state in the country.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 cruise season, the return of the first large cruise ship to an Alaskan port, with stringent measures in place and the support of health authorities, marks a significant milestone on the path to recovery for small businesses and communities in Alaska and across the country.