Juneau Could Be Getting a Resort-Like Alaskan Cruise Port

Alaskan cruises are a beautiful voyage along the wild coastline of glaciers and forests. Many love taking Alaskan voyages for a chance to see the wildlife like bald eagles and bears, or for a chance to spot whales and see them breach the water. And by far Juneau is the biggest and busiest port for Alaska and is a favorite for cruise lines as a stop. It’s so popular that there has been controversy over too many cruise passengers visiting the town and overrunning their infrastructure. 

As of 2024, Juneau and CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) entered an agreement to limit passenger cruise ships visiting Juneau to no more than five a day and no more than 16,000 passengers total. But Alaskan cruises are on the rise. Last year saw 369,400 more cruise passengers than five years prior in 2019 to the Alaskan region. 

Planned resort on Douglas Island

Douglas Island is 76 square miles and is a part of the city and borough of Juneau. On the east side of the island are the communities of Douglas and West Juneau which are separated from downtown Juneau by the Gastineau Channel. But those two communities only take up a small portion of the island which is mostly wilderness and undeveloped.

Juneau Independent and Chilkat Valley News have both reported that an 82-page permit has been submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the development of a private cruise port located on the east side of Douglas Island by Goldbelt Inc. In the proposal is a plan to build attractions and shops on the land, and a large two-berth dock in Stephens Passage. Goldbelt is a for-profit corporation with an Alaska-first mission and is made up of ancestral shareholders. 

The project is being called Goldbelt Aaní and will feature a kayak center, theater, restaurant, shops, stalls, spa, treehouses and bungalows on 251 acres of land. A network of roads, trails and elevated boardwalks is planned to connect facilities. Not to mention a skybike facility consisting "of a 2,300-foot-long cable loop suspended 30 to 50 feet above ground level between structural towers." 

The private port is designed to replicate an 1800s Tlingit Native Village where guests can interact with Southeast Alaska Native culture, art, foods, and learn about the region’s ancestral people. The infrastructure will also house a complete wastewater and water treatment system, crew housing, and a childcare center aimed at benefiting Juneau’s workforce.

Goldbelt Aaní will have two floating cruise ship docks that are 500 feet long, with mooring dolphins extending out about 315 feet more at each end. The Juneau Independent points out that the size and draft of the dock could accommodate the largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas. This design could be specifically aimed for the Icon class as Royal Caribbean has shown interest in being the primary user of the private port.

On Goldbelt’s FAQ section they mention that they specifically chose their location because of its proximity to AEL&P’s high voltage lines serving Greens Creek Mine. This will enable them to provide shore power to ships docked at their private port.

There is also a planned multi-use harbor that will have interconnected floats for a small boat harbor, seaplane base, and a fuel dock for vessels and planes.

What is the impact of such a resort-like port?

All the planned development is currently sitting on land that is essentially wild, so any change will have an environmental impact not to mention a cultural one. Goldbelt covers these issues in their proposal, along with some details of how they want to address or mitigate impacts to the environment or cultural heritage sites.

“To compensate for impacts to 7.25 acres of wetlands and marine waters impacts (5.58 acres of palustrine, 0.12 acres of riverine, and 1.55 acres of estuarine impacts), Turnagain Marine Construction proposes to purchase credits from a wetland mitigation bank or in-lieu fee program,” the USACE notice states.

Another point that is so far unaddressed is if the ships docked at Goldbelt Aaní will be counted in the Juneau and CLIA agreement that limits cruise ships and passengers in Juneau. While Douglas Island is a part of Juneau, opening the western side of the island to alleviate the burden on Juneau proper could be a boon. On the other hand, this could attract more cruise ships and tourists and cause the situation to worsen.

The USACE notice points out that permit applications to city, state and federal agencies have not yet been submitted by Goldbelt. The notice also states USACE “is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity.”

Goldbelt’s goal is to open the port for the 2028 cruise ship season with the development scheduled to be built in phases. The docks are expected to take up to two years and land development up to five years, according to the notice.