NCL's Herrera on Alaska, from Juneau vote to new Whittier facilityNCL's Herrera on Alaska, from Juneau vote to new Whittier facility
Before Juneau voters head to the polls Oct. 1 to decide a 'Ship-Free Saturdays' proposal, Norwegian Cruise Line President David Herrera hopes they're informed, and he stressed NCL's commitment to Alaska including the new Whittier facility.
September 24, 2024

In recent years Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has deployed larger, newer ships to Alaska and been involved in significant port investments, from the new Wilderness Landing at Icy Strait Point to the double ship pier at Ward Cove near Ketchikan, Whittier's new cruise terminal in partnership with Huna Totem Corp. and donating land in Juneau to Huna, a Native Alaska village company, which plans a mixed-use cruise development.
Partnership
'We view Juneau as great partners,' Herrera said. He hopes that as voters weigh the ballot measure that would ban cruise calls on Saturdays 'they're as informed as they can be.'
(As one point of information, the City and Borough of Juneau created a document of frequently asked questions about the initiative.)
'Our role is to be as good a partner as we can,' Herrera said of Juneau, noting that after the recent devastating flooding there, NCLH was quick to donate to flood relief.
Important, appealing destination
'We're invested heavily' in Alaska, Herrera added, calling it an important and highly demanded destination that comprises about 13% to 14% of capacity. 'We want to support the community and the area,' he said.
If voters choose no-ship Saturdays, 'We would have to modify itineraries and be thoughtful about the overall structure and order of calls,' Herrera said, adding that NCL currently doesn't have contingency plans in place.
Juneau's fifth cruise facility
As for Huna Totem's plans to construct a fifth cruise facility in Juneau on land donated by NCLH in 2022, the project recently cleared some legal hurdles at the state and local levels, with further approvals needed before construction could start.
The Aak'w Landing project envisions a floating dock, retail space, underground bus staging, parking and a community park.
Herrera said the project is an 'ongoing process that just takes time.' He called Huna Totem President.CEO Russell Dick a 'great partner. We really appreciate his passion about the community, and we're trying to do the right thing by donating the land and relying on local knowledge.'
Whittier set for 2025 opening
The new Whittier cruise facility — a major project adding a terminal and facilities for rail and bus service, with space for retail, dining and a cultural center — took longer than expected. Instead of opening for this Alaska season, it is now anticipated to begin taking ships early in the 2025 season.
Herrera said a Regent Seven Seas Cruises vessel called as a test in early September to 'break the ice. We have to make sure we get it right. There's no reason to rush this.'
Benefits for cruisers and the community
The new Whittier facility will provide reliability, give flexibility and, with a shorter pier, require less walking for passengers, according to Herrera.
'It's custom-built. The ships fit better. Our guests will hopefully view it as another effort by us to improve the experience.'
And the community can use the facilities. 'We have dollars going into the community and are partnering with local providers,' Herrera said. 'We're trying to support the local community as best we can.'
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