With news that large cruise ships will sail to Southeast Alaska later this summer, the City and Borough of Juneau is working to ensure that all port requirements are in place, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n
One of the CDC requirements is that ports and cruise lines sign a port agreement outlining important health and safety terms related to COVID-19.<\/p>\n
On Monday night, assembly members unanimously authorized city manager Rorie Watt to enter into the required agreements on behalf of the City and Borough of Juneau.<\/p>\n
Biden signs bill opening door for Alaska cruises to resume<\/a><\/ins><\/p>\n Watt told the assembly that communities in Southeast Alaska are working together to create one regionwide agreement to set a single standard for the ships that will visit.<\/p>\n “As a matter of practicality and efficiency, the region is working together,” Watt said.<\/p>\n What’s required<\/strong> <\/p>\n Before a ship can visit the port of Juneau, specific requirements must be met. Based on the current draft, ships are required to provide a schedule in advance and comply with CDC-outlined COVID vaccination requirements for crew and passengers. Currently, the CDC requires a 95% vaccination rate for passengers and crew. However, many cruise lines are requiring all crew and passengers to be vaccinated.<\/p>\n “Ships are pivoting to 100% vaccinated crew and passengers because it markets and sells well,” Watt said.<\/p>\n He explained that each ship has slightly different plans to deal with any infected passengers, with some holding space on board to quarantine and isolate and others planning to use medevac services to transport sick patients. Watt noted that there would only be seven-day cruises this season, which makes it “low likelihood that a vaccinated passenger or crew could need medical care.”<\/p>\n The assembly has the discretion to add other conditions to the port agreement. However, assembly members did not add any at the meeting.<\/p>\n