Start of another cruise season means plenty of firsts for both newcomers and veterans on the downtown dock
- Mark Sabbatini
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
Record winter snowfall, construction in Marine Park shuffle some opening-day offerings around as visitors are greeted with 40°F temps, clouds and occasional rain
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
Victoria Obanesian went from being a cruise ship passenger last year to selling dog sled tours on Juneau’s cruise dock during the opening day of this year’s season.
"I mean that’s what they say about Alaska — you take one sight and you fall in love," Obanesian, a resident of Newport Beach, California, said earlier Monday afternoon while holding a sign to guide new arrivals toward her company’s tours.
Obanesian said she visited Juneau with her father on a cruise a year ago and, as a private equity worker back home, felt she had the business operations skills to apply for a suitable seasonal job in Alaska. Dog mushing, on the other hand, is a new endeavor — "but I’m learning."
Juneau is again expected to host about 1.7 million cruise passengers this year, although for the first time there will be a daily limit of 16,000 passengers (12,000 on Saturdays) in addition to the five-ship daily limit in effect since 2024 under a voluntary agreement between the city and cruise lines. The first five-ship day is scheduled May 5 and the last ship of the season is scheduled Oct. 6.
Tourists arriving Monday on the 2,100-passenger Eurodam said not all day tour options were available — in part due to lingering snow from record winter accumulations that, among other options, meant flights to walk on the Mendenhall Glacier weren’t possible. Obanesian said there was no such problem for her company’s tours.
"We have snow on the sides of the trails," she said.
Monday’s early afternoon weather was overcast, with occasional rain and temperatures of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Several passengers making the early-season trip to Juneau — when almost any type of weather from blizzards to warm sunshine is possible — said late April just happened to be when they had vacation time available.
"He works for a rocket company and we're getting ready to not be able to travel for lunch," said Jessica Escobedo, traveling with her husband, Elijah, their daughters Elaina, 5, and Adalyn, 3, and his parents Laura and Jeff Lasiter.
The Escobedos said he works for a company getting ready for tests before the launch of a debut rocket that will keep them close to home for an extended period.
"It's either Florida or Mississippi for the next year and a half," Jessica Escobedo said. "So that's why we chose Alaska."
"We needed the cold. We’ve already got the hot," her husband added.
Activity on the cruise dock during the first day was concentrated near the ship, including two Filipino food carts serving customers at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza instead of their usual spot a few hundred feet away at Marine Park, where the shelter and other facilities are undergoing reconstruction. Alex Carrillo, owner of Carrillo's Caldo, said so far the new spot on property owned by the city’s Docks and Harbors department appears as if it will work well for this season.
"It’s a bit more of a walk for us from the Filipino hall," he said, "But we're just happy that they were able to accommodate us (and) Bernadette's — otherwise we wouldn’t be able to do anything. We are very appreciative of being here on the dock. It's a little bit different, a little bit more getting used to, but definitely we are."
First-day visitors cited a wide range of plans based on advice from others or just what they happened to be in the mood for.
Lynn and Margit Kuehne, of Bountiful, Utah — who said they didn’t know this was the first cruise to Juneau this year until it was announced on board — were looking for a downtown fish restaurant their son recommended after he visited Alaska’s capital. Julie Brewer, a Front Royal, Virginia, resident visiting with family members and friends, said "I'm going to the quilt shop" and the group was planning to look for a few recommended restaurants.
More familiar with the scene was Richmon Ednalaga, a crew member working his fourth year aboard a cruise ship. He said he spent the winter months working in the Caribbean and had no special plans as he begins a new season in Alaska.
"Just relaxing and buying some snacks," he said. "Taking some pictures. That's it because you have only three hours for a break."
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
