Princess Cruises Adjusting Some Juneau Visits to Tender Operations
Key Aspects:
Grand Princess will be tendering instead of docking in Juneau, Alaska on May 27.
The ship’s time in port is unchanged and will still be from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other itineraries may also be impacted and guests should stay in contact with the cruise line for notifications.
With the Alaska cruise season just getting underway, Princess Cruises is advising guests on select itineraries that they will be unable to dock at the pier when visiting Juneau. Instead, certain ships will be using water shuttles to ferry guests ashore, which can cause some delays and limitations.
For example, guests onboard Grand Princess for the ship’s May 23, 2026 departure from Whittier have received notice that they will be using tenders.
“Due to operational considerations, Grand Princess will now be at anchor in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday, May 27, rather than alongside,” the email notification explained. “A ship-to-shore water shuttle service will be available to enable you to go ashore.”
To use a water shuttle, guests must be able to board the small boat without crew assistance. This might include a few stairs or crossing a moving ramp, depending on which small boats are used and the conditions at the time.
Mobility scooters may not be able to be accommodated on every water shuttle, and large strollers can also be difficult to manage.
The time Grand Princess is visiting Juneau on this sailing is not changed and the ship will be at anchor from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Guests should note, however, that it will take longer to debark and reboard the ship using water shuttles.
Read Also: Princess Cruise Ships in Alaska – Which One to Choose?
Typically, guests who book shore excursions through the cruise line will be the first ferried off the ship in the applicable port of call, and tour operators are made aware of any delays due to tendering.
On Wednesday, May 27, there are five ships scheduled to visit Juneau. In addition to Grand Princess, Ruby Princess and Star Princess will also be in port, as well as Holland America Line’s Westerdam and Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas.
In total, the five ships will be bringing nearly 15,000 guests to visit Alaska’s capital that day. In comparison, Juneau’s regular population is roughly 32,000 residents.
There is one additional change to Grand Princess‘s itinerary on this particular sailing. The ship will arrive in Skagway 90 minutes earlier than planned, at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, rather than at 7 a.m. as originally scheduled. The 8:30 p.m. departure is not changed.
Why Is Grand Princess Tendering?
There is no explanation for why, of all five ships, Grand Princess will be the vessel tendering on May 27. She is not the smallest ship in Juneau that day, but she will be the first arriving with an anticipated arrival at 6-6:30 a.m.
The other ships are arriving from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be departing from 9-10 p.m. Grand Princess, on the other hand, is departing much earlier at 4 p.m.
Other factors that might determine which ship on a particular port’s schedule will be tendering can include what water shuttle facilities are available, what types of berths are available at which piers, and whether there is any pier construction or maintenance planned.
It is possible that other ships may also be tendering throughout the season, particularly on days when Juneau is particularly busy. On Sunday, May 31, for example, there will be eight cruise ships in port.
At times, it will undoubtedly be necessary for different ships to use water shuttles instead of docking in order for all guests to enjoy Juneau.
Each cruise line will undoubtedly notify impacted guests about tendering operations as soon as possible to let them prepare for their cruise vacation and expectations for visiting the city.
Princess Cruises Adjusting Some Juneau Visits to Tender Operations