Royal Caribbean is tackling cruise infrastructure challenges in Alaska—though not in the way you might expect

Welcome to breathtaking Juneau, Alaska—home to stunning forests, roaring waterfalls, and magnificent glaciers that attract up to 16,000 cruise passengers daily. However, this influx is placing significant pressure on local infrastructure.

Royal Caribbean Group—operating brands like Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises—has teamed up with Alaska Native corporation Goldbelt, Inc. to address the issue of sluggish, unreliable Wi-Fi in the port by introducing Starlink to various public spaces and local businesses in Juneau.

You might assume that connectivity isn’t a major issue for visitors to Alaska's remote, nature-rich capital, accessible only by air or sea. However, when the port reaches its peak capacity, up to six ships can arrive in a single day, making the local public Wi-Fi challenging and often frustrating for both tourists and residents alike.

"The top complaint this summer was the slowdown in internet speed during peak hours downtown," stated McHugh Pierre, president and CEO of Goldbelt, in a press release. "We’re thrilled to partner with Royal Caribbean Group to find a solution and enhance satellite internet capacity in the area. This initiative will improve the online experience for both residents and visitors throughout the week."

Installation started the week of August 26 at the Goldbelt Tram Lower Terminal and will extend north along Franklin Street. The full range of the pilot program will be activated soon. As each new hub comes online, passengers, tourists, and locals will enjoy free connectivity through a unified network while exploring downtown Juneau.

Royal Caribbean is already familiar with Starlink, developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. In 2022, the Royal Caribbean family of brands became the first to commit to implementing Starlink on its ships, providing faster internet access at sea for everything from browsing the web and checking emails to video calls and streaming.

Cruise terminals where Royal Caribbean docks its ships offer connectivity for passengers, but this marks the first instance of a cruise line equipping a substantial portion of a downtown port area with Wi-Fi.

"We are continuously seeking innovative ways to support our communities and improve the travel experience for both residents and cruise visitors," said Preston Carnahan, associate vice president of West Coast destinations for Royal Caribbean Group. "Our new pilot program is designed to reduce internet congestion and increase bandwidth for locals while ensuring our guests enjoy seamless connectivity from ship to shore."

The line's announcement also highlights the importance of user feedback to assess the program's success and to consider similar initiatives in other ports.

For years, Juneau's borough officials have received feedback that the surge of cruise passengers diminishes the overall experience of the city. On June 3, several major cruise lines—including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and others part of the Cruise Lines International Association—committed to capping the daily number of ships to five and limiting the total number of passengers to 16,000 from Sunday to Friday and 12,000 on Saturdays.

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