In an effort to mitigate the impact of cruising on the popular Alaskan port of Juneau, Royal Caribbean Group says it will provide free local access to Starlink WiFi, to the benefit of both Juneau locals and cruise ship passengers visiting the city.
The City of Juneau and the Cruise Lines International Association signed an MOU to limit the total number of cruise ship passengers allowed to disembark in Juneau to 16 000 every day except Saturday, which has a more restrictive cap of 12 000, as reported by Travel News.
The Starlink WiFi initiative was a response to complaints from Juneau residents about unreliable WiFi service when up to 21 000 cruise passengers visit Juneau. The initiative is part of a pilot programme, in partnership with native corporation Goldbelt Incorporated, that will require cruise passengers to gain access to the WiFi by making a purchase at a participating business and then logging in. This is designed to support local businesses and attract more customers.
On October 1, Juneau locals will vote on a proposal for ‘ship-free Saturdays’ and a ship-free July 4.
According to Travel Weekly, if the programme is successful, it will be replicated in other Royal Caribbean ports of call.
