Juneau assembly presses cruise lines on communication, Mendenhall staffing and unannounced dock work at North Douglas

Juneau City and Borough assembly members used an April 24 Committee of the Whole work session to press cruise-line representatives for better, reciprocal communication about visitor behavior, local infrastructure and development — including reports of dock surveys at the tip of North Douglas — and to seek company support for local needs such as Mendenhall Glacier staffing and housing for seasonal workers.

Assembly member Greg Smith opened questioning by describing reports of “people littering or not following crosswalks” and asked what companies do onboard to educate guests about local customs and respectful behavior. Carnival-brands' representative Robert Morgenstern and other lines described a mix of pre-season briefings for ship crews, onboard notices for guests, and cabin drops or public-service announcements used when local issues (for example, bears downtown) arise.

Assembly members repeatedly raised the Mendenhall Glacier…