Fort Lauderdale, Florida – July 27, 2026: Princess Cruises is marking 25 years since it became the first cruise line to connect a ship to Juneau’s hydroelectric shore-power system.
According to an official Princess Cruises press release issued on 27 July 2026, the cruise line has completed 1,725 shore-power connections in Juneau since the programme began in 2001. The initiative has used more than 123.6 million kilowatt-hours of hydroelectricity and avoided 84,533.60 metric tonnes of emissions.
The programme was established through a partnership between Princess Cruises, the City and Borough of Juneau and Alaska Electric Light & Power.
Ships Connect to Juneau’s Hydroelectric Grid
Shore power allows suitably equipped cruise ships to connect to an electricity supply while alongside, enabling them to shut down their engines during port calls.
In Juneau, Princess ships use electricity generated through the city’s local hydroelectric grid whenever a connection is available. The arrangement has reduced emissions from ships in port and contributed to improvements in local air quality.
Developing the system required large cruise ships to be connected to Juneau’s relatively small and isolated electricity network. Princess said the project subsequently supported the wider adoption of shore power, with installations now available at 41 cruise ports worldwide.
Gus Antorcha, President of Princess Cruises, said:
“For 25 years, our partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau and Alaska Electric Light & Power has demonstrated what’s possible when industry, government and local communities work together toward a common goal. Together, we’ve helped pioneer a technology that has transformed cruise operations around the world while delivering meaningful environmental and community benefits in Alaska.
Protecting the destinations our guests love to explore has always been part of who we are, and we’re proud to continue building on that legacy. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to investing in innovations that support the future of cruising in the Great Land.”
Community Benefits Recorded Over 25 Years
In addition to the reported energy and emissions figures, the partnership has generated $11,242,400 in Community Partnership, or COPA, credits benefiting the Juneau community.
Beth Weldon, Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau, described the programme as an example of cooperation between different organisations and said the city would continue examining opportunities to expand shore power.
“We remain proud to be the port that pioneered shore power and of the ongoing public private partnership that made it happen,” Weldon said. “This is a great example of diverse parties coming together to do groundbreaking work and we look forward to future opportunities for collaboration to expand shore power in Juneau.”
Alec Mesdag, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Electric Light & Power, also highlighted the technical and organisational cooperation required to connect ships to the local grid.
Princess Continues Alaska Operations
Princess Cruises has operated Alaska sailings for nearly 60 years. Its ships continue to use Juneau’s locally generated hydroelectric supply whenever shore power is available.
The cruise line said it is also continuing to invest in fleet technologies and operating practices intended to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
Approximately 75 per cent of Carnival Corporation’s fleet of more than 90 ships is equipped to connect to shoreside electricity. The company said ships using the technology can shut down their engines in port, with the resulting emissions reduction varying according to the source of the local electricity.
Cruise berths equipped with shore power are currently available at approximately 3 per cent of ports worldwide. Carnival Corporation continues to work with ports on expanding the necessary shoreside infrastructure.
Source: Official announcement by Princess Cruise Line on 27 July, 2026
