The Whittier Cruise Dock in Alaska suffered damage described as a total loss by the state fire marshal’s office after a fire earlier this week. The incident disrupted operations, while Huna Totem Corporation reviews the wider Glacier Getaway Terminal and its next steps.
The blaze continued into early Tuesday
The fire was reported at about 11 a.m. Monday and was not fully extinguished until around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The U.S. Coast Guard said no injuries occurred. A high-speed catamaran sustained damage during the incident.
Norwegian Jade was visiting the terminal on Monday. The cruise ship left the area safely and did not suffer fire damage.
Whittier Cruise Dock is part of an $80 million complex
The affected 500-foot-long dock belongs to a broader facility with a new terminal and a pier designed to accommodate two ships.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Huna Totem Corporation developed the privately funded, $80 million terminal. It welcomed its first passengers in late 2024.
Huna Totem is still establishing the full extent of the damage. The company does not yet have enough information to describe the condition of the entire facility and will announce decisions on operations, repairs and timing after completing its assessment.
The terminal was designed to start and end cruises
The Glacier Getaway Terminal was developed as a turnaround port in Southcentral Alaska, allowing cruise passengers to begin or finish their voyages in Whittier.
A turnaround call requires more shoreside operations than a routine port visit because one group of passengers disembarks while another boards. The terminal served ships from all three Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Late-season cruise calls remain scheduled
Norwegian Jade and Seven Seas Explorer remain listed for visits to Whittier, with calls planned for late September and early October.
Both ships are also scheduled to return for several calls in 2027. Huna Totem has not yet announced whether the fire will change those plans or provided a repair timetable.
Passengers with an upcoming Whittier call should monitor itinerary updates from their cruise operator and wait for confirmation before changing travel arrangements. Anyone booking primarily for a visit to Whittier should check the latest itinerary while the terminal assessment continues.
