A new Seward, Alaska cruise terminal and pier are in the works. According to The Seward Company, the group behind the project, the new facilities will be ready by spring 2026.
The Seward Company shared that better and more modern infrastructure is urgently needed. The city’s current pier was built nearly 60 years ago, in 1965. As a result, it no longer lives up to today’s operational and safety standards.
Though it is still functional, a 2023 study revealed that the facility operates on “borrowed time.” Specifically, the H-piles that support the dock are deteriorating, posing several safety risks.
In its place, the public-private partnership firm based in Alaska plans to erect a state-of-the-art floating pier that will be 100 feet wide and 748 feet long—capable of accommodating Alaska’s largest cruise ships. This includes Royal Caribbean Group’s Quantum-class vessels carrying over 4,000 passengers.
The facility’s 13 acres will also host an integrated transportation hub, a terminal building, and a double-berth pier, offering a more streamlined passenger experience. The new terminal will be 41,500 square feet. The pier already has a large staging area for cruise excursions in Seward.
It will also have a 200-foot-long split transfer span to make the flow of passengers and provisioning vehicles safer and smoother.
Who is revamping the Port of Seward?
The Seward Company comprises public and private entities, including the Alaska Railroad, Turnagain Marine, and the Royal Caribbean Group. Turnagain Marine is the general contractor that will design and build the pier and terminal.
In Alaska, most cruise ships dock at Juneau, which allowed the city to enjoy record-breaking numbers in 2023. It’s hoped that the upcoming facilities will also bolster Seward’s economy by allowing the port to host larger ships and more guests by spring 2026.
