Alaska Issues affecting cruisers

[AkSusan]

Three items in the news the last couple of days that are affecting cruisers to Alaska.

 

No. 1 - Seems that someone didn't properly place some equipment on the train and that about Healy, it hit the top of a tunnel and caused a rock slide onto the track. They've been taking people as far as they can on the train and then unloading them and continuing on buses. They figure to finish the fix hopefully within the next couple of days.

 

No. 2 - Longshoremen picking the Carnival Spirit at Whittier because Carnival is having their foreign employees loading/unloading the ship and the longshoremen state that breaks the contract, that only US citizens are suppose to be doing it. One arrested and they plan to continue picketing when it's in port at Whittier.

 

No. 3 - The City of Ketchikan has announced they are banning all smoking on the docks. Seems with wood docks, little rain and warm temperatures, that a smoldering cigarette is an accident just wanting to happen, thus the announcement.

 

Susan in Anchorage :)

[jstducky]

Susan:

 

Thanks for posting. That makes sense about the smoking issue at Ketchikan. That would be horrible of someone on a cruise ship was out on the dock smoking and then burned it down!

 

As far as the train, is that the White Pass and Yukon Route train your talking about in Skagway. I know someone who was on that yesterday on their cruise. Hope they weren't too badly affected!

[Yukon]

It's the Fairbanks-Denali section of the AKRR that is affected - they have to be bussed from Healy to Denali while the track is cleared.

 

Murray

[jstducky]

ahh thanks for the clarification

[chatty kathy]

We are headed for that train in two weeks. Hope others will let us know about their trips. Thanks.

[AkSusan]

Great news, the trains are again running both north and south from Anchorage to Fairbanks and vice versa.

 

Susan in Anchorage :)

[GloriaF]

Picketing in Whittier - Princess is owned by Carnival, so wonder if they are affected also? Lots of excitement for sleepy little Whittier! Hope it is settled soon.