The latest cruise ship schedule, provided by Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore on June 23, shows that Wrangell can expect a total of less than 2,000 cruise ship visitors this season. This is a major decrease from estimates of 24,000 visitors this year, as well as roughly 20,000 visitors last season. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically hurt the cruise industry across Southeast Alaska, including local businesses that rely on tourists to operate.
"The only ships still on the schedule are the Alaska Dream Cruises, Uncruise, and American Cruise Line," Rushmore wrote in an email. "The City has not seen any COVID-19 mitigation plans from Alaska Dream or Uncruise. ACL just contacted the City about the potential for calling on Wrangell 4 times in August. They are asking all Southeast communities who may be interested in hosting their ship to determine what ports may be open. Once they have shared their updated COVID-19 Plan, provided answers to questions on the plan and potential call dates the Assembly will consider their request."
The latest schedule, dated June 18, has the Wilderness Discoverer scheduled to dock July 29. This year's cruise season will run until the end of September, with a current estimate of 29 cruise stops in Wrangell. All of these stops combined will have a maximum capacity of 1,827.
A 2019 report by Rain Coast Data, on the Wrangell visitor industry, states that the visitor industry makes up roughly nine percent of all private sector jobs in Wrangell, and accounts for about $2.9 million in earnings. Mid-size and small cruise ships made up the majority of all summer tourism to Wrangell between 2010 and 2020, according to the report.
With significantly fewer ships planning to dock in Wrangell this year many tourism companies in Wrangell are altering their plans. Muddy Water Adventures, for example, announced a suspension of operations for the 2020 season on Facebook on June 23. In an April 30 article in the Wrangell Sentinel, Alan Cummings of All In Charters and Grand View B&B estimated that 60 to 70 percent of their expected customers this year have cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Becky Rooney, of Rooney's Roost Bed and Breakfast, said in the same article that she is expecting a quiet season, as well. Other businesses, such as restaurants, have altered their normal operations in response to the pandemic and state guidelines, as well.
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