May 14, 2026, Seward Folly

News Update as of May 16–The Ovation is now being rerouted to Whittier on May 22. This situation is fluid–the Folly will attempt to stay as current as possible.

Dwayne Atwood, Seward’s Port Manager for the Alaska Railroad, confirmed that the new Seward passenger dock will not open as originally scheduled on May 14. Instead, the dock will be ready and fully operational for the arrival of the Ovation on May 22. It will remain in use for the season with a temporary trestle and mooring dolphin in place.

The delay follows a final ocean-floor inspection on May 7, which uncovered several clusters of broken piles requiring removal. Earlier surveys had missed these obstructions. The crane needed for the pile removal is also necessary for setting the transfer span, forcing project managers to push back the completion date.

To meet the new deadline, Turnagain is rerouting a crane-equipped barge from Kodiak to Seward. The dock is expected to be ready for the Ovation and all subsequent ships.

Three vessels — Silver Moon (May 14), Summit (May 15), and Viking Venus (May 20) — will be affected. Royal Caribbean, Silver Seas, and Celebrity are adjusting their docking plans, with current arrangements pointing to Whittier. Viking is exploring options in both Seward and Whittier, with the Alaska Railroad offering its freight dock as a temporary solution.

The Seward Terminal Opening Celebration is on June 4, 2026. The program will include a ribbon‑cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the terminal, followed by the Port Partners Pitch Competition — the culmination of Royal Caribbean Group’s Port Partners initiative, which supports Alaska‑based entrepreneurs and small businesses.