Seward Cruise Terminal Opens with Small Business Accelerator Award
Photo Credit: Alaska Business
The new cruise ship passenger dock in Seward is open for business. A ribbon-cutting ceremony last week formally dedicated the facility in honor of two Seward icons: the building is named the Dale R. and Carol Ann Lindsey Alaska Railroad Terminal. The family built the Petro 49 fuel distribution business, starting with a small delivery company in Seward.
Royal Caribbean Group, which has a thirty-year commitment to using the terminal, further celebrated the grand opening with the inaugural award in its Port Partners small business accelerator. Exit Glacier Greenhouses received a $20,000 grant.
Largest and Most Modern
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the culmination of nearly a decade of efforts to unlock this world-class travel destination, bringing long-term economic opportunities to Seward and beyond,” says Josh Carroll, Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president of deployment, destination development, and port Operations. “The journey to open the Dale R. and Carol Ann Lindsey Alaska Railroad Terminal as a portal to premier travel destinations would not have been possible without our supporting partners, government official stakeholders, and the local community.”
The Alaska Railroad largely financed the $137 million project, The Seward Company led the development, and Turnagain was the prime contractor for marine construction.
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June 2026
The new terminal replaces dock facilities from the mid-‘60s and becomes the largest cruise terminal in Alaska, designed for optimized passenger flows, sheltered queuing, and efficient passenger processing. The modernization of the pier includes a shore power system, developed through the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Grant, resulting in cleaner air and reduced noise.
“We know how important the terminal is not just to Seward but to communities across Southcentral and Interior Alaska as these cross-gulf cruise guests take the opportunity to explore Alaska by land as well,” notes Alaska Railroad Corporation CEO and President Bill O’Leary. “We were delighted to have the Lindsey family join us for the ribbon cutting to honor Dale and Carol Ann’s many contributions to Seward and our state, and to celebrate an important milestone for this project.”
The terminal is a short walk from the Alaska Railroad station in Seward, facilitating convenient travel to Anchorage, Fairbanks, and stops along the way. The terminal is divided into 41,500 square feet of enclosed space and 27,000 square feet of open, pass-through luggage transfer layout.
Built for year-round operations, the terminal doubles as Seward’s largest indoor gathering space for sports, concerts, and festivals. The space was inaugurated for that purpose during the ribbon cutting when Royal Caribbean invited the entire Seward community to celebrate the culmination of the Port Partners program.
Port Partners entails a ten-week academic course, personalized mentorship and coaching, and an interactive pitch competition for a $20,000 grant. This year’s cohort had fifteen participants from across Southcentral earn three University of Alaska credits by attending workshops and coaching sessions in business planning, financial management, marketing, community engagement, and sustainable growth. Participants pitched their plans to judges at a live community event.
The winner was Exit Glacier Greenhouses, pioneered by Sydney Singer to provide Seward with year-round produce. With the $20,000 grant, Singer plans to develop six crop-specific, solar-powered greenhouse modules. Upgraded infrastructure will expand production from 2026’s anticipated 700 pounds to 4,000 pounds of food within a year.
Sustaining, Energizing, Accelerating
Sydney Singer presents to judges about her expansion plans for Exit Glacier Greenhouses.
Photo Credit: Alaska Business
“I look forward to growing my business to ensure that all 2,900 Seward residents can have access to much-needed fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet, made possible through the Port Partners grant,” says Singer. “The critical business skills and connections with fellow business owners and mentors I have gained through the program have been invaluable, and I am grateful for the joyful opportunity this has brought to me, my cohort participants, and our community.”
Port Partners is part of Royal Caribbean’s broader “SEA the Future” platform. “S” stands for “sustaining our planet.” “E” stands for “energizing communities” through initiatives such as workforce development and small business support. And “A” stands for “accelerating innovation” through technological efficiencies. The program enjoys local support from the City of Seward, the Seward Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Vocational Technical Center, the University of Alaska, and the Alaska Small Business Development Center.
“At Royal Caribbean Group, we believe strong communities are essential to delivering memorable vacation experiences,” says Preston Carnahan, vice president of destination development for Alaska, the West Coast, and Asia-Pacific. “The Port Partners program is about investing in local entrepreneurs who are creating opportunities, supporting economic resilience, and helping communities thrive.”
With its new cruise terminal, Seward is scheduled to host more than 100 port calls this summer, ranging from mega-ships to boutique vessels, carrying approximately 190,000 passengers. The new facilities still have wintertime functionality. The shore power system is designed for off-season use, such that excess power generated during winter months will be stored in battery systems, serving as a backup power grid for Seward during unpredictable winter weather.
