Going into the Chugach Mountains. |
A fair head tax on cruise passengers
16.10.09
C ruise tourism has been in the news lately, including stories of a lawsuit advanced by the Alaska Cruise Association claiming that the 2006 voter-approved passenger excise tax is illegal. Some recent history will explain what is really going on.
More than a decade ago, Juneau voters approved a local initiative requiring that cruise passengers pay a $5 excise, or head tax. Despite dire industry predictions that the tax would ruin business, more than $40 million dollars has been collected and spent on cruise passenger improvements.
Significantly, cruise passenger visitation to Juneau has doubled since the tax was levied to one million visitors a year.
Throughout the world, cruise ports charge taxes to pay for necessary improvements and services for ships and passengers, including wharfs, roadways, bathrooms and medical response. Without reasonable taxes, port residents would be forced to shoulder all these improvements. Having passengers pay for needed infrastructure that welcomes 1,000 foot ships and many thousands of cruise tourists daily in a compressed season makes sense for everyone.
In 2006, Alaska voters approved a state initiative by 52 percent of the popular vote that implemented a $50 head tax per passenger. The tax generates $50 million per year and pays for cruise ship infrastructure in a dozen Alaskan cruise ports. The tax also pays for state Ocean Rangers to monitor ship-board pollution control.
Importantly, the cruise companies do not pay any of this head tax. The total tax is paid by passengers when they purchase Alaska cruise tickets. Media reports this summer revealed that Alaska cruise passengers were completely unaware of the head tax, but when asked, most thought the $50 tax was reasonable and the purposes for the head tax were appropriate.
With the 2009 economic recession, the gloom-and-doom spokesmen for the cruise industry predicted catastrophe this year. Blame for the upcoming disaster was placed squarely on the 2006 passenger
Alaska Cruise Vacations
Alaska cruse vacations are among the most popular cruises on the market today. Alaska cruise vacations offer spectacular scenery and some of the most unique adventures you’ll ever experience. Just a few Alaska cruise adventures include glacier tours and whale watching.
Some of the world’s top premium cruise lines feature frequent sailings to Alaska. These include: Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Celebrity Cruises, Cruise West, Princess Cruise Lines, and Holland America Line. For cruisers on a budget, try Carnival Cruise Lines popular . No matter which cruise line you choose for cruises to Alaska or when you decide to go, you will have a front seat to more than 100,000 gleaming glaciers, 16 of the country’s 20 tallest mountains, and wildlife beyond your wildest dreams.
While a few of the smaller ships begin their Alaska cruise season around April, the official Alaska cruise vacation season runs from May-September. Because the sun doesn’t set in the summertime and temperatures are mild, June, July, and August are the most popular (and most expensive) months to take an Alaska cruise. Thanks to thinner crowds and super low fares, May and September are quickly becoming popular months to book. The weather can be tricky during the month of May as it is Alaska’s “transitional period” weather wise. Temperatures dip fairly rapidly during the month of September, so keep an eye on the weather forecast before you go so you’ll know exactly what to pack.
Alaska cruise vacations typically cover Far North Alaska (Barrow, Nome and Prudhoe Bay), Interior Alaska (Denali National Park), Southcentral Alaska (Anchorage, Kenai and Seward) and Southeast Alaska (Juneau, Skagway). Juneau, Nome, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and Nome are popular ports of call and the , offered by Carnival Cruises as well as Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Holland America Line, is typically a week long cruise sailing between Anchorage and Vancouver, B.C. Visitors will tour the glaciers of College Fjord, the mountains of Juneau and the coastal islands of Glacier Bay. Land excursions will cover the endless amounts of shops and restaurants available at every stop and the many architectural sights of Vancouver.
The vast majority of Alaska cruises vacations offer excursions that feature activities such as bear watching, fishing, hiking, kayaking, rafting, and visits to Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. There are also a variety of wildlife tours featuring opportunities to watch everything from sheep, moose and grizzlies to polar bears, bald eagles and caribou interacting in their natural habitat.
Base prices for most Alaska cruise vacations will include: accommodations, onboard entertainment, activities, meals and standard facilities. Expect to pay for alcohol, gambling, tips and extras such as spa treatments as well as port fees and taxes. Unless you book an “air and sea” package, you will also pay for airfare from your town/city to the port of embarkation, which is typically Anchorage or Vancouver. If you want to save money, best bet is to book online. Most cruise lines offer amazing Internet deals and discounts as well as specials for purchasing excursions in advance.
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