Judge Allows Alaska Cruise Tax Ballot

A judge in Alaska will allow consumers this fall to vote on whether to impose a new $50 per cruise passenger head tax as well as environmental permits and a 33 percent tax on gross income from onboard gaming on all foreign-flagged cruise ships sailing in state waters. Most cruise lines sailing Alaska itineraries are foreign-flagged. The issue of taxing the state's 1 million cruise passengers annually has been strongly debated for several years. Environmentalists strongly favor the actions, while those who earn a living in tourism have fought against any additional taxes.