Cruise ship operators are continuing to reduce their Alaskan itineraries this week; Holland America and Princess Cruises are the two latest in a string of cancellations to the unique U.S. state.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, the two operators are among six cruise lines that plan to either cancel or reroute ships to Alaska next year, reducing the number of cruise visitors by more than 100,000.
Some of the cruise lines have been vocal about their reasons for the changes, and are blaming Alaska’s new voter-enacted laws that require a hefty per-passenger head tax for each visit.
Proponents of the laws say that the cruise lines should just pass along the extra cost to passengers instead of cutting itineraries, but one Alaskan travel agent made a good point: With cruise prices to Alaska climbing to the same prices as European cruises, many are choosing other options.
The taxes haven’t caused all cruise lines to drop Alaskan itineraries — Disney will be sailing to Alaska for the first time in 2011.