www.akcruise.org | (907) 743-4529 - phone | (907) 743-4553 - fax

Ron Long with Major Marine Tours presented an update on AlaskaACT at the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce May 18-19.

:: Permit challenge

The Alaska Cruise Association (ACA) has asked the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to dismiss an administrative appeal

:: Friends of the Earth ignores facts

The latest grades are out, and for the most part, the Friends of the Earth (FOE) flunked its own report. In the Cruise Ship Environmental

:: Copper River cruisers

Donning their best attire, the crew of the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge braved the cool Alaska temperatures and breezy

Lodge employees Krista Yeast and Nicole Gardner take a break for a quick photo memory. Only one mile to go!

:: ‘Deadliest Catch’ on-board

Capt. Keith Colburn of Discovery Channel's Emmy-nominated "Deadliest Catch" series set sail as part of the guest-enrichment program

:: Cruise industry dismisses lawsuit

Following the signing of legislation adjusting the head tax from $46 per passenger to $34.50, the Alaska Cruise Association (ACA) officially terminated its lawsuit against the state.

A stipulation filed with the U.S. District Court for Alaska dismisses with prejudice the lawsuit that was filed against the state last September.

"We are pleased to resolve this situation so amiably," ACA President John Binkley said. "Senate Bill 312 sends a positive message that Alaska values its cruise visitors and the state is open for business."

Gov. Sean Parnell signed SB 312 on June 24.

"The issues in this case were factually and legally complicated, and without this settlement this case

Tanja Cadigan, owner of Caribou Crossings in Juneau, poses with Gov. Sean Parnell in her Alaska-owned shop. Cadigan spoke briefly during the signing ceremony for SB 312 as a representative of the hundreds of small Alaska businesses that depend on cruise visitors.

:: Program lets cruise guests perform research

In Juneau, local tour operator Gastineau Guiding has created the first Cruise With Purpose^SM shore excursion in partnership with the Alaska Sea Grant’s Marine Advisory Program and the Alaska Marine Conservation Alliance.

Designed especially for Holland America Line, the Marine Wildlife Research Exploration takes guests on a vessel out of Auke Bay to look for and help document individual humpback and orca whales. Guests identify individual whales by their

Alaska cruise visitors, such as those on board Holland America's MS Statendam, are often treated to appearances by humpback whales. Guests interested in learning more about Alaska's marine environment can experience Cruise With Purpose, a program that builds traditional tour content around volunteer ‘citizen science’ opportunities.

:: ‘We need to continue to speak out’

Name: John Litten

Title: Owner

Business name: Sitka Tours

Briefly describe business: Sitka Tours is a small transportation company that has been serving visitors to Sitka since the late 1960s. We provide sightseeing tours to the major local attractions, transfer service

John Litten, owner,
Sitka Tours