The Alaska port town of Haines has approved a cruise passenger fee for the first time. Starting from the 2025 Alaska cruise season, visiting cruise ships will be subject to a $9 per passenger charge.
The decision to impose the fee includes agreed-upon locked-in increases over the next few years. It will rise first to $12 in 2027 and then increase further to $13 in 2029.
The increase is just one of the many global ports that have seen cruise passenger fees tacked on.
Cruise Fee Revenues Will Help Fund Port Improvements
| YEAR | NEW GUEST FEE |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $9 |
| 2027 | $12 |
| 2029 | $13 |
The Haines Borough Assembly voted overwhelmingly to implement the fee, which will fund port improvements and other cruise port-related infrastructure projects. The town has never imposed a cruise ship passenger fee or equivalent tariff.
| “You want to know how you’re going to fix things, or how you’re going to be able to make things better. When there’s no pot of money specifically targeted for this, bringing forward a port fee was a must,” said Haines’ tourism director Reba Hylton. |
Hylton said a cruise fee to fund port improvements was first discussed at city hall level six months ago. “It’s been to several different committees: The Tourism Advisory Board, Ports and Harbor, Finance and Commerce,” she added. “It’s had a lot of vetting and discussion, and now it’s in place.”
Cruise Fee Has Been Under Discussion for Several Months
The port of Haines handles nearly 100,000 cruise passengers a year. It is a lesser-known cruise port 70 miles north of the considerably busier Juneau. Still, it is expected to see a significant increase in port calls next season compared to 2024.
The town is small, with a residential population of less than 2,000.
Haines is a gateway for adventure activities, such as river rafting and kayaking at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, biking, birdwatching and rock climbing.
