For years the approach or departure from Ketchikan has always been a fun time to bring the guests outside (weather permitting) and call attention to some of the fun and quirky things about the town. “The only airport in the world where the runway is higher than the control tower.” “Deer Mountain’s barometric accuracy - if you can’t see it, its raining; if you can see it, its going to rain.” I could go on - and I do! - for hours. But no more. As further evidence of the communities in Alaska becoming more and more annoyed with the presence of cruise ships; a notice has now been issued that ships can no longer make non-essential broadcasts on the outside decks when sailing in or out of Ketchikan.

Broadcasts have been banned in Gastineau Channel on approach to Juneau. Now Ketchikan. I am sure Sitka will be next. I understand that sound echoes down the waterways and you can hear ship’s announcements on land. It’s true. But this is not something new; cruise ships have been plying these waters for over forty years. Whether its frustration over the cruise industry in general for the lack of business for local merchants; or the fact that many local businesses have given up in the face of outside companies driving up rents and prices; or maybe its just the damn noise - who knows?
A few summers back I rented an apartment on lower Queen Anne hill in Seattle and from miles away I could hear the broadcasts of cruise ships as they left Elliott Bay. I liked it; to me it was the sound of summer. It was the sound of people going on exciting cruises; the sound of tourism! The most expensive residential real estate in Vancouver B.C. flanks the cruise terminal at Canada Place; yet there have been no complaints.

Millions of people cruise to Alaska every year; tourism is the second largest source of revenue for the state. The cruise industry respects and appreciates every community that comprises the destination. Alaska is their product and they invest millions of dollars in promoting and selling the state. It behooves them to make sure the “product” maintains its natural beauty and integrity. The industry has complied with an ever increasing set of criteria from new environmental guidelines; emission standards; head taxes; prohibition of non-US cruise personnel doing work on-shore; to restriction of outside announcements in wilderness areas; etc. Rather than incrementally pulling the rug out from under the cruise lines it would be good to know what the long term goals are of the local Alaskan communities so that together we can create an industry in which everyone benefits. If cruise lines were treated more like partners than outsiders, I think we could come up with creative ways to satisfy the needs of both the community and the cruise companies.