Come back, Rapaire, and help us FIGHT. There is a sizable contingent in southeast Alaska that has proposed reducing the number of cruiseships back to the level of 1994. I don't think that will happen- but we have to keep trying to get a handle on it. At this point, the cruiselines have gone to fewer (just barely) ships but they are humongously larger. It used to be that a ship that carried 1900 passengers (plus a crewman for every two passengers) was a huge ship. Now, they have brought in ships that carry 3400!!!!<. And no end in sight.

It used to be that there might be 5 ships in on one day- I remember the first time that there were seven ships in the harbor. For the last couple of years, we have two days when there are eight ships in.

I remember, about 15 years ago, when the cruise season began late May, early June and it ended at Labor Day. Now, the first ship comes in late April, early May and it ends in late September, early October. I have no doubt that if the cruise industry finds a way to further mitigate the roll of a ship during oceanic storms they will eventually operate year 'round.

I don't want any cruiseship to suffer a disaster at sea- but if one ever did, the loss of 3500 lives might take them aback.