Cruising to the city of Newport, RI could be a little more expensive from next year.
The passenger cruise tax is set to rise after the House of Representatives passed Bill 8027.
The Bill enables the city to increase cruise ship fees on a per passenger basis.
Ships currently pay $3 per passenger each way.
“Cruise ship stopovers in Newport are a unique part of our tourism industry,” bill sponsor Rep. Laura Carson said.
“Newport needs to invest considerably in our infrastructure to keep our city a safe, resilient and attractive place for our residents and visitors alike.”
Cruise ships fees hadn’t risen for a decade.
A separate Senate bill proposes an upper cap of $10 cruise fee each way but this would be phased in with gradual hikes over many years, Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong said.
Last year, Newport welcomed 56 cruise ship visits and has 65 ships due to dock this year, bringing over 110,000 guests.
Khamsyvoravong says Newport cruise fees are generally less than most other New England ports.
“It is time for us to catch up, and in Newport, we’re looking at dedicating those funds to the waterfront infrastructure that’s serving this industry,” the Mayor said.
