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Link: Juneau Empire The cruise industry blames the state's $50 "head tax" for the big decline in passengers, even during a worldwide recession, and claims the tax represents a discouragingly big chunk of a cruise ticket price that's dropped as low as $300. But an Empire investigation shows the average cruise passenger still spends close to $2,000 on a basic ticket plus extras -- and not including airfare, tipping and souvenirs or the luxury cruises that some lines offer. The cruise industry won't say how many $300 tickets have been sold or what the average passenger pays. Passengers interviewed by the Empire said they were unaware of the tax and that a $50 difference wouldn't have dissuaded them from coming to Alaska.