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Cruise lines fight back against Alaskan state taxes Alaska is a great place to find a cheap family vacation package. With stunning scenery and remote beauty, it's like being able to visit another country. But since its part of the United States, you don't have to worry about getting passports or going through any other red tape to be able to visit. And with an economy that depends on tourism, many of the major cities and tourist destinations frequently offer deep discounts - in this economy, it's been relatively easy to find a hotel suite deal in Anchorage or other major cities. One of the reasons that Alaska has become such a popular tourist destination is the fact that it is a major port of call for almost all of the major cruise lines. Because of this, it's been easy in the past to find discounted cruise vacations that leave from Alaska and give you an amazing tour of the Bering Sea. But this all might change. Reuters reports that many of the leading cruise lines are currently suing the state of Alaska over a tax they think is overbearing. Cruise lines are trying to overturn the state's $50-per-passenger head count tax that they say has been hurting their business. "We feel the entry fee, as implemented, is illegal. Alaskans are being hurt by the tax and the court system is really the best venue to resolve the issue," said John Binkley, president of the Alaska Cruise Association. What will this mean for travelers? The good news is that this tax does not impact airline travelers, so in the short term flyers should be able to get the same airline tickets specials as they do now. But if the cruise line tax is overturned, the state might need to increase airline fees to cover the costs, which would likely wind up getting passed back to consumers. Description: Alaska might not be such a place for discounted cruise vacations. A state tax is making it harder to find a cheap family vacation package.