Bill To Raise Fees For Cruise Ships Docked In Newport Heads To McKee's Desk

NEWPORT, RI — A bill that would increase collection fees for ships sailing into Newport has passed both the state house and senate and will head to Gov. Dan McKee's desk.

Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravng said fees have not been raised in 0 years, and the new revenue with benefit infrastructure upgrades. Specifically, the funds would be used to cover the debt service on the bond for infrastructure upgrades at Perrotti Park, which is where passengers from large cruise ships arrive in Newport, the mayor said.

If McKee signs the bill, collections would increase from $6 per passenger roundtrip to $20. The city plans to raise the fee gradually over the course of several years.

"Cruise ships bring many thousands of visitors into our city, but since they aren’t staying in our hotels, and many, if not most, aren’t dining in our restaurants, landing and docking fees are essentially the only direct avenue the city has to benefit financially when cruise ships visit," state Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Newport, Jamestown) said. "Especially at a time when we need to make substantial investments in some of the infrastructure that keeps our shoreline intact and enables cruise passengers to visit, the city should be able to bring these fees in line with those of similar destinations."

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