Rockland city leaders consider boosting cruise ship visits to fund harbor upgrades without raising taxes, balancing local business benefits with resident concerns.
ROCKLAND, Maine — Rockland city leaders are discussing a potential increase in cruise ship travel to offset costs of harbor infrastructure improvements.
“The cruise ships are really vital to having a successful fall,” Kate McAleer, the owner and founder of Bixby Chocolate, said.
McAleer said she saw a 30% jump in sales last September.
“[It] made September the busiest month of the year,” McAleer said.
She owes that growth to Rockland’s cruise ship industry, where businesses like hers welcome tourists from sea during September and October. That’s because she and other city leaders know a drop in revenue comes when winter hits.
“It’s just so important for us to look for other revenue opportunities, especially considering the significant decrease in Canadian tourism,” Rockland City Councilor Penny York said.
The city is also raising property taxes following revaluation in 2025 and working on harbor infrastructure improvements. That’s why city leaders are discussing a potential boost in cruise ship travel to increase revenue without burdening taxpayers.
“It’s important that the city has funds to do infrastructure work, and this is one way that we can achieve that goal without taxing the citizens of Rockland,” Rockland City Manager Tom Luttrell said.
The city currently limits cruise ships to September and October, and had eight ships pass through in 2025. Luttrell said if they moved forward with the increase, cruise visits would double and help bring in about $400,000 dollars to the city.
“That would be a good way to start replacing dock pilings, electrical, and water down at the harbor,” Luttrell said.
However, leaders recognize residents may have concerns if this were to move forward, such as the strain on its local infrastructure and traffic.
“I recognize that there are genuine environmental concerns associated with cruise ships,” Rockland City Councilor Nate Davis said.
The city will be holding a workshop that is open for public comment about the boost in cruise travel on Jan. 14.
“We invite people to be a part of this conversation,” York said.
City leaders are also having conversations with the Harbor Management Commission and other organizations to guide them before making any decisions.