Cruise ship activity has dramatically increased on the Great Lakes since the establishment of Marquette as a destination last year. The City is expecting to see around ten ships this year and has been evaluating the physical and staff costs related to these visits in preparation for the season. In particular, the Harbor Master has determined additional officer set-up and attention is needed to fully comply with standards for international travel, the Public Works and Facilities Departments have additional costs related to the physical infrastructure, and Community Services Department requires additional resources to accommodate the cost of the visits. Cost recovery is needed to ensure that the burden is not solely on the City's budget and taxpayers.

In order to continue to provide a high level of service to this industry and to maintain marina and professional standards, it is recommended that the City Commission establish a fee structure specific to cruise ships. The proposed fees are $2,500 fee for domestic visits and $5,000 fee for international visits. These fees are in line with the comparable industry standards for Upper Peninsula ports.