ALASKA is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, but Carnival boss Micky Arison poured cold water over the party by pulling 17 of its ships out of the region.

Holland America and Princess likely to follow the world’s biggest cruise firm’s lead, Royal Caribbean has already said it will pull one of its three ships out of the region – Serenade of the Seas – in 2010.

Arison said last week that he would not rule out more cuts in 2011 too. During this year - 2009 - Alaska will play host to 28 ships but the storm clouds are now gathering off the coast. It does not take a whiz kid to work out that if you pull upwards of 28 ships out of Alaska, the local economy will suffer and jobs go with it.

Cruising in Alaska is big business, so why did the greedy sate government put $50 a head “cruise tax” in place? Arison did not mince his words either calling the tax: “unconstitutional”. The big beast of cruising wants urgent meetings with politicians to convince them otherwise – well good luck with that meeting Micky!

Princess is now hinting, rather loudly, that capacity will be reduced next year by 16% and pointed its finger towards the Gulf. Princess’ Diamond and Sapphire should be in the gulf this year, but the view at the top is they won’t be in 2010.

Holland America is due to announce this week cuts from its schedules too. God save Alaska!