Cruise ships are not a significant contributor to our economy.

Even though cruise ships bring 50% of all visitors to Key West, they bring less than 8% of all tourist spending.

On average, cruise ship passengers spend only $32 per person. Overnight visitors spend $550 per person.

Cruise ship disembarkation fees do not fund essential services.

Under federal law, disembarkation revenue may only be used to benefit cruise ship passengers and the cruise lines themselves. It is illegal for the City of Key West to use disembarkation revenue on schools, parks, or any other public benefit.

Cruise ships do not create jobs.

Since 1990, cruise ship traffic in Key West has increased by 650%. But local job creation since then has grown only 23%, lagging behind the 33% growth rate across the U.S.

It’s time for a new beginning. It’s time for a more sustainable economy.

Key West consistently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, with a 30-year-average of just 3.4%.

Future economic growth in Key West depends on better jobs, with higher pay. The high-volume, low-yield model imposed by large cruise ships has crowded out opportunities for low-impact, high-yield small business growth.

Small ships: A better solution.

Smaller, safer, cleaner ships will contribute to our economy without threatening to shut it down.

Smaller ships have a lower risk of infectious disease outbreak.

Smaller ships won’t stir up the silt and turbidity that have degraded our reef.

Smaller ships won’t crowd out high-spending locals and overnight visitors.

Smaller ship passengers spend up to 10 times more, on ticket price alone, then large-ship cruisers.

Smaller ships will lead to a revitalization of neighborhoods blighted by trinket shops, $5 barkers, and scam cosmetic shops.