Print article JUNEAU Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the Alaska Legislature are asking the federal government to waive a pair of COVID-related restrictions that will block large cruise ships from visiting the state this year. Without prompt action, they said Friday, the state will suffer severe economic consequences. “The simple fact is, this is a live or die moment for the economy of a huge portion of our state,” said Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau. The largest Alaska-bound cruise lines have already canceled their Alaska voyages through the start of July. Ralph Samuels, an executive with Holland America Line and Princess Cruises and former state lawmaker, estimated that even if COVID-related restrictions were lifted today with a magic wand, “you’d probably be looking at the first of July” for the first large ship.