Canada shuts down big ship cruising

Cruise lines have been left scratching their head and scurrying to devise new itineraries after the Government of Canada kiboshed cruise ships carrying 100+ passengers in all Canadian waters until March 2022.

The decision also impacts the schedules of luxury cruise lines deploying vessels to Alaska and the Inside Passage, which navigate through Canadian waters, primarily from Vancouver, to access the region.

Multiple cruise lines have already started making alternative arrangements – see below.

In layman’s terms, the ban will see the Alaska cruise market shrink from 71,000 berths to approximately 1,100, according to data from the 2021 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

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Transport Canada made the startling ruling in response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The country had already put in place the temporary ban on cruise ships until the end of February 2021.

Canadians and permanent residents are also recommended to avoid all travel on cruise ships outside the country “until further notice”.

“Should the COVID-19 pandemic sufficiently improve to allow the resumption of these activities, the Minister of Transport has the ability to rescind the Interim Orders,” the authority said.

Alaska says decision is “unacceptable”

The Alaska Congressional Delegation slammed Transport Canada’s decision.

The delegation comprised of three US Senators said the move is “not only unexpected – it is unacceptable – and was certainly not a decision made with any consideration for Alaskans or our economy.

“We expect more from our Canadian allies…We are exploring all potential avenues, including changing existing laws, to ensure the cruise industry in Alaska resumes operations as soon as it is safe. We will fight to find a path forward.”

CLIA-NWC baffled

Cruise Lines International Association – North West & Canada was also left stunned by the length of Canada’s new ‘No-Sail Order’.

“While we understand and support the government’s focus on combatting COVID-19 in Canada, we are surprised by the length of the extension of the prohibition of cruise,” said Charlie Ball, Chair of CLIA-NWC.

“We hope to have an opportunity to revisit this timeline and demonstrate our ability to address COVID-19 in a cruise setting with science-backed measures, as CLIA members are doing in Europe and parts of Asia where cruising has resumed on a limited basis.”