Canada’s government will restrict cruise ships with more
than 500 passengers from calling at its ports until at least July 1, delaying
the start of the Alaska cruise season for most large ship lines.
The decision will impact Alaska cruises from Seattle that
have to call in Victoria, B.C., in accordance with U.S. cabotage laws requiring
foreign-flagged ships sailing from U.S. ports to call in a foreign port before
returning to the U.S.
Small-ship lines that operate in Alaska with U.S.-flagged
ships such as Lindblad Expeditions, Alaska Dream Cruises, Uncruise Adventures
and American Cruise Lines will not be impacted.
The restriction won't impact Canada/New England cruise itineraries, as that season starts after July 1.
More than 140 cruise ships from 10 countries docked in
Canada last year, Canada said, bringing at least 2 million travelers to the
country. The country also deferred all cruise vessel calls in the Canadian
Arctic for the entire cruise season this year, citing the limited public health
capacity in Canada’s Northern communities.
Canada’s chief public health officer has already issued a
health advisory recommending that Canadians avoid going on cruise ships.
“There is no immediate solution to allow cruise ships to
operate in Canada while adequately containing the public health risk associated
with Covid-19, other than delaying the start of the cruise ship season,” said
Canada minister of transport Marc Garneau. “We do not take these decisions
lightly and will continue to reassess as the situation evolves.”