ALARM BELLS ***What could happen if Canada bans cruise ships?*** ALARM BELLS

[Host Mike]

"What could happen if Canada bans cruise ships?

A shutdown of cruise ship stops in Canada would have far bigger implications for the cruise business. Two of the country’s ports on the West Coast, Vancouver and Victoria, are integral to many cruise voyages to Alaska.

"Canadian officials also are considering whether to stop cruise ship arrivals at all Canadian ports, according to Bonnie Henry, the top health official in British Columbia.

“There is ongoing discussions” on the topic, Henry said at a press conference on Monday, noting the decision is being made at the federal level with input from her and other regional health officials. She said a decision could be coming in a matter of days.

“We are in a very critical time around the world,” Henry added, before suggesting that she was in the camp calling for a temporary halt to cruise ship arrivals. “It is my belief that we should be delaying our cruise season until we are in a safer place internationally.”


By law, foreign-flagged cruise ships cannot cruise in American waters without stopping at least once per voyage at a foreign port. What this means for Alaska cruising, on a practical level, is that the ships operated by Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and most other big players in Alaska cruising cannot cruise there unless their itineraries include at least one stop in Canada.

Unless a waiver to the rule is granted, a halt to cruise visits to Canada could mean a temporary end to many Alaska cruises.

The Alaska cruise season is just weeks away from beginning.

U.S.-flagged vessels such as those operated by small-ship cruise operators UnCruise Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions and American Cruise Lines still would be able to operate in Alaska.:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/ports-closing-to-cruise-ships-coronavirus-concerns/

[RichC]

I wonder if they could still allow the ships to stop at Vancouver or Victoria as long as passengers aren't allowed to disembark?
Wouldn't that fulfill the requirements for the cruise lines?

[obendus]

I wonder if they could still allow the ships to stop at Vancouver or Victoria as long as passengers aren't allowed to disembark?
Wouldn't that fulfill the requirements for the cruise lines?

Interesting. Does a stop with no disembarking passengers still qualify as a stop under the Jones act?

[RichC]

The only time we stopped at a Mexican port when returning from Hawaii it counted. No one was forced to get off the ship.

[Host Mike]

I’m told that technical stops count.

[RichC]

As this decision applies to all the cruise lines it looks like it going to be a busy season in the Caribbean this summer.
That is if they can find the passengers to sail.
I think we'll be waiting on the side lines until all this calms down.

[obendus]

As this decision applies to all the cruise lines it looks like it going to be a busy season in the Caribbean this summer.
That is if they can find the passengers to sail.
I think we'll be waiting on the side lines until all this calms down.

I don't think trip insurance is going to be as easy to get from now on.
Too bad... I have a hankering for a cruise, but things are as they are.

[RichC]

I expect the prices to skyrocket from now on.