Alaska this summer

[JWelch62]

This would still have to get through the House, and be signed into law, but the Senate just passed the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act which would allow cruises to Alaska w/o a Canadian stop.

"A bill to restrict the imposition by the Secretary of Homeland Security of fines, penalties, duties, or tariffs applicable only to coastwise voyages, or prohibit otherwise qualified non-United States citizens from serving as crew, on specified vessels transporting passengers between the State of Washington and the State of Alaska, to address a Canadian cruise ship ban and the extraordinary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Alaskan communities, and for other purposes."

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...-allow-alaskan-cruises-without-canadian-stop/

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

"Today, the US Senate passed the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act from Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski to temporarily waive the federal requirement for cruise ships transiting to Alaska to stop in Canada. At the bill’s core, is a temporary waiver of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA)."

Wow! Never thought I would see the day.

 

[otten]

It's not likely to make it through the house though but I have another question, some of what I have read on the subject indicates that cruise ships would still need to pass through Canadian waters, where ships are still banned. Is that the case? Or is it possible to transit to Alaska without entering Canadian waters? If it is necessary to traverse Canadian waters I wouldn't count on their being any exemptions to that.

 

[HiStitch626]

This would still have to get through the House, and be signed into law, but the Senate just passed the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act which would allow cruises to Alaska w/o a Canadian stop.

Unless Covid restrictions extend into the summer of 2022, I am not sure this will benefit DCL. They would have to transit the Canal twice with no passengers. Is there a place for them to dock in Seattle, which is where I guess the alternate port would be? Maybe those Mexican Riviera cruises will make them some money, but they do tend to be lower priced than the Caribbean.

 

[HiStitch626]

It's not likely to make it through the house though but I have another question, some of what I have read on the subject indicates that cruise ships would still need to pass through Canadian waters, where ships are still banned. Is that the case? Or is it possible to transit to Alaska without entering Canadian waters? If it is necessary to traverse Canadian waters I wouldn't count on their being any exemptions to that.

There are two distance issues, the 12 mile territorial waters and the 200 mile exclusive economic zone. Ships could be more than 12 miles from the coast of Canada, although one of the selling points of Alaska cruises is the smooth trip though the inner passage. The problem is getting out of Seattle. I do not know if maritime law and agreements between the US and Canada would permit permit passage through the Salish Sea as long at the ship stayed on the US side of line. Plus, I do not know if being a Bahamas registered ship makes a difference.

 

[BruinEd03]

Unless Covid restrictions extend into the summer of 2022, I am not sure this will benefit DCL. They would have to transit the Canal twice with no passengers. Is there a place for them to dock in Seattle, which is where I guess the alternate port would be? Maybe those Mexican Riviera cruises will make them some money, but they do tend to be lower priced than the Caribbean.

Disney Wonder originally docked in Seattle in 2012. https://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/sail-date-summary/?saildate=471

 

[tlprice]

Another reason why I don't think the cruises will go to Alaska is probable lack of excursions. I had booked independent excursions and the companies contacted me months ago that they had decided to cancel all excursions for 2021. Getting any of those companies up and running, would also take some planning and time, which is quickly running out for the season.

 

[bcwife76]

Disney Wonder originally docked in Seattle in 2012. https://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/sail-date-summary/?saildate=471

Just because they've sailed out of Seattle in the past doesn't mean that there will be space for them to do so in 2021, depending on the port schedule.

 

[HiStitch626]

Just because they've sailed out of Seattle in the past doesn't mean that there will be space for them to do so in 2021, depending on the port schedule.

This is what I meant, I know that the Wonder can physically dock in Seattle, but that doesn’t mean that there is a space for her to do so. In 2012, 26 different ships sailed to Alaska carrying about 800,000 passengers, in 2019 it was 37 ships carrying almost 1.4 million passengers. I don’t know that the Seattle cruise port has room for all of those ships.

 

[jrapps]

It's not likely to make it through the house though but I have another question, some of what I have read on the subject indicates that cruise ships would still need to pass through Canadian waters, where ships are still banned. Is that the case? Or is it possible to transit to Alaska without entering Canadian waters? If it is necessary to traverse Canadian waters I wouldn't count on their being any exemptions to that.

Why is it not likely to pass in the House? I heard it passed unanimously in the Senate. That indicates it has broad bi-partisan support. What do you think would kill it in the House?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Disney Wonder originally docked in Seattle in 2012. https://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/sail-date-summary/?saildate=471

Right. But that is 9 years back.

They do not have current contracts to port, let alone supplier contracts in that port.

I am still holding that the earliest they could do an Alaska sailing would be mid-July, and a half season with two empty PC transits is not a money maker.

And the Alaska excursions are not going to be operating in meaningful fashion. Most of that staff is imported from the lower 48 or even international, and that has not been happening this year. Usually staff is in state by now.

Even were this to pass the House, it is pretty symbolic. The mechanics of getting cruising operating for DCL in Alaska are prohibitive for this year. It is already mid-May.

 

[tidefan]

It is also May. Wonder is not on the West Coast. Supply chain isn't fired up for ship supply. Ship is not crewed. Excursion providers have not brought staff in from the lower 48, as most staff is not local to the port and are part-year residents.

DCL is not going to deadhead the canal ($$$$) to get west for a half season (at best, more likely 25%) they will have to them deadhead back through the canal ($$$$).

And there is no movement on PVSA waivers whatsoever, and any alternative is 100% dependent on that. This is not just the CDC but also the entire sovereign nation of Canada and a 100+ year old rule.

I think the other thing that could be happening, and possibly the reason the Wonder is off the FL coast is that if DCL does try to get 1 ship up and running mid-summer, likely the Dream (as the crew was vaccinated first), they most likely would have to move crew from the Wonder and Fantasy to the Dream to have staffing levels for a revenue sailing.

 

[otten]

It’s moot anyway. Looks like Disney is moving to cancel July now (except for the UK cruises). They won’t transit the canal for a month of Alaska, even if it were possible to do so.

 

[BruinEd03]

This is what I meant, I know that the Wonder can physically dock in Seattle, but that doesn’t mean that there is a space for her to do so. In 2012, 26 different ships sailed to Alaska carrying about 800,000 passengers, in 2019 it was 37 ships carrying almost 1.4 million passengers. I don’t know that the Seattle cruise port has room for all of those ships.

Ah ok. I misunderstood your comment. Good point on the schedule!

 

[JWelch62]

It’s moot anyway. Looks like Disney is moving to cancel July now (except for the UK cruises). They won’t transit the canal for a month of Alaska, even if it were possible to do so.

Yeah, my post with the article link was really just to provide some updates. Even before they pulled the July cruises I was fully expecting that there would be no west coast season. Mainly for the reason you mention. It would be uneconomical for DCL to transit the Panama Canal 2x without paying passengers. I have an October cruise from San Diego that I do not expect to happen.

 

[brentm77]

It's not likely to make it through the house though but I have another question, some of what I have read on the subject indicates that cruise ships would still need to pass through Canadian waters, where ships are still banned. Is that the case? Or is it possible to transit to Alaska without entering Canadian waters? If it is necessary to traverse Canadian waters I wouldn't count on their being any exemptions to that.

"Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, sponsored by Alaska’s Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, which gives large cruise ships a lifeline and a way around the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) for as long as Canada’s cruise ban is in place. The bill is expected to be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by President Joe Biden." Forbes.

 

[HiStitch626]

"Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, sponsored by Alaska’s Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, which gives large cruise ships a lifeline and a way around the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) for as long as Canada’s cruise ban is in place. The bill is expected to be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by President Joe Biden." Forbes.

I think the challenge may be that if ships are sailing from Seattle, it may not be possible to avoid Canadian waters. Perhaps they could sail from Portland or San Francisco.

 

[fredandkell]

I think the best way to see Alaska this summer is to fly. There have been some incredible deals, like 10,000 points Skymiles flights on Delta.

 

[bcwife76]

I think the challenge may be that if ships are sailing from Seattle, it may not be possible to avoid Canadian waters. Perhaps they could sail from Portland or San Francisco.

They will never make it there and back in 7 days if they sail from that far south. As per the CDC, no cruise over 7 nights (unless they change that before November 1st). The furthest north they could get would probably be Ketchikan.

 

[Sykes]

With the most recent set of cancellations, Disney canceled all July US departures except for the Disney Wonder, where they only canceled through the July 12th departure. They've left the July 19th and later Alaska itineraries on the schedule (although they're not currently for sale for people that haven't already booked). I think it's still a long shot, but to me that's a sign that they hope to be able to sail form Alaska this summer.