Canada to allow cruise ships on November 1, 2021

[nmackovski]

The Canadian federal government has given the green light for cruise lines to return to Canadian waters starting in November.

Previously, the federal government said that cruise ships would be banned until at least February 2022.

Now, cruises will be able to dock in Canada if they can meet all federal health requirements starting Nov. 1, 2021, according to federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1415729144193818628

 

[tvguy]

Not sure that is much of a difference as most cruises using Canadian ports don't start until May.

 

[Disneypeach]

My Hawaii cruise might actually go in 2022!

 

[dvcdisney]

I heard Princess Cruises does a Pacific Coast cruise in November. This would be good for them.

Although it doesn't help the Alaskan cruise, it's a step forward.

 

[mmouse37]

My Hawaii cruise might actually go in 2022!

Mine too!!! We are on the May 6, 2022 one. Our October 24, 2021 Magic NY to Canada missed the new Canada ruling by a week. Oh well, DCL cancelled it weeks ago anyway.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Not sure that is much of a difference as most cruises using Canadian ports don't start until May.

Our cruise this October was NY to Canada on the Magic and that got cancelled a few weeks ago. When DCL is in NY they often go to visit Canadian ports.

MJ

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Obviously, the challenge will be what the Canadian requirements are.

That's been the thing all along with various US ports: A ship is going to have to meet the requirements for each port of call, not just the embark/disembark point for a closed loop.

 

[Starwind]

The official Government of Canada announcement is here: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-...-to-restart-cruise-ship-season-in-canada.html

This will be good for the Alaska 2022 season as it allows more time for planning for the cruise lines and does not cut things close in terms of things like PIF dates for the earliest cruises of the season (which the previous February end date would have been problematic for). Will also be better for guests wanting to book things like airfare and such early.

I am hopeful that before Nov 1 there will be a shifting of Canada's "avoid all" cruise ship travel advisory to a lower level advisory, so certain types of travel insurance can be purchased by Canadians for future cruises (including ones we already have booked).

SW

 

[Disneypeach]

Mine too!!! We are on the May 6, 2022 one. Our October 24, 2021 Magic NY to Canada missed the new Canada ruling by a week. Oh well, DCL cancelled it weeks ago anyway.

MJ

MJ
I’m on that one too! Hopefully we will run into each other…
not literally of course…

 

[starvenger]

Not sure that is much of a difference as most cruises using Canadian ports don't start until May.

As noted, the ships will need to meet whatever protocols are set in place in BC, so an extra three months to achieve compliance is a nice luxury to have.

 

[Intr3pid]

There is a possibility that cruise lines might temporarily move some of their idle ships to Canadian home bases - like they have done out of UK/Bahamas/Caribbeans. It could be staycation-style.

There are a lot of unspent cruise dollars in Canada - coincidentally when the country is racing to become one of the most vaccinated globally.

 

[dvcdisney]

There are a lot of unspent cruise dollars in Canada - coincidentally when the country is racing to become one of the most vaccinated globally.

I agree. As a Canadian, I'm fully in support of ensuring that our vaccination rates are high and infection rates are low before reopening...we're going slow and steady, but once we reach where we need to be with vaccinations, we'll be able to open with, hopefully, very little chance of backtracking...this builds confidence for tourism especially the cruising industry.

So even if there are restrictions in place as it opens, I don't think it will take long to move towards a more "normal" cruising experience.

 

[pjsmith67]

It gives the Wonder a reason to be on the west coast so that's good news for WBPC in March which we are booked on.

 

[mevelandry]

Obviously, the challenge will be what the Canadian requirements are.

That's been the thing all along with various US ports: A ship is going to have to meet the requirements for each port of call, not just the embark/disembark point for a closed loop.

Rumor has it that fully vaccinated travelers from the USA could cross borders starting in August (no official date yet, we should know more next week).

 

[lanejudy]

Rumor has it that fully vaccinated travelers from the USA could cross borders starting in August (no official date yet, we should know more next week).

Yes! That was on our local news last night. Looking forward to it!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Rumor has it that fully vaccinated travelers from the USA could cross borders starting in August (no official date yet, we should know more next week).

Yep. Which potentially also means, for east coast cruises, that a line would have to require vaccination for cruises porting in Canada.

The reality is your port of embark will have to hold to the most strict requirements of any port of call, regardless of what any given port (or even the CDC) says.

 

[otten]

It gives the Wonder a reason to be on the west coast so that's good news for WBPC in March which we are booked on.

We’re at 80 percent one dose and 50 percent two doses here in B.C. now so I think it looks promising for Alaska 2022 and the sailings related to that.

 

[mevelandry]

We’re at 80 percent one dose and 50 percent two doses here in B.C. now so I think it looks promising for Alaska 2022 and the sailings related to that.

Great news! On our side of the country, 82%-50%... Promising for Canada & New England cruises.