Norwegian Cruise Line has become the latest brand to announce plans to restart activities in Alaska this summer.
The line will resume itineraries with Norwegian Bliss offering week-long voyages from Seattle from 7 August to 16 October.
NCL joins a number of companies – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line – in announcing their intentions to return to the region.
The developments follow the US House of Representatives approving a bill temporarily waiving Canada’s Passenger Vessel Services Act, which requires ships to either start itineraries in Canada or stop in a Canadian port during them.
Alaska is currently the first destination in the US to green-light cruising since the pandemic.
All lines are still subject to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) rules, which have not yet allowed sailings to return.
Lines are anticipating the CDC allowing sailings to restart from July.
As part of its programme, NCL will offer seven to 13 hours of port time in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point in Alaska – guests can also benefit from the opening of a second cruise pier in Icy Strait Point.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean will also offer seven-night cruises, round-trip from Seattle, on Serenade of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, beginning 19 July and 13 August.
Celebrity will deploy Celebrity Summit in Seattle in July offering nine seven-day sailings through to mid-September.
The three largest cruise brands are targeting different restart plans that should get the green light to cruise in July from U.S. ports, according to recent announcements and comments from executives.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line said earlier this week it is hoping for a July restart in the U.S. on select ships.
Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including the Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami.
The Miami-based company also said that if it can find a solution to allow cruise ships to visit Alaska, the Carnival Miracle will assume some of the Carnival Freedom’s departures from Seattle.
Royal Caribbean International
“We believe we are now seeing a clear way forward to safe cruising in the near future,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, on the company’s business update call in late April.
Added Michael Bayley, CEO and president of the Royal Caribbean International brand: “With what (CDC letter) we received last night July looks very realistic (for restarting cruises in North America).”
As for the Alaska season, Fain noted there are uncertainties and that service resumption may require a waiver from the Passenger Vessels Service Act as long as Canada will not allow ship calls. Alternatively, Canada could allow technical calls.
“Given the momentum, there is the reason for optimism,” he added.
But as of early May, and with no reply from the CDC, company executives said that a July restart from U.S. ports won’t be happening.
“The July U.S. launch at least from our company, it’s just not possible,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, on the company’s first-quarter earnings call in early May.
“It was possible back in early April when we proposed to the CDC 100 per cent vaccination. We’ve always said it takes about 90 days to stand up a vessel.
“So from April 5, when we submitted our proposal, 90 days would have been early July and that was possible, but today we’re in early May, so now we’re looking past that. But look there is more to it than just what the CDC says, there is only so much capacity to be able to stand up vessels.”
Del Rio said getting a cruise ship ready to sail after a 15 to 18-month layup was not an overnight process.
In a major blow to the Alaska and Canada/New England cruise markets, Canada announced a year-long ban on cruise ships.
This applies to ships carrying more than 100 people through Feb. 28, 2022, and means a stunning double-season hiatus in some of cruising’s key destinations following the cancellation of Alaska and Canada/New England cruising in 2020.
Great Lakes, St. Lawrence and Canadian Arctic expedition cruises are also impacted.
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra issued the new guidance with the view to keeping Canadians and transportation workers safe and healthy as top priorities.
The risk to health care systems
The government said cruise vessels in Canadian waters pose a risk to health care systems, adding it will continue to evaluate the situation and make changes as necessary to ensure the health and safety of Canadians.
Orders could be rescinded if situation changes
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.
‘As Canadians continue to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, our government continues to work hard to ensure Canada’s transportation system remains safe. Temporary prohibitions to cruise vessels and pleasure craft are essential to continue to protect the most vulnerable among our communities and avoid overwhelming our health care systems. This is the right and responsible thing to do,’ Alghabra said.
Advice against Canadians taking cruises
Canada also reiterated its advice to citizens and permanent residents to avoid all travel on cruise ships outside Canada until further notice.
Arctic coastal waters
In addition, adventure-seeking pleasure craft remains prohibited from entering Arctic waters, and passenger vessels carrying more than 12 people are still prohibited from entering Arctic coastal waters, including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador Coast.
There is no national ban for smaller cruise ships certified to carry 100 or fewer people. They must follow provincial, territorial, local and regional health authority protocols for timelines and processes around their operations.
Transport Canada said essential passenger vessels, such as ferries and water taxis, should continue to follow local public health guidance and protocols, and follow mitigation measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and prevent future outbreaks.
Carnival Corp. looking at options to preserve part of Alaska season
Carnival Corp. & plc expressed its disappointment, noting that if the extension is not amended as pandemic conditions improve, or through action by US authorities, the company’s brands will have to cancel their Alaska and Canada/New England seasons.
‘Given the unexpected length of the order, it will take us some time to assess whether there are any options to preserve a portion of the 2021 Alaska season,’ the company said in a statement. ‘We will be consulting authorities in both the US and Canada before we take any additional action.’
Carnival added the cruise industry has demonstrated its commitment to health and safety by developing extensive protocols in consultation with a panel of world-class medical experts, to be implemented when service resumes.
‘In addition, we recognize our importance to the economic health of many Alaskan communities and will continue to pursue any option which might permit safe operation of any portion of the season,’ the company continued.
Denali, Fairbanks, Kenai lodges will operate
Though Carnival Corp.’s cruise program is uncertain, the company committed to operating its Denali, Fairbanks and Kenai lodges this summer to support land vacations in Alaska’s interior and help fellow Alaska businesses and the thousands of people who rely on the tourism industry.
‘While this is beyond our control, we remain committed to operating any portion of our Alaska season and we are hopeful that positive progress relative to the pandemic accelerates to the point that the Canadian transport minister will rescind the interim order and allow cruise vacations to resume in 2021,’ Carnival said.
NCLH isn’t cancelling cruises visiting Canada yet
Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is ‘currently studying the order and its implications’ and has not cancelled cruises that visit Canadian ports.
‘We are currently exploring several initiatives that may allow such cruises to continue, especially for the important Alaska season,’ the company said. ‘Given the fluidity of the current environment, we will also continue to work with the Canadian government to amend their current suspension.’
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group said only: ‘We understand and appreciate the Canadian government’s focus on combatting COVID-19. The health and safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. Royal Caribbean Group is ready to work with health and transportation officials on a path forward to address the impact on multiple sectors of the Canadian economy.
‘We will be reaching out to our guests and travel partners with more information on future plans.’
Great Lakes reaction
Reacting to the news, Stephen Burnett, executive director of The Great Lakes Cruise Association, said: ‘We respect this decision by Transport Canada on behalf of the federal government. The Great Lakes Cruise Association is working closely with the Association of Canadian Port Authorities’ Cruise Committee who have launched a historic initiative that brings together all ports and regional authorities, regional associations and other cruise ports from across Canada as one voice engaged in meaningful dialogue and to provide input into the government of Canada for the eventual resumption of cruise activity in Canada.
‘Together our industry is optimistic that, when the time is right and it is safe to do so, the cruise will be back. At that point, we will look forward to welcoming cruise lines, their guests and crew back to our port cities and local communities.’
Vancouver and economic impact
The Port of Vancouver concurred, voicing its support for the direction of Transport Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada while adding it will work together with other Canadian cruise ports through the Association of Canadian Port Authorities to develop ‘consistent national safety protocols for the resumption of cruising across Canada as soon as conditions allow.’
The port added that Vancouver’s cruise industry will be critical to the region’s recovery. Cruising stimulates $3.17m indirect economic activity for each ship that calls at Canada Place and $2.2bn of total economic impact.
How Cruise the Saint Lawrence will use the pause
During this pause, Cruise the Saint Lawrence said it will push forward with the development of a Health Safety Plan as well as a Sustainable Development Strategy to ensure that all sectoral players enjoy a safe, profitable and sustainable relaunch in 2022.
‘The outlook for the resumption of activities in 2022 appears positive,’ the association continued, ‘with 200 port bookings to date, representing an estimated 300,000 passenger-days for our member ports of call, significant economic benefits for the tourism industry as a whole and 100,000 overnight stays for hotels in Québec and Montréal.’
According to Tony Boemi, president of Cruise the Saint Lawrence, ‘This latest pause will enable us to continue work on innovative passenger and ship greeting initiatives. In this regard, the implementation of our Sustainable Development Strategy has begun. This strategy is designed to help us rethink how we do what we do, enhance our contribution to socioeconomic vitality in Québec and preserve local ecosystems.’
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