The federal government has lifted a ban on cruise ships in Canadian waters but not a recommendation to avoid cruising.
B.C. travel agent Claire Newell said the lifting of the ban, effective Monday, wasn’t a surprise, as the government had made that announcement in July.
However, she said it was expected the government would also lift its advisory against people going cruising.
On Oct. 21, the federal government lifted an advisory against people flying to foreign locations.
According to the website travel.gc.ca, the cruise ship advisory remains in place because if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs on a cruise ship while the Canadian passenger is outside Canada, it is unlikely there would be government-organized repatriation flights to Canada, the range of consular services would be limited and passengers could be subject to quarantine onboard the ship or in a foreign country.
Newell said the major cruise lines had put Vancouver on their 2022 cruising itinerary and some ships were expected early in the new year.
“What we are waiting for is the advisory to avoid all cruise ships to be lifted out of the Canadian government’s website and that has not happened,” she said.
“I thought they would come together. The overarching global advisory to avoid all non essential travel was lifted 11 days ago. It’s a shame because the protocols the cruise ship industry is putting in place are quite amazing.”
She said a cloud on the horizon is two U.S. bills proposed by a congressman and senator aimed at allowing Alaska-bound cruise ships to bypass Canadian ports.
Tourism groups estimate the cruise ship industry injects almost half a billion dollars each year into the Vancouver and Victoria economies.
Canada’s cruise ship ban was put in place in February 2020 as several cruise ships around the world were caught up in the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, forcing passengers to stay on board and resulting in several deaths.
