Published on Friday, February 26, 2021

Congress seeks a compromise to Canada cruise ship ban

US lawmakers sent a plea to Canada seeking a review of the one-year cruise ban extension.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee sent a letter to Canada's Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman citing the 'significant consequences' of effectively halting Alaska cruises for a second successive year.

"By closing Canadian ports to passenger vessels for another year, the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Americans and Canadians are at risk from more job losses and further economic devastation," the Congress members wrote in the letter.

Due to legal requirements for foreign flagged ships, Canada has an important role for cruising in Alaska, the Great Lakes and New England.

The congressmen have suggested a workaround for the Canadian government to consider.

They want the option of allowing cruise ships to stop at Canadian ports as required under law, but without disembarking any passengers.

"tt is our hope that this solution would both address the important health concerns of Canadian authorities and allow cruises to resume with the approval of U.S. Government authorities when it is deemed safe to do so," they wrote in the letter.

Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor