Transport Canada extends cruise ban until February 2022

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Transport Canada has recently decided to extend a ban on cruise vessels in all Canadian waters until February 28, 2022. The order, which were originally issued last spring and extended several times since, was announced by minister of transport, Omar Alghabra. Any vessel carrying more than 100 or more people will be barred from operating in Canadian waters, effectively cancelling the 2021 Alaska and Canadian seasons.

The order also bans all adventure-seeking pleasure craft and passenger vessels from entering Arctic waters controlled by Canada, including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador Coast. A part of the order also rules out smaller expedition vessels from conducting their 2021 itineraries. Transport Canada has stated it will not offer an exemption to these rules for even technical or service calls by cruise vessels that would allow ships to sail from Unite States ports.

Omar Alghabra said in a press statement that as Canadians continue to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the government continues to work hard to ensure Canada’s transportation system remains safe. He mentioned that temporary prohibitions to cruise vessels and pleasure craft are essential to continue to protect the most vulnerable among the communities and avoid overwhelming our health care systems and the move is currently the right and responsible thing to do.

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