Seattle Cruise Line Suffers Due to Canada’s Cruise Line Ban
Most of Seattle Cruise Line’s business will be cancelled this year because Canada just extended its cruise ban. Pandemic-related cruise bans are set to be extended until February 2022. Seattle Cruises pass through Canadian ports and waters. However, this has been put on hold due to restrictions in the United States and Canada.
Transport Canada released a statement saying that cruises are a significant threat to the health care system. The original ban was set to expire on February 28. Omar Alghabra is the transport minister in Canada. He stated that this ban is necessary to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed with Covid 19 patients.
Major Financial Losses for Seattle Cruise Line
This ban will not only affect the Seattle Cruise Line, but it will also affect the city’s entire tourism sector. The cancellation of the 2020 cruise season resulted in the loss of 5,000 jobs. This also caused a $900 million loss in revenue.
The Seattle cruise industry was booming in 2019. They had over 1.2 million passengers and carried them on 11 vessels. There were also 220 trips taken.
Cruise season typically begins in late April or early May. Pamela Morales is the owner of Simple Life Boutique in Seattle. She stated that 12 percent of the hotels that are booked during this time of the year are from people who are going on a cruise. People who are on cruises also bring in a lot money for shops and restaurants that are near the waterfront.
Cruise Lines Push Back on Travel Ban Extension
Cruise lines do not agree with the extension on the travel ban. Princess Cruise Lines And Holland America Line, which are owned by Carnival, stated that they do not know whether they will be able to preserve the 2021 Alaska season. A Carnival spokesperson stated that Canada should allow their 2021 cruise line to resume if there was significant progress made in terms of the pandemic.
Even though Seattle’s cruise line is primarily focused on destinations to Alaska, it cannot fully function without the business of Canada. Stephanie Jones-Stebbins is the maritime director of the Port of Seattle. She stated that the respects the decision of the public health authorities. She also said that she would like to work with them on implementing ways to make cruise lines safe.
