Cruise Lines Prepare for Late-Season Return to Alaska
A cruise ship docked in Ketchikan. Photo courtesy of blmiers2/Creative Commons.
By Amanda Swinehart
Following the passage of H.R. 1318 by the U.S. Senate and House last week, three major cruise lines have announced they will be setting sail to Alaska later this summer.
The bill, also known as the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (ATRA), was created in response to Canadian ports being closed to cruise ships carrying more than 100 passengers until 2022. It serves as a short-term exemption to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), which requires that all foreign-flagged ships sailing to and from Alaska stop at a foreign port on their way.
Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises, Holland Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line have started taking reservations for the end of July, while Norwegian Cruise Line has begun booking cruises for early August.
In a press release titled “The Great Alaska Comeback,” Royal Caribbean International’s president and CEO Michael Bayley said, “The past year has been a challenging time for us all, and the Alaskan communities heavily reliant on cruise tourism have felt it deeply. To see the communities, industry and government successfully pass a solution that will help bring these communities back to life shows the great progress and clear paths we can make together. We are confident this is just the first part of our return to cruising from the U.S.”
Cruise lines will have to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, which gives recommendations for COVID-19 precautions aboard ships, including testing, mask wearing, dining, disinfecting, and social distancing.
Additionally, all three companies have said they will require crew members and passengers to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Don Young and had the support of Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, all (R-AK). President Joe Biden signed it into law last Monday.
“We now have a path forward for a 2021 cruise season, and I am confident that Alaskans will all do their part to ensure a safe and prosperous tour season. To those who will be visiting our state this summer, I say 'Welcome to Alaska; we are open for business!'” Rep. Young said.
