Canada to lift cruise ban in November, months ahead of schedule

Canada will allow cruise ships to navigate its waters from November 1 if operators fully comply with public health requirements, the country’s transport minister said on Thursday.

Earlier this year, the Canadian government extended its cruise ban until the end of February 2022.

“Our government is now ready to announce that we are accelerating the schedule for the resumption of cruise ship activity. I am announcing today that cruise ships will be authorized in Canadian waters as of November 1 of this year, ”said Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport of Canada. at a press conference.

Canada’s federal Department of Transport, in a statement Thursday, said it was ready to welcome cruise ships again sooner than expected due to improving public health prospects in Canada as cases of Covid are dropping and vaccinations are increasing.

The cruise industry contributes more than $ 4 billion annually to the Canadian economy, indirectly generates 30,000 jobs and is vital to the tourism sector, according to the Department of Transportation.

The move comes a week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it clear the country would not let in unvaccinated tourists anytime soon, despite the struggling tourism sector.

And restarting cruises will depend on the public health situation at any given time, particularly in areas where cruises dock, Alghabra said Thursday. The Canadian government still advises citizens to avoid all travel on cruise ships outside the country, he said.

In the United States, the cruise industry was one of the last to return to pre-pandemic operations after several high-profile outbreaks on ships last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently allowed cruise passengers to resume sailing, with strict health protocols in place.

Canada and the United States have extended the ban on non-essential travel across their land border until at least July 21.