Transport Canada on Thursday, February 4, announced it was moving to extend the cruise ship ban of the country, scheduled to end later in January 2021, more than a year to February 28, 2022.
The bans means that cruise vessels carrying 100+ people (passengers+crew) from Canadian ports and those traveling through Canadian waters (including to Alaska from Seattle WA or Canada-New England) will not be able to operate until March 2022 - at the earliest.
According to Transport Canada, the extension was done as “cruise vessels in Canadian waters pose a risk to our health care systems.”
Omar Alhabra (Canada’s Minister of Transport) said in a statement:
“As Canadians continue to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, our government continues to work hard to ensure Canada’s transportation system remains safe. Temporary prohibitions to cruise vessels and pleasure craft are essential to continue to protect the most vulnerable among our communities and avoid overwhelming our health care systems. This is the right and responsible thing to do.”
Only cruise vessels certified to carry 100/fewer people will have the chance to sail in Canadian waters in the meantime. Those will have to make sure they're allowed to sail by provincial and local governments and health authorities.