Alaskan Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Representative Don Young have released a statement over concerns for the consequences of Canada’s cruise ban extension through Feb 1, 2022. The letter notes that Canada’s announcement came as a surprise, and the move did not take Alaska, or their economy into consideration. The extension effectively kills the Seattle-Alaska cruise season for foreign-flagged ships, as ships that sail between Alaska and continental US ports under foreign flag must call enroute at a Canadian port. To circumvent Canada’s ban, the delegation may to an exemption under the Passenger Vessel Services Act which may result in long-term consequences to the BC’s cruise industry.
