Canada will extend the cruise ban for another year until February 2022

The Canadian measure applies to cruise ships carrying 100 or more people and prohibits passenger ships carrying more than 12 people from entering Arctic coastal waters, including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the coast of Labrador, Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said. Adventure pleasure craft are also prohibited from entering Arctic waters, he added.

“Temporary bans on cruise ships and pleasure craft are essential to continue protecting the most vulnerable among our communities and to prevent our health care systems from being overwhelmed,” said Mr Alghabra. “This is the right and responsible thing to do.”

Cruise departures from US regions such as New England and Alaska usually have stops in Canada. Canadian ports reported visits by more than 1 million cruise passengers in 2019, mainly to Vancouver and ports in Canada’s maritime provinces.

Cruise Lines International Association members served 29.7 million passengers in 2019, more than half of whom were from North America.

The extended ban is the latest in a series of measures by the Canadian government to restrict travel to and from the country in an effort to reduce the spread of new variants of coronavirus. Although the number of Covid-19 cases is pulling back from the peak in early January, vaccine rollout in Canada has been much slower than expected. The rate of Canadian vaccinations lags behind most advanced economies, including the US and UK

Those who violate the ban on passenger ships could be fined up to 1 million Canadian dollars, equivalent to about $ 779,000, with up to 18 months in prison, or both, the government said. Cruise ships carrying 100 or fewer people will be subject to protocols set by local health authorities, the government said.

According to the government, the vessels of local Arctic residents used for essential transport, subsistence fishing, harvesting and hunting are not covered by the measures.

Operators Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group RCL 2.05%

and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

NCLH 3.35%

have canceled their US sailings until April 30. Carnival Corp.

CCL 2.98%

Chief Executive Arnold Donald had resumed service for all ships before the end of the year, he said in January.

Timing for US travel ultimately depends on obtaining a permit from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which requires operators to conduct mock sailings and apply for a certificate at least 60 days before operating passenger cruises. Like the Canadian government, the CDC discourages cruise travel.

—Jacquie McNish contributed to this article.

Write to Dave Sebastian at [email protected]