The Cruise Industry Is Not Giving Up on the Possibility of a 2021 Alaska Cruise Season

There will be cruises in Alaska this year. It’s just a matter of how many will be permitted and on which lines and ships. Regardless, the cruise industry is not giving up on its chance at a successful season.

Small-ship companies with domestic-registered vessels can and do plan to freely operate in Alaska this summer. But collectively, operators such as American Cruise Lines, Alaskan Dream Cruises, The Boat Company, Lindblad Expeditions and UnCruise Adventures make up a relatively minuscule percentage of a typical year’s cruise capacity in the region.

RELATED: Why There's Still Hope for the 2021 Alaska Cruise Season  

That’s why the U.S. government is pushing back on Canada’s restrictions, which were recently extended into 2022. Sister publication Travel Weekly reported that top-ranking members of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure have requested a workaround to allow larger Alaska-bound cruise ships to make technical calls without disembarking passengers in the neighboring country to satisfy the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (PVSA).

However, the PVSA — which requires all foreign-flagged passenger ships carrying guests between U.S. destinations to include a stop at a foreign port — is actually an American law, and the Canadian government hasn’t responded to domestic pleas.

As a result, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senators representing Alaska, introduced the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act on March 5 to temporarily alleviate PVSA restrictions and allow cruise ships to sail between Washington and Alaska, bypassing Canada altogether.

Missing another cruise season would only compound the economic fallout that has been devastating for so many families.

“Alaska communities are already facing severe economic hardship and uncertainty from missing one tourism season as a result of COVID-19,” said Senator Murkowski, in a press release. “We have seen double-digit employment declines in [our] Southeast [communities] and a more than 30% drop in revenue statewide. Missing another cruise season would only compound the economic fallout that has been devastating for so many families.”

“They simply can’t afford to weather another season without the tremendous economic activity that cruise ships provide to our coastal communities,” said Senator Sullivan, in the release. “As a delegation, when we first heard this announcement by the Canadians, we committed to pursuing all means available, including legislation, to save this tourism season.”

The senators are working with the Canadian government, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — which must also first green light most cruising to restart sailings in Alaska — the Biden administration and Alaska leaders, but any additional signs of progress have yet to be made official.

Cruise Lines Will Run Their Hotels and Tours in Alaska
In the meantime, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises intend to at least run their land-based Alaska hotels, as well as train and bus sightseeing opportunities, in 2021. These include Gray Line Alaska, Princess Lodges and Holland America’s Westmark Hotels. 

“We love Alaska, and we love that we get to share it with visitors from all over the world,” said Dave McGlothlin, vice president of tour operations for the cruise companies, in a press release. “We’re committed to helping locals and visitors alike experience all the best parts of Alaska in a safe way. For the last year, many people stayed close to home, so this summer, as we’re able to reopen some of these land offerings, we are more ready than ever to welcome visitors back through our doors.”

The pair of Carnival Corporation brands is making the following options available this year: six- to seven-night escorted and five- to six-night explorer tours between Kenai, Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks; Denali rail tours ranging from one to six nights; and hotel-based sightseeing from Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Holland America Line’s McKinley Chalet Resort at Denali National Park and Preserve. Portage Glacier Cruises will also be ready.

The Details
Holland America Line
www.hollandamerica.com

Princess Cruises
www.princess.com