Top New England port to cruise lines: Don't even think about coming here this year
At least a few cruise lines are hoping to restart operations in North America in the coming months. But there's one place they won't be going: Bar Harbor, Maine.
The town council of the popular New England port town on Tuesday voted to ban cruise ships for the rest of the year.
"I don’t think the risk is worth the reward,” Bar Harbor councilor Matt Hochman said in advance of the vote, according to the Bangor Daily News. “I don’t think 2020 is the year for it.”
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The nearly unanimous vote came after a presentation by small-ship specialist American Cruise Lines, which hoped to resume cruises to Bar Harbor in the coming weeks.
Based in Connecticut, American Cruise Lines has a fleet of small cruise ships that offer trips in U.S. coastal waters and on U.S. rivers. It's a major cruise operator in New England as well as on the Mississippi River complex and the Pacific Northwest's Columbia and Snake rivers.
Related: Is cruising done for 2021? This cruise line thinks so
Known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor draws more than 100 cruise ship visits in a typical year. Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America and Royal Caribbean are among the lines that send ships to the port regularly.
Also, the town sees at least one or two visits every year from ships operated by luxury lines Silversea, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn. A few European vessels operated by the likes of Germany's Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Aida Cruises and TUI Cruises also will call at Bar Harbor every year.
Several cruise lines including Princess Cruises already have canceled all their New England sailings for 2020. But other lines still have some New England sailings on their schedules for later this year.
American Cruise Lines is talking to several New England ports about restarting voyages in the region as soon as later this month. The line's small ships are exempt from a "no-sail order" for cruise ships in U.S. waters issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) due to their small size.
Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles
The CDC's no-sail order, which is scheduled to expire on July 24 but could be extended, only applies to vessels that carry more than 250 passengers and crew.
American Cruise Lines vessels that sail in New England typically carry around 175 passengers, but a representative for the line told the Bar Harbor town council that the company only planned to operate its ships with about 60 passengers and 40 crew members on board.
American Cruise Lines had come up with a detailed plan to keep its ships virus free that included medical screenings for passengers and crew and social distancing during port stops.
But in advance of the cruise ban vote, Bar Harbor councilor Jill Goldthwait said that residents were on edge about the coronavirus as tourists started to return to Maine, and even the arrival of a small ship with few passengers and a solid illness-reduction plan could cause anxiety.
Related: Millions of Americans can now visit Maine without a quarantine
"For a lot of people, cruise ships are cruise ships, be they big or small," Goldthwait said, according to Maine Public Radio. "Even these very small, well-managed ships, with a highly responsible response plan, are a major threat, psychologically, to many of our residents."
Additional resources for cruisers during the coronavirus outbreak:
- When will cruising resume? A line-by-line guide
- Why you shouldn't expect bargain-basement cruise deals anytime soon
- How to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus
- Expecting a refund for a canceled cruise? Here's how long it will take
- Some of the year's hottest new ships could be delayed
- Stream these 13 movies, television shows to get your cruise ship fix
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.