Why cruisers shouldn't get too excited about Canada's just-announced plan to reopen to cruise ships
Canada's transport minister on Thursday announced the country would end its ban on cruise ship visits on Nov. 1 -- four months ahead of schedule. But cruise fans shouldn't get too excited about the change.
For the most part, cruises to Canada still won't resume until April of next year.
That's because cruise ships generally don't travel to Canada between November and March, which is the off-season for travel to Canada.
Cruises to Canada typically take place seasonally between April and October.
As of now, the first Eastern Canada cruise on the schedule for any major line is a 12-night Viking sailing from New York to Toronto starting on April 18, 2022.
The first cruise ship calls currently scheduled for ports on the West Coast of Canada also are in April, as cruise ships begin returning to the region for the Alaska cruise season.
Even after Canadian transport minister Omar Alghabra's announcement on Thursday, the 2021 season for cruises to Canada essentially remains a wash.
Both the Eastern Canada cruise season and Alaska cruise season for 2021 will be over by Nov. 1.
If any cruise vessels operate in Canada in November or December, they are likely to be small vessels but not the big ships from major lines that account for the majority of the Canadian cruise business.
Alghabra acknowledged as much on Thursday with a tweet saying cruisers will be able to come back in 2022.
The change announced Thursday moves up the end date for the Canada cruise ban from Feb. 28, 2022 -- a date set back in February of this year in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, COVID-19 case counts in North America were much higher than they are today.
The cruise ship ban in Canada, in turn, led to a crisis for cruise lines operating in Alaska, as most cruise ships are not allowed to visit Alaska without also visiting Canada due to a 135-year-old U.S. law known as the Passenger Vessel Services Act.
A new law passed in May by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Biden temporarily waived the Passenger Vessel Services Act, allowing cruise lines that faced a lost Alaska season to prepare for a resumption of cruises to the state this summer.
Royal Caribbean on Monday will become the first major cruise line to restart cruises to Alaska in nearly two years, with a sailing of a ship out of Seattle that will not touch a Canadian port.
The sailing and others like it scheduled for the coming months by more than half a dozen major cruise brands have caused concern in Canada that cruise operators, with the help of additional U.S. legislation, could permanently drop calls in Canada on Alaska cruises. The calls are important to the economies of Canadian ports such as Victoria in British Columbia.
While the Canadian transport minister's announcement on Thursday will have little impact on when cruise ships will resume sailings to Canada, it can be seen as a signal to cruise lines that the country is eager for them to keep Canadian ports on their schedules for 2022 and beyond.
"We will welcome cruise ships, an important part of our tourism sector, back in Canadian waters for the 2022 season," Alghabra said on Thursday.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.