Is your Alaska cruise canceled? This small line will give you an extra $500 credit
Is your Alaska cruise likely to be canceled due to Canada's new cruise ship ban? Alaska cruise specialist UnCruise Adventures has an offer for you.
The adventure-focused small-ship cruise company will give you a $500 per cabin discount to take one of its Alaska sailings as an alternative.
The $500 per cabin discount can be combined with the line's current $600 per cabin discount offer for a total savings of $1,100 per cabin.
Among caveats: The offer only is available once your existing Alaska sailing on another line is officially canceled and you can show proof of the cancellation.
In addition, for now, bookings must be made by Feb. 28.
Announced earlier this month and effective through Feb. 28, 2022, the Canada cruise ban is effectively a ban on cruises to Alaska, too, for most lines, as most cruise ships must make a stop in Canada during Alaska cruises for regulatory reasons.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
Most cruise ships are flagged outside of the United States, and by law, such vessels cannot cruise in American waters without stopping at least once per voyage at a foreign port. On a practical level, that means that the Alaska cruises that most lines offer must include a stop in Canada.
UnCruise Adventures is one of the few cruise operators in Alaska that won't be affected by the Canada cruise ban as it operates U.S.-flagged ships. It is allowed to offer Alaska cruises that take place entirely within U.S. waters and don't require a stop in Canada.
Related: Canada cruise ban 'devastating' for Alaska
Other lines in a similar position include American Cruise Lines and Alaskan Dream Cruises. Both operate U.S.-flagged vessels.
All of the lines that operate U.S.-flagged vessels in Alaska are small lines that operate small ships. UnCruise Adventures operates a fleet of vessels that carry just 22 to 86 passengers each. It's known for adventure-focused trips into wilderness areas of Alaska that are all about hiking, kayaking, wildlife-watching and other outdoorsy pursuits -- a far different type of Alaska cruising than what big-ship lines such as Royal Caribbean and Princess offer.
Royal Caribbean, Princess and all other big-ship lines offering voyages in Alaska operate foreign-flagged vessels that must stop in Canada during Alaska sailings.
None of the cruise lines that operate Alaska trips with a Canada stop have officially canceled their 2021 Alaska voyages. But in recent days, they’ve begun making the trips unbookable at their websites — or removing them from the websites completely.
Related: Cruise ship denied entry to New Zealand to restart cruises
Alaska sailings scheduled for 2021 have become unbookable since Canada's announcement at the websites of five of the six big-ship lines that operate in the state: Princess Cruises, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises.
The exception is Norwegian Cruise Line, which continues to show 2021 Alaska sailings as bookable on its website.
The big-ship lines that operate foreign-flagged vessels can’t offer cruises to Alaska without a stop in Canada due to a 135-year-old U.S. law called the Passenger Vessel Service Act.
Unless the law is changed in the next few months, none of the lines will be able to offer Alaska cruises until spring 2022.
The Alaska cruise season typically begins in April and continues through September. UnCruise Adventures canceled most of its 2020 Alaska voyages due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it plans to go ahead with cruises in Alaska this year starting in May — a month later than usual.
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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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| 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.