Planning continues for return of the Cruise ships to Prince Rupert, though volume of calls to come still unknown

Only a few more months to go before Prince Rupert could
see the first cruise ship since 2019 at the Northland Terminal

The Government of Canada has outlined the procedures they have put in place towards a return to British Columbia ports for the Cruise Ship Industry for 2022.

The announcement was released on Monday and features a range of COVID related requirements for both crew and travellers for their arrival at a Canadian Port.

Crew and passengers being required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Crew and passengers being required to self-monitor for symptoms 

Passengers being required to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72-hours before boarding a cruise ship OR take an antigen test within one day of boarding a cruise ship

Passengers being required to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72-hours before arriving in Canada or taking an antigen test within one day of the scheduled arrival.

The actual lifting of the prohibition on Cruise Ships in Canadian waters was announced back in November of 2021.

The new guidelines were released this week with the anticipation for the 2022 season starting to build.

“As Canadians continue to do their part by stepping up and rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and practising public health measures, our government continues to work hard to restart our economy safely and sustainably. We welcome cruise ships—an important part of our tourism sector—back to Canada, and we will continue working with partners to support this important industry. -- Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport

More on the Federal measures can be reviewed here.

The Sebaourn Sojourn at dock at Northland Terminal in
October of 2019, it would be the last port call in Prince Rupert
as COVID brought a close to Canadian ports for 2020 and 2021

In Prince Rupert, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, along with cruise industry stakeholders and partners are making plans for the year ahead, with Katherine Voigt, Manager of Communications for the PRPA providing a snap shot for us of the work to date for the return.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is pleased that the cruise industry, the Government of Canada, and a variety of stakeholders have been able to work together to ensure we can safely welcome back cruise visitors to Prince Rupert this summer as part of the recovery of our tourism industry from the last two years. 

PRPA has been actively participating on the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) cruise committee throughout this time; a committee that has played a crucial role in planning for the safe resumption of cruise in Canada. 

The conditions that have been outlined to prevent and manage COVID-19 on cruise ships and at Canadian ports are significant and have been proven effective in other regions. 

As to how many ships we may see at the Northland Terminal  the details have yet to be finalized, though Ms. Voigt does note that the first sighting in Prince Rupert harbour should come towards the end of May

Prince Rupert will have cruise vessels call this season and we anticipate the first vessel will arrive in late May. PRPA is currently working to finalize the schedule so that we can communicate these details to local shore excursion operators, the public, and the business community as soon as possible.

Northland Terminal last welcomed a cruise ship in October of 2019 with the Port providing a farewell and see you soon at the time to the Seabourn Sojourn and the many stakeholders and volunteers that make for the local industry.

By the flip of the calendar to 2020 all of that would change as the Federal Government closed all BC and Canadian ports to Cruise Ship traffic in response to the arrival of COVID in 2020.

Last year, the American government announced a return for the Alaska Cruise Industry, allowing cruise ships to bypass Canadian ports on their transit between Washington State and the Alaska Cruise destinations.

American President Joe Biden in May of 2021 signing into law
a bill that allowed a bypass of British Columbia ports for the Alaska 
Cruise Industry

That shift in American policy is still in place with some Alaskan politicians in particular keen to make it permanent. 

So it will be worth watching to see how many Cruise lines continue that policy of a Bypass of British Columbia port calls.  

The stakes are high for the local industry which as noted above saw 28 port calls and 11,400 visitors in 2019, with the question ahead one as to whether the passenger volumes will  return to that mark, or if there is more work required once again to rebuild the industry footprint on the North Coast.

Key to that success will be if the Canadian decisions of 2021 and Alaskan attitudes towards it have any lasting impact on the local industry expectations.

Once the schedule is released we'll provide a link to the listings and explore the prospects for the 2022 Cruise season for Prince Rupert. 

You can follow along for the latest notes on the Cruise Season ahead through our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.