Print article With regard to the letter to the editor by Andrew Lamb, published on Feb. 19 and critical of the Alaska congressional delegation, I wish to correct the record as the governing law is the Passenger Vessel Service Act not the Jones Act, which regulates cargo between U.S. ports. I know Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, as well as Congressman Don Young are making a compelling case to their colleagues to appropriately address Canada’s misdirected action and how best to respond to this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic along with its impact on Alaska tourism. Richard C. Berkowitz
Wed, 03/03/2021 - 6:11am
A group prepares to board a whale watching vessel in Sitka during the 2017 Alaska Chamber annual conference. Sitka-based tour provider Alaska Dream Cruises has seen an “uptick” in bookings of late for cruises this spring and summer and broader reservation inquiries are getting back to pre-pandemic levels for the company. (Photo/Andrew Jensen/AJOC)
The fate of the 2021 Alaska tourism season is still very much an unknown for the large international cruise lines that operate vessels with thousands of passengers, but small vessel operators are preparing to get back to touring the Inside Passage.
Alaska Dream Cruises is one of those companies in the unique position of falling outside of strict guidelines imposed on the large cruise companies.
Small cruise operators are still planning to sail Alaska waters in 2021 adn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from adn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
NCL Updates On Alaska, But What’s The Alternative?
Photo Credit: Igor Grochev / Shutterstock.com
Norwegian Cruise Line provided an update on February 16 and cancelled its sailings through May 2021. NCL also updated guests and travel agents on the
state of the cruise ban in Canada, which has severely affected the cruise industry’s plans to sail in Alaska this summer.
No Cancelations, Looking at Alternatives
In the statement released on the companies website, the cruise line states it will not be canceling any voyages to Alaska. The cruise line will stop taking any bookings for the 2021 Alaska season as it looks to ‘explore several initiatives that may allow such cruises to continue.’
By Salvatore R. Mercogliano, Ph.D. –
In March 2020, the Center for Disease Control issued a No Sail Order for cruise lines and that has remained in place, pending a successful plan to resume operations. Once the CDC releases the cruise ships, sailing to Alaska will be problematic as most of the world’s cruise ships are foreign built, foreign flagged, manned with foreign crews, and owned and operated by companies incorporated overseas.
Under the Passenger Vessel Service Act of 1886, while such ships can operate between American ports, they must include a stop at a foreign destination. It is for this reason that Captain Stubing, Julie McCoy, Gopher, Isaac, and the rest of the crew of the British-flagged