Who’s advocating for big-ship cruising in Alaska? Small cruise lines

Small, U.S.-flagged cruise vessels may be the only ones able to sail in Alaska this summer, after Canada last week extended its cruise ban by one year, a move that could effectively kill the big-ship Alaska cruising season.

And while those small-ship companies may benefit as a result, it doesn’t mean they’re happy about it. At least two of those lines, Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures, have called for the U.S. government to grant exemptions to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) to allow large cruise ships to sail this summer.

According to the PVSA, any foreign-flagged cruise ship departing or ending a voyage in a U.S. port must include at least one foreign port call in the itinerary. So, for example, a foreign-flagged vessel cruising to Alaska from Seattle would also be required to call in Vancouver or Victoria, British Columbia. 

Large cruise operators, which are almost exclusively foreign flagged, have so far declined to cancel any additional 2020 Alaska cruises as they examine options and alternatives that might give them a chance to operate there. The small-ship lines have their back. 

“We strongly support a waiver to sections of the [PVSA] that would allow large lines to sail to Alaska this summer,” said Zak Kirkpatrick, director of marketing for Alaskan Dream Cruises. “One cannot overstate how critical the visitor industry is to Alaska’s economy. Not just for cruise and tour operators like us, but for our friends, neighbors, and family members who own or work for retail businesses, restaurants, food services, and many more businesses types.”

Likewise, UnCruise CEO Dan Blanchard said called Canada’s decision “heartbreaking” and “devasting” during a Zoom press conference in which he held back tears.

“I take pride in being able to operate in Alaska, but I am shook to my core,” he said. “This is just devastating. And I’m a small ship operator that stands to benefit from this. I stand to benefit, but this is the worst fricking news we could have. Because there are people that rely on those ships. There are mouths to be fed. That is heartbreaking.”

Blanchard said that the industry needs to be united in hoping that large cruise ships can get relief from the PVSA “and give those cruise ships a chance as long as they pay appropriate taxes for those clients. We need to get our industry started up.”

Kirkpatrick said that Alaskan Dream is among many municipalities and businesses that are in contact with their congressional delegation, “and we are told they’re working on such waivers.”

Indeed, the Alaska congressional delegation, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, on Friday called on the Canadian government to reconsider its decision and called it “unacceptable.”

“Canada’s announcement to ban all cruise sailings carrying 100 people or more traveling through Canadian waters, without so much as a courtesy conversation with the Alaska Delegation, is not only unexpected, it is unacceptable and was certainly not a decision made with any consideration for Alaskans or our economy,” the delegation said in a statement. “We expect more from our Canadian allies.”