Alaska Tourism Recovery Act Passes U.S. Senate

[joepeka]

One step closer to cruises resuming to Alaska without calling on a foreign port during the itinerary:

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/25000-2021-alaska-cruise-season-may-be-saved-as-senate-passes-key-bill.html

[azbirdmom]

Yes, it's a very important step!

[By The Bay]

A few more hurdles to get over.

 

1. The House will need to vote it through.

2. The President will need to sign it.

3. The CDC will need to allow cruise ships to resume.

 

Good luck. 🤞

[K.T.B.]

3 minutes ago, By The Bay said:

A few more hurdles to get over.

 

1. The House will need to vote it through.

2. The President will need to sign it.

3. The CDC will need to allow cruise ships to resume.

 

Good luck. 🤞

 

1 will probably happen. 2 is definitely better than 50/50. 3 is under pressure now, so once 1 & 2 happen, they'll acquiesce. 

[mtnlvr53]

I'm thinking the House is less of an issue than the Senate. The dems control the House but they want job creation, not on the ship particularly but in Alaska. So, they will possibly get enough votes. In the spirit of compromise, I think the President will sign. The CDC's new easing of masking restrictions indicate that there could be a likelihood of eased restrictions on the cruise ships/

[sherryf]

But how soon would they sail?  They've cancelled everything else until August 21.  If they only start AK cruises after August 21, that only leaves a few weeks in the AK cruise season.  

[mtnlvr53]

3 minutes ago, sherryf said:

But how soon would they sail?  They've cancelled everything else until August 21.  If they only start AK cruises after August 21, that only leaves a few weeks in the AK cruise season.  

Aren't the cruises from Seattle  roundtrip still on after the end of June? If so, that would be 3 months which is certainly better than nothing for the people of AK

[Ken the cruiser]

So does Princess have any available cruise ships on the West Coast that might be able to get approved for Phase 4 restricted cruises if this gets signed into law?

[By The Bay]

11 minutes ago, mtnlvr53 said:

Aren't the cruises from Seattle  roundtrip still on after the end of June? If so, that would be 3 months which is certainly better than nothing for the people of AK

From what I have read, the cruise lines will require at least 90 to get ready to cruise. Good luck getting Alaska cruises up and running this year.🤞

[Paula_MacFan]

16 minutes ago, sherryf said:

But how soon would they sail?  They've cancelled everything else until August 21.  If they only start AK cruises after August 21, that only leaves a few weeks in the AK cruise season.  

I was wondering the same thing.  Not to mention the infrastructure that has to be in place for such a short time.  Doesn't really seem feasible or worth it for a few weeks.  

[Italy52]

We are HUGH Alaska fans -- we have one Alaska cruise that has not been cancelled -- August 21, 2021.  We choose to remain positive -- if it is meant to be, it will happen.  I hope the "magic" happens and we can support the people of Alaska. 

[IrieBajan54]

Good luck vaccinating all crew members who are still at home mostly in places like the Philippines and Indonesia.

[skynight]

Temporary and could end if ports in Canada open or automatically on March 31, 2022.

(g) Duration.—The authority provided under this section shall terminate on the earlier of—

(1) the date on which covered cruise ships are no longer prohibited by the Government of Canada, any political subdivision of Canada, or any port or province of Canada, from entering, berthing, or docking in Canadian waters of the Pacific Coast due to the COVID–19 pandemic; or

(2) March 31, 2022.

[NavArch64]

S.593 allows the following ships to operate .... but they still will need to have a CSC under the CSO issued by the CDC.

 

(2) LIST.—The vessels listed under this paragraph are the following:

(A) Carnival Freedom (IMO number 9333149).

(B) Carnival Miracle (IMO number 9237357).

(C) Crystal Serenity (IMO number 9243667).

(D) Discovery Princess (IMO number 9837468).

(E) Emerald Princess (IMO number 9333151).

(F) Eurodam (IMO number 9378448).

(G) Golden Horizon (IMO number 9793545).

(H) Grand Princess (IMO number 9104005).

(I) Hanseatic Inspiration (IMO number 9817145).

(J) Koningsdam (IMO number 9692557).

(K) NG Quest (IMO number 9798985).

(L) NG Sea Bird (IMO number 8966444).

(M) NG Sea Lion (IMO number 8966456).

(N) NG Venture (IMO number 9799044).

(O) Nieuw Amsterdam (IMO number 9378450).

(P) Noordam (IMO number 9230115).

(Q) Zuiderdam (IMO number 9221279).

(R) Majestic Princess (IMO number 9614141).

(S) Ovation of the Seas (IMO number 9697753).

(T) Radiance of the Seas (IMO number 9195195).

(U) Serenade of the Seas (IMO number 9228344).

(V) Eclipse (IMO number 9404314).

(W) Millennium (IMO number 9189419).

(X) Solstice (IMO number 9362530).

(Y) Norwegian Bliss (IMO number 9751509).

(Z) Norwegian Encore (IMO number 9751511).

(AA) Norwegian Jewel (IMO number 9304045).

(BB) Norwegian Spirit (IMO number 9141065).

(CC) Norwegian Sun (IMO number 9218131).

(DD) Ocean Victory (IMO number 9868869).

(EE) Pacific Princess (IMO number 9187887).

(FF) Pacific World (IMO number 9000259).

(GG) Quantum of the Seas (IMO number 9549463).

(HH) Queen Elizabeth (IMO number 9477438).

(II) Disney Wonder (IMO number 9126819).

(JJ) Regatta (IMO number 9156474).

(KK) Roald Amundsen (IMO number 9813072).

(LL) Ruby Princess (IMO number 9378462).

(MM) Sapphire Princess (IMO number 9228186).

(NN) Scenic Eclipse (IMO number 9797371).

(OO) Seabourn Odyssey (IMO number 9417086).

(PP) Seabourn Venture 2 (IMO 9862023).

(QQ) Seven Seas Mariner (IMO number 9210139).

(RR) Silver Shadow (IMO number 9192167).

(SS) Silver Wind (IMO number 8903935).

(TT) Star Breeze (IMO number 8807997).

(UU) Sylvia Earle (IMO number 9872327).

(VV) Westerdam (IMO number 9226891).

(WW) L’Austral (IMO number 9502518).

(XX) Silver Muse (IMO number 9784350).

(YY) Viking Orion (IMO number 9796250).

[azbirdmom]

1 hour ago, NavArch64 said:

S.593 allows the following ships to operate .... but they still will need to have a CSC under the CSO issued by the CDC.

 

(2) LIST.—The vessels listed under this paragraph are the following:

(A) Carnival Freedom (IMO number 9333149).

 

(B) Carnival Miracle (IMO number 9237357).

 

(C) Crystal Serenity (IMO number 9243667).

 

(D) Discovery Princess (IMO number 9837468).

 

(E) Emerald Princess (IMO number 9333151).

 

(F) Eurodam (IMO number 9378448).

 

(G) Golden Horizon (IMO number 9793545).

 

(H) Grand Princess (IMO number 9104005).

 

(I) Hanseatic Inspiration (IMO number 9817145).

 

(J) Koningsdam (IMO number 9692557).

 

(K) NG Quest (IMO number 9798985).

 

(L) NG Sea Bird (IMO number 8966444).

 

(M) NG Sea Lion (IMO number 8966456).

 

(N) NG Venture (IMO number 9799044).

 

(O) Nieuw Amsterdam (IMO number 9378450).

 

(P) Noordam (IMO number 9230115).

 

(Q) Zuiderdam (IMO number 9221279).

 

(R) Majestic Princess (IMO number 9614141).

 

(S) Ovation of the Seas (IMO number 9697753).

 

(T) Radiance of the Seas (IMO number 9195195).

 

(U) Serenade of the Seas (IMO number 9228344).

 

(V) Eclipse (IMO number 9404314).

 

(W) Millennium (IMO number 9189419).

 

(X) Solstice (IMO number 9362530).

 

(Y) Norwegian Bliss (IMO number 9751509).

 

(Z) Norwegian Encore (IMO number 9751511).

 

(AA) Norwegian Jewel (IMO number 9304045).

 

(BB) Norwegian Spirit (IMO number 9141065).

 

(CC) Norwegian Sun (IMO number 9218131).

 

(DD) Ocean Victory (IMO number 9868869).

 

(EE) Pacific Princess (IMO number 9187887).

 

(FF) Pacific World (IMO number 9000259).

 

(GG) Quantum of the Seas (IMO number 9549463).

 

(HH) Queen Elizabeth (IMO number 9477438).

 

(II) Disney Wonder (IMO number 9126819).

 

(JJ) Regatta (IMO number 9156474).

 

(KK) Roald Amundsen (IMO number 9813072).

 

(LL) Ruby Princess (IMO number 9378462).

 

(MM) Sapphire Princess (IMO number 9228186).

 

(NN) Scenic Eclipse (IMO number 9797371).

 

(OO) Seabourn Odyssey (IMO number 9417086).

 

(PP) Seabourn Venture 2 (IMO 9862023).

 

(QQ) Seven Seas Mariner (IMO number 9210139).

 

(RR) Silver Shadow (IMO number 9192167).

 

(SS) Silver Wind (IMO number 8903935).

 

(TT) Star Breeze (IMO number 8807997).

 

(UU) Sylvia Earle (IMO number 9872327).

 

(VV) Westerdam (IMO number 9226891).

 

(WW) L’Austral (IMO number 9502518).

 

(XX) Silver Muse (IMO number 9784350).

 

(YY) Viking Orion (IMO number 9796250).

 

Interesting that they include multiple Princess ships on the list when only the Emerald and Majestic currently have Alaska cruises scheduled this summer.  Thinking that they used an old list that included the other Alaska itineraries that were cancelled long ago which would account for the Pacific Princess being listed.  Keeping my fingers crossed that our August cruise will be a go after all.

[voljeep]

4 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

Princess ships on the list when only the Emerald and Majestic currently have Alaska cruises scheduled this summer

wonder if behind the scenes , Princess is figuring out how to fully crew those 2 ships ?

[NavArch64]

S.593 definitions ....

 

(a) Definition Of Covered Cruise Ship.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the term “covered cruise ship” means a vessel included on the list under paragraph (2) that—

(A) has been issued, operates in accordance with, and retains a COVID–19 Conditional Sailing Certificate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

(B) operates in accordance with any restrictions or guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention associated with such Certificate, including any such restrictions or guidance issued after the date of enactment of this Act.

[azbirdmom]

2 minutes ago, voljeep said:

wonder if behind the scenes , Princess is figuring out how to fully crew those 2 ships ?

 

They must be, otherwise those cruises would have been cancelled on Wednesday.  It's easier to staff up two ships than the whole fleet.  And they have a little experience with this by now as they have almost certainly staffed up the two ships doing the UK seacations.

[Ken the cruiser]

5 minutes ago, voljeep said:

wonder if behind the scenes , Princess is figuring out how to fully crew those 2 ships ?

Looks like the Emerald is in a good location to easily move up to Seattle once a decision is made.

 

EMERALD PRINCESS Current Location (cruisemapper.com)

[NavArch64]

IMO, S.593 is a "weird" bill. Read it and decide for yourself.

[NavArch64]

IMO, the US maritime labor unions will not like S.593 at all. The bill may not pass in the D-controlled US HOR. We shall see.

[NavArch64]

The companion bill, H.R.1318 has not even had a hearing yet in the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. That is when and where all of the legal and political subtleties will be discussed.

[cruisequeen4ever]

I’m really hoping this passes the remaining 2 steps! Passing the Senate was a huge step! I think at this point, it really could be a number of ships used, since so many will be sitting ducks this summer. Who knows? Maybe they’ll add extra ships! I think there’d be demand! 

[skynight]

I think it will pass the House. It was passed in the Senate by unanimous consent. It is temporary. Maritime unions lose nothing. They don't have these jobs now, in the past nor will they in the future. The longshoreman on the other hand will get work both in Seattle and Alaska.  

[NavArch64]

Good points.