The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) in Canada welcomes the announcement today by the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, confirming the return of cruise to Canadian waters the first week of April 2022. The first cruise ship since 2019 is scheduled to call in Victoria, British Columbia on April 6 before transiting to Vancouver, British Columbia. With today’s announcement, cruise lines are preparing for a full schedule of sailings this year from April to November, with itineraries that will include ports and destinations on both Canadian coasts.

Many months of work have led to this announcement by Transport Canada, and we are delighted to be coming back. When cruise resumes in April, CLIA member cruise lines will be sailing with COVID-19 protocols that span the entirety of the cruise experience and provide some of the highest levels of prevention, detection, and mitigation compared to virtually any other tourism setting. We acknowledge the support of officials of British Columbia’s Transportation, Tourism and Health Ministries as well as Transport Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, who worked collaboratively with Cruise Lines International Association and its member lines, ports and community partners in order to support the responsible return of cruise to Canada.

The health and safety protocols established for Canadian cruises include full vaccination of passengers and crew members as eligible under Canadian health regulations and proof of a negative COVID-19 test result prior to embarkation (confirmed with either a PCR test three days prior to boarding or an antigen test one day prior to boarding). CLIA will continue to engage with Transport Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and regional agencies to review protocols as the public health situation evolves.

The cruise industry is a vital artery for Canada’s economy, and prior to the pandemic supported approximately 30,000 Canadian jobs and generated an estimated CA $4.3 billion in total economic benefits, including CA $1.9 billion in direct spend, and CA $1.44 billion in wages and salaries each year.