Posted on 05/24/2021 5:01:12 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
As expected, President Joe Biden signed legislation that sets the stage for large ships to cruise this summer to Alaska.
The bill – sponsored by Alaska’s legislators and easily passed by both the Senate and House – would allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to sail to and around Alaska from the U.S. without stopping at a foreign port, as required by the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886. The waiver is good until Canada lifts its ban on large cruise ships, which currently is set to expire on Feb. 28, 2022.
In anticipation of Biden’s signing, numerous big-ship cruise lines already announced plans to cruise in Alaska this summer from Seattle.
The lines also say they expect approval to resume cruising from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) any day now. Since all the announced cruises mandate proof of vaccination, test cruises originally proposed by the CDC are not required.
Abbreviated cruise programs have been scheduled by Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.
The bill was sponsored by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska; the companion House bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Young of Alaska.
“It was an honor to be at the White House today to witness the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act being signed into law by the President,” Murkowski posted on her Facebook page. “As a result of this bill, multiple cruise lines have already resumed ticket sales and Alaskan stakeholders and business owners can officially plan for the remainder of the 2021 season with some level of confidence and certainty. The journey to this point has been a challenge but knowing the opportunities this bill will provide Alaskans makes all our hard work well worth the fight. We’re ready to spread the word that it’s full steam ahead for the Alaska tourism season.”
So only “vaccinated“ people (injected with a new experimental biotech therapy) can ever cruise again. Nice.
Because science says only man made vaccine brings immunity.
Hahaha
Government of loons.
Whether intentional or not, sticking it to Prime Minister Turdeau who won’t let ‘muricans stop in Vancouver/Victoria Canada whilst en route to Alaska. Lots of tourism loonies lost there, eh Justy?
I wonder how long the vaccination requirement will continue. A “test cruise” would be pretty risky (for the cruise line) if done too early.
You will have to pass on an Alaskan cruise. - Tom
From the article-"The lines also say they expect approval to resume cruising from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) any day now. Since all the announced cruises mandate proof of vaccination, test cruises originally proposed by the CDC are not required."
I suspect the maritime unions are very unhappy about this.
The Jones Act says if you carry cargo (passengers?) between two U.S. ports, it must be on an American built, American manned ship.
Ships Of Fools?
“Because science says only man made vaccine brings immunity.”
Kinda makes you wonder how world civilization has survived for thousands of years before vaccines became a thing. Could it have been ... oh, I don’t know ... herd immunity?
Oh thank you your Graciousness.
-Joe Biden
Yep.....and, just give a year, or so.
I watched a fishing show yesterday. The guy goes around the world looking for fish that kill people. He was in Alaska.
He was focused on a case where two fishermen were missing from a boat.
He ruled out salmon.
He finally came to the conclusion that halibut had killed them.
Halibut.
He was trying to figure out if there was anything in the ocean that might kill people.
Hmmmmmm......
Let’s see.....
Cuddly whales.....nurturing whales.....helpful whales......
Killer Whales.
I wonder why they call them that?
Killer Halibut? The only time a halibut has a chance to take you out is when you drag them into the boat before shooting or clubbing them.
You know how to tell the difference between a big flounder and a halibut? Stick your finger in their mouth. If you still have a finger, it’s a flounder.
Anyone who likes cruises should get vaccinated. I am approaching 12 weeks after full vaccination, and don’t have a single issue. Ditto with my spouse. Ditto with dozens of people I personally know who got the full vaccination. I am 81 and my spouse is a cancer patient.
This vaccine is much more weaker than covid-19 in terms of causing physical issues.
It is quite true that previously infected people also could become immune to another severe attack of covid-19. However a paper document showing vaccination is much easier for cruise lines to determine immunity.
If you are OK to bypass cruising, just skip the vaccines. In my own case, I am cruise starved, since it has been 14 months already since my last cruise. After moving to Florida, I have been cruising every 6 months. And the vaccine has been a nothing burger so far.
To give cruisers some mental comfort, 160 Million Americans have been vaccinated so far. Even if as many as 80,000 Americans suffer dire consequences, that makes the covid vaccines 99.95% safe. Play the odds, do not miss more cruises, life is short.
So how long before a vaccinated passenger on a fully vaccinated ship gets the virus ???
In about a week we’ll find out whats required for the Caribbean ...
“CDC approval”. Ugh
The cruise lines arte gambling that the Americans who are vaccinated are also cruisers...
Just wait till they go back to full passenger capacity and cant full their ships...
The long time cruisers who are vaccinated cant take that many cruises to satisfy the demand for a constant supply of passengers ...
Carnival’s new ship the Mardi Gras holds 5.200 passengers and then there are the other monster ships in the other cruise lines...
They have shot holes in their sinking ships if they make the Caribbean cruises all vaccinated...
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