Canada Extends Cruise Ship Ban Ending Any Chances of Salvaging Disney Wonder Alaskan Sailings in 2020

Today, the Canadian Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, announced updated measures pertaining to cruise ships and passenger vessels in Canadian waters effectively ending any chance of the Disney Wonder sailing from Vancouver to Alaska in 2020.

The updated measures ban all cruise ships with overnight accommodations to carry more than 100 persons are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020.

“Our Government is committed to protecting Canadians, particularly during these challenging times. It is for that reason I am announcing updated measures for cruise ships and other passenger vessels in Canada, which includes prohibiting larger cruise ships from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020. Our Government continues to work with other levels of government, transportation industry stakeholders, and Indigenous peoples to re-examine measures and to ensure Canada’s transportation system remains safe and secure during this time. We are all in this together.”

Minister of Transport
The Honourable Marc Garneau

Below is a copy of the full release issued by the Canadian Minister of Transport on May 29, 2020.


The Government of Canada continues to monitor the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts it is having on the marine and tourism sectors. Keeping Canadians and transportation workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic is Transport Canada’s top priority.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, announced updated measures pertaining to cruise ships and passenger vessels in Canadian waters.

  • Cruise ships with overnight accommodations allowed to carry more than 100 persons are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020.
  • As of July 1, 2020, all other passenger vessels must follow provincial, territorial, local and regional health authority requirements for timelines and processes to resume operations.

Passenger vessels with the capacity to carry more than 12 persons continue to be prohibited from entering Arctic coastal waters (including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador Coast) until October 31, 2020.

Beginning July 1, 2020, passenger vessels will be allowed to operate in inland rivers and lakes in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.

Essential passenger vessels, such as ferries and water taxis, should continue to operate using mitigation measures. These could include reducing the number of passengers or using alternative practices such as keeping people in their vehicles, when safe to do so, or enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.


On May 13th, Disney Cruise Line pulled all of their 2020 Alaskan cruises from their website to prevent further bookings ahead of cancelling Disney Wonder departures through late July. The following Disney Wonder sailings will be impacted by today’s announcement.

It is just a matter of time now for Disney Cruise Line to announce the cancellation of the balance of the 2020 Disney Wonder Alaskan sailings following today’s decision by the Canadian Government.

Additionally, the Disney Magic has October sailings with Canadian ports:

There are some worthwhile videos in this Globalnews.ca article as well as the video below.

3 Replies to “Canada Extends Cruise Ship Ban Ending Any Chances of Salvaging Disney Wonder Alaskan Sailings in 2020”

  1. Paul T

    At this this point I firmly believe that our late August cruise on the the Fantasy and our early November Very Merry cruise on the Dream will be cancelled and that there will be no sailings for the rest of the year. Bob Iger’s rather ambiguous statement further make me believe that my thoughts to be true. As for Thomas Mazloum, he has been like the the invisible man since he was be put in charge of the cruise line on May 18

    Reply
  2. Edward Cairns

    Today Sunday May 31 2020, the Disney Wonder left San Diego and is currently enroute to Balboa Panama according to the Marine Traffic website (PA BLB). So I assume that the Eastbound Panama Merrytime Cruise scheduled for November 6th 2020 is effectively cancelled along with any Mexican coastal cruises? I cannot see the Wonder returning to the West Coast again in 2020. However, the EBPC cruise is still open for booking for this Merrytime Cruise on the DCL website….???

    Reply

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