A cruise ship docks at Port Saint John with a second ship off in the distance. Image: Port Saint John/submitted
Vaccines and COVID-19 testing will be required for all cruise ship passengers coming to Canada this year.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra unveiled the federal government’s public health framework during an announcement in Halifax on Monday.
“We have reached an agreement for the safe restart of the cruise ship industry in Canada,” Alghabra said during Monday’s announcement.
Alghabra said the framework was developed with federal, provincial and local public health agencies, the U.S. government, and the cruise industry.
The plan, he said, includes three major components to help prevent or limit the spread of COVID-19.
“A management plan to prevent or limit the spread of COVID-19 on board, a ship-to-shore checklist to be used when passengers board or come to shore, and clear testing and reporting requirements for passengers and crew,” he said.
(SOURCE: Port of Halifax Twitter)
All passengers and crew members will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and self-monitor for symptoms.
Passengers will have to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72-hours before boarding a cruise ship or take an antigen test within one day of boarding a cruise ship.
They will also have to take a molecular test within 72-hours before arriving in Canada or take an antigen test within one day of the scheduled arrival.
“We’re also adjusting our travel advice for Canadians taking cruises and continue to advise travellers to proceed with caution,” said Alghabra.
The transport minister noted the cruise industry represents more than $4 billion for the country’s economy and supports 30,000 jobs across the country.
Saint John is preparing to welcome its first cruise ship of the season on April 29. The current schedule has 70 cruise ship visits between April and November.
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