Cruise Ships Return To Halifax In 2022

USPA NEWS - Today, March 11, 2022, marks the 2 year anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic declaration, which forced the cancellation of the cruise season in Canada for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. With all Covid-19 restrictions in Nova Scotia set to be lifted on March 21st, the Port of Halifax has recently announced what the 2022 cruise season will look like.

The Halifax Port Authority President and CEO Captain Allan Gray predicts a strong resumption season as the cruise industry recovers from the blows caused by the pandemic. He said in a news release, "With 152 expected vessel calls in 2022, we are at 85 per cent of where we left off in 2019, which is a great position to be in, Nova Scotia is a place that people want to visit, and the cruise lines want to come here. We remain a safe, welcoming destination with natural beauty and authentic experiences to offer." 

The 2022 Halifax cruise season will begin on April 26th with the arrival of 2 vessels, Norwegian Getaway and Ocean Navigator. The season is scheduled to conclude on November 5th with a visit from the Oceania Insignia.

Highlights of the Port of Halifax 2022 cruise ship season include: 1 visit from Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas, which is the largest cruise vessel to call on Halifax to date on June 7th, 3 days when 4 ship are visiting, 1 day (October 11th) when 5 ships are visiting and 2 visits from the Cunard Line Queen Mary 2, on July 6th and October 5th.

This is very welcome news to the tourism operators, hospitality/food service industry, as well as many small businesses. All have struggled with the loss of revenue due to the decline in tourism during the pandemic and are dependent on these large floating cities to bring thousands of visitors that will spend money in our region each year.

Dennis Campbell. the CEO of Ambassatours Gray Line said in a news release, "This is what all of us involved in the shore excursion side of the Atlantic cruise industry have been waiting for. We are so excited to be doing what we love, which is planning and preparing to welcome cruise guests to our region and give them a taste of authentic Maritime hospitality."

If you are interested in visiting a modern city with a rich military and maritime history, Halifax has it all. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Fairview Cemetery where many that lost their lives on the Titanic are laid to rest and many other historical sites. There is so much to see! Halifax also has amazing shopping and fine dining that is second to none. If this sounds like a port of call that would interest you, contact your travel professional and ask about cruises that include a stop in Halifax.

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra visited the port to announce the public health requirements for visiting passengers and crew, who must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Minister said, "Passengers are required to take a molecular test within 72 hours before boarding a cruise ship, or an antigen test within a day of boarding a cruise ship. They also have to take a molecular test within 72 hours before arriving in Canada, or an antigen test within 1 day of their scheduled arrival. No passenger is going to get off the boat unless they meet the requirement.”

It will be the responsibility of the cruise operator to verify that all boarding requirements have been met at the commencement of the cruise. The cruise operator will ensure that each guest is in possession of the proper proof of vaccination documentation as well as making sure each guest can provide the proper documentation of obligated Covid-19 testing results. These documents will need to be provided to the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) for inspection prior to disembarking the ship in any Canadian port. For the most current and complete details, please see the Government of Canada website. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/cruise