New bill could help cruises out of Seattle get around limitations, resume routes to Alaska
May 14, 2021, 7:31 AM
A cruise ship on the Seattle waterfront. (KIRO 7 image, file photo)
(KIRO 7 image, file photo)
Cruise ships between Seattle and Alaska could be able to set sail again soon.
A U.S. Senate bill passed unanimously on Thursday would allow cruise lines to circumvent a Canadian cruising ban that runs until 2022.
The CDC relaxed its rules on cruises back in October, and as this season is about to ramp up, companies are eager to get back out on the water.
Cruises could resume out of Seattle this summer
The bill still needs to be passed by the House and signed by President Biden. If it gets final approval, cruise lines would still need to follow a CDC “return to sail” plan with extra health precautions.
The cruise season supports about 5,500 regional jobs in Western Washington. More than a million people pass through Seattle getting on or off their cruises.
