While big cruise ships will not be able to visit Alaska in 2021, Sven-Olof Lindblad, chief executive officer of U.S.-flagged Lindblad Expeditions, says it will operate four vessels there this season.

Speaking at the Seatrade Cruise Virtual Expedition Cruising's State of the Expedition Cruise Industry today, Lindblad called for a suspension of the legislation that prevents foreign flag vessels from trading in US domestic trades as the Covid-19 pandemic is causing major disruption to the cruise industry in Alaska. However, he described the legislation as an “unmoveable rock” and noted that in the past, calls for its suspension or abolishment have not produced results.

The situation in the case of Alaska is complicated by the fact that the Canadian government in early February extended a ban for cruise ships carrying more than 100 passengers from operating in Canadian waters until the end of February 2022. Vancouver in British Columbia has traditionally served as either as a turnaround port, or together with the provincial capital Victoria as a port of call to allow foreign flag ships to operate cruises to Alaska.

In the meantime, two Carnival Corporation cruise lines will take an innovative, land-based approach to offering Alaska trips in the 2021 season. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line have decided to operate land tours in Alaska through Gray Line Alaska, Princess Alaska Lodges and Holland America Line's Westmark Hotels.

"We love Alaska, and we love that we get to share it with visitors from all over the world. We're committed to helping locals and visitors alike experience all the best parts of Alaska in a safe way," said Dave McGlothlin, Vice President, Tour Operations at Holland America Line. "For the last year, many people stayed close to home, so this summer, as we're able to reopen some of these land offerings, we are more ready than ever to welcome visitors back through our doors," he said in a statement.

Among the highlights for escorted tours will be the full eight-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour at Denali, where guests have opportunities to see the big five – grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep. Other included tours are the Portage Glacier Cruise near Anchorage and Riverboat Discovery excursion in Fairbanks. In addition, optional tours such as flightseeing around the mountain, river rafting, and more will be available to book at each hotel property.

In other news

Other panelists at today's State of the Expedition Cruise Industry, the first of a two day series of virtual panels and events, included Ponant's Herve Bellaiche, Abercrombie & Kent's Geoffrey Kent, Hurtigruten's Asta Lassesen and Silversea's Roberto Martinoli.

Martinoli shared an interesting economic insight. Despite their small size, expedition cruise ships can be highly profitable, he says, noting that they generate returns almost equal to those of mega cruise vessels, but they achieve this by higher per diems rather than by large volumes of passengers. In 2020, Silversea took delivery of its first-ever expedition newbuild. Silver Origin will sail year-round in the Galapagos.

Other panels sessions worth catching include Tuesday's line-up include Innovation in Expedition Ship Design https://seatradecruisevirtual.app.swapcard.com/event/seatrade-cruise-virtual-expedition/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMzA1NTEz

and Itinerary Planning and Shoreside Experience https://seatradecruisevirtual.app.swapcard.com/event/seatrade-cruise-virtual-expedition/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMzA1NTE2