3308 replies to this topic

[Kapten Kapsell]

Here's a link to JBNA's website and initiative for 'rethinking' the restart of local cruise operations:  https://www.fair-sailing.com/

[Nparker]

It's a NIMBY manifesto.

[todd]

NIMBY 

nparker in my backyard

Edited by todd, 10 September 2021 - 08:10 AM.

[Nparker]

nparker in my backyard

Isn't your back yard the ocean?

[todd]

Isn't your back yard the ocean?

universe

[Nparker]

#toddisgod

[todd]

yup

[Nparker]

You're certainly no less appealing than the thousands of other gods humanity has dreamed up over the ages.

[SimonH]

#toddisgod

Todd is God ?

 

oh Christ.

[todd]

You're certainly no less appealing than the thousands of other gods humanity has dreamed up over the ages.

I think you’ll find at only 15% of your wages garnished we are very competitive to other

[Mike K.]

Todd is God ?

oh Christ.

Now you know, and I’m sure a lot of stuff makes sense.

[Mike K.]

Big trouble: https://vancouversun...maritime-policy

Make no mistake about it, without the passage of the Alaskan Tourism Restoration Act, Canada’s port closures would have doomed the 2021 cruise season despite our ability to mitigate COVID-19 on large cruise vessels.

To add insult to injury, Canada’s power to cancel Alaska’s 2021 cruise season was only possible because of a U.S. law known as the Passenger Vessels Services Act (PVSA). In short, the PVSA, enacted in 1886, does not allow foreign-flagged passenger vessels to make consecutive U.S. port stops without stopping at a foreign port in between.

Upon the expiration of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, Canada will once again have de facto veto authority over Alaska’s cruise industry. As a result, we must reform the PVSA to protect the sovereignty of our tourism economy.

This summer, I introduced the Tribal Tourism Sovereignty Act, which will do exactly that.

My proposal is simple yet powerful: Large foreign-flagged passenger vessels that call on ports or places in the United States owned by Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations would be compliant with the PVSA’s foreign-stop requirement.

[Victoria Watcher]

Delegation staffers have said they would expect a permanent Alaska cruise exemption to the PVSA to garner support similar to what the temporary waiver received.

Murkowski’s bill is first set to be heard in the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee chaired by Washington Democrat Maria Cantwell, who worked closely with Murkowski for years when they led the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for their respective parties.

Cantwell backed the temporary exemption, noting at the time that the lost 2020 Alaska cruise season cost Seattle an estimated 5,500 jobs and $900 million in potential economic activity.


https://www.adn.com/...stop-in-canada/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 September 2021 - 04:41 PM.

[Mike K.]

This is a literal existential crisis for Victoria and its tourism-dependant economy, and thousands of tourism-dependant jobs.

Is anyone planning to host a delegation from Washington State and Alaska to Victoria, to discuss this issue? Why are we not hearing alarms bells from SIPP, or the Minister of Tourism? Where are we on this front? This is ‘the’ economic story of the millennium for BC’s coast, regardless on where you sit on the cruise debate.

[Mike K.]

The modern-day effect has been for cruise lines to use a Canadian port, most often Vancouver, as either the starting point or a stop en route for Alaska-bound voyages to comply.

That’s not quite right, no? Victoria is the most popular option for US cruise lines having to stop at a Canadian port of call.

[Victoria Watcher]

^ Vancouver takes half the traffic now just because they both have the capacity and can meet the current act.

Seattle ports can’t handle all the traffic - at least for now.

So the only loser here will be Victoria, not BC as a whole.

But once the bill is in place I expect Washington state to increase their capacity.

But also major Alaska ports could just take flights direct. And even do 3 and 4 night cruises from Juneau or Anchorage, something not possible now.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 September 2021 - 05:01 PM.

[Barrrister]

I suspect that this will pass both in the House and Senate. Both BC and the Feds took a very arrogant FU attitude to the US and undoubtedly the Feds and the Province will blame each other.

 

You have to admit that the US Senator came up with an elegant solution in terms of adding native territories as as foreign port. No need to change the heart of the Act but rather a minor modification. 

 

Now about those wonderful plans to rename the cruise ship docks and a master plan for development. 

[lanforod]

This is a literal existential crisis for Victoria and its tourism-dependant economy, and thousands of tourism-dependant jobs.

Is anyone planning to host a delegation from Washington State and Alaska to Victoria, to discuss this issue? Why are we not hearing alarms bells from SIPP, or the Minister of Tourism? Where are we on this front? This is ‘the’ economic story of the millennium for BC’s coast, regardless on where you sit on the cruise debate.

 

It'll have an impact, to be sure. but an existential crisis for Victoria? Nah.

[Mike K.]

When you're not directly impacted, you may not recognize the impact. This video is a good primer of how this is impacting the downtown core and businesses reliant on the injection of people and resources cruise ships deliver.

 

2/3s of The Bay Centre's business is reliant on tourism, as an example.

[Spy Black]

I wonder if cruise lines won't still stop in Victoria regardless of the (as yet to be approved) change in legislation?
A 'port of call' is usually an integral part of any given cruise, designed to facilitate unique shopping, dining, viewing attractions, etc.

 

For folks who've been up and down the Inside Passage, recall that the reality is there's really not that much civilization anywhere. The natural beauty of the Inside Passage is the obvious hook, but in terms of ports, the 'port of call' options are actually pretty sad until you get to Skagway (and even then you can see it all in a day).

 

I will, for the reasons above, wonder aloud if Victoria will still be seen as a preferred stop?