No Cruise Ships In Saint John This Year

Another hit for local businesses as Transport Canada extends its ban on cruise ships with 100 passengers or more through next February due to the pandemic.

The one-year extension, announced Thursday, means no cruise ships will be making ports of call in Saint John for the second straight year.

Jim Quinn, CEO of Port Saint John, said they were not surprised by this week’s decision, which he described as inevitable.

“You just have to look around at what’s happening in our environment in terms of the number of cases across the country and in the United States and certainly here in New Brunswick,” Quinn said during an interview Friday.

“There’s a long way to go in order to get this pandemic under control.”

Quinn said the federal government is working hard to take public safety seriously, which he agrees with.

He noted the impacts of the ban will be felt not only in Saint John but across southern New Brunswick.

“Businesses that would normally count on the arrival of tourists by cruise ships and the crews on those ships, that will be absent for yet another year,” said Quinn.

“I think of the small businesses, I think of the street vendors and all of those folks who earn income to support their families during the year and this is going to be another year where that’s not going to be present.”

Quinn said Canadian port authorities are working together with all levels of government to see what protocols might be needed when the cruise industry does resume.

The effort is being spearheaded by the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, which represents 17 ports and related marine interests.

While some are concerned that cruise ships may never return to Saint John after two lost seasons, Quinn does not feel that way.

“We’re very optimistic that cruise will return, the pandemic will get under control and we’ll see the return of cruise in 2022,” he said.

“We have so many natural attributes that are a natural marketplace, including that we’re a safe destination and we’re known for our hospitality. I think collectively, all those attributes, we’ll see Canada and New England being a sought-after destination for cruisers.”