US House passes bill allowing big cruise ships to visit Alaska later this summer

Big cruise ships could be heading for Alaska later this summer.

A federal bill that would allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to bypass Canada on their way to Alaska is headed to the president’s desk after unanimously passing the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. Senate passing similar legislation earlier this month.

The measure could allow Alaska port communities to receive large cruise ships later this year. But first, President Biden must sign it.

A 19th-century law known as the Passenger Vessel Services Act requires foreign-flagged cruise ships to make a stop in another country when traveling between domestic ports. But Canadian authorities have banned cruise ships through next February.

Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/05/20/us-house-passes-measure-that-means-big-cruise-ships-could-be-heading-for-alaska-later-this-summer/