An American-based cruise ship won’t be making its usual stop in Midland next month.
The Pearl Mist, a 300-foot-long, 210-passenger ship, has been a regular visitor to Midland harbour for a number of years as part of its Great Lakes and Georgian Bay tour.
“They have actually cancelled their June visits, but nothing past that as of yet,” said Nicole Major, the town’s tourism and special events manager.
As well since it’s based in the United States, Major didn’t know when the ship might next visit the area given the fact the border between the two countries is currently closed and social distancing protocols remain in effect.
The company's Great Lakes and Georgian Bay tour also visits Parry Sound, Little Current and Sault Ste. Marie. It starts in Toronto and ends in Milwaukee, Wis.
But Pearl Mist isn't the only cruise ship that had planned to explore the Great Lakes next month.
A cruise ship visit to Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Little Current scheduled for early June has been scrubbed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hapag Lloyd Cruises has cancelled the sailing of its 175-passenger Hanseatic Inspiration as part of a global fleet recall by the German-based international cruise ship company.
“’Stay at home’ is the global message of the moment,” said the company in a recent release.
The Hamburg-based operator announced that it was bringing its fleet back to its home waters in Germany with four of its five ships headed for the berth.
The Hanseatic Inspiration was scheduled to arrive in Hamburg on May 2 after the last of its on-board guests were returned to port on March 21.
The ship’s port of embarkation was to be in Toronto on June 3, followed by stops in Windsor, Tobermory, Parry Sound, Little Current (June 8), the Sault (June 9), and Thunder Bay (June 10) for shore excursions before transitioning to U.S. ports of calls, finally ending in Chicago on June 17.
“It’s unfortunate that we will not be welcoming the Hanseatic Inspiration in 2020,” said Tourism Thunder Bay manager Paul Pepe in an email, “but given the severity of the global COVID health crisis, the decision to close the Seaway to passenger vessels until at least June 30, and Hapag Lloyd cancelling their 2020 summer season are difficult, but are the right decisions to save lives and ensure, globally, we come through this sooner than later.
- With files from Northern Ontario Business
