Mixed vaccines could keep British Columbians from cruise travel
Chilliwack retirees Della and Rob Jansen have been on 23 cruises, and number 24 is scheduled for November.
“This is what we do, we cruise. And we cruise because this is a way for us to relax, it takes away our anxieties,” said Della.
But the couple may have to cancel the 13-day Royal Caribbean cruise out of Florida, because Rob had two different mRNA vaccines. The cruise line only allows for that if the doses are between 28 and 42 days apart, but Canada’s interval is longer than that.
“Mine was done within seven weeks so that’s 49 days. So I’m just out of that time frame, which means I would be considered not fully vaccinated,” said Rob.
The 59-year-old could still sail, but large parts of the ship would be off limits.
“You can’t enjoy yourself or relax. You always wonder, 'What is my protocol based on me being unvaccinated?' Which really, he is vaccinated,” said Della.
The couple wants the federal government to advocate for Canadians who had mixed vaccines.
“It’s our health professionals that told us it was OK to do something different than what the CDC put on their website. I think the onus is on them to rectify this,” said Della.
Sanjay Goel, the president of Vancouver-based Cruise Connections, believes discussions are already happening, pointing out the prime minister had two different vaccines.
Currently rules about sailing with mixed vaccines vary depending on the cruise company and the destination of the cruise.
“There is no question the uncertainty creates confusion, and that creates anxiety and so forth for guests,” said Goel. “It has rapidly changed a few times back and forth -- flips-flops so to speak --over the last 10 days or so, which hasn’t helped.”
Goel does think the industry will become more consistent as cruises resume around the world.
“I’m pretty confident much of this will iron itself out, but it’s going to take some time,” Goel said.
The Jansens are hoping the rules will change before their November cruise, or they will once again be stuck on dry land this winter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Arrest made, manslaughter charge pending in 2022 death of Calgary toddler
Calgary police have arrested a man and a charge is pending in connection with the death of a toddler in 2022.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson Airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Here's why experts don't think cloud seeding played a role in Dubai's downpour
Scientists say it's highly unlikely cloud seeding is responsible for the heavy rains that have caused flooding in the United Arab Emirates this month, and that climate change is the more likely culprit.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.