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A cruise ship on the Seattle coast. (KIRO 7 picture, file photo)
Cruise ships between Seattle and Alaska could soon set sail again.
A U.S. Senate bill passed unanimously on Thursday would allow cruise lines to circumvent a Canadian cruise ban that will expire in 2022.
The CDC relaxed its rules on cruising back in October, and with this season close to ramping up, companies are eager to get back on the water.
Cruises could resume from Seattle this summer
The bill has yet to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Biden. If it gets final approval, cruise lines would still have to follow a CDC return to sailing plan with additional health precautions.
The cruise season supports approximately 5,500 regional jobs in West Washington. More than a million people pass through Seattle when they board and leave their cruises.
