Canada blocks cruise ships for a year, ending Alaska trips by The Associated Press Last Updated Feb 5, 2021 at 9:58 am EDT ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Canadian government has extended a ban on cruise ships through February 2022, which is expected to block trips from visiting Alaska this year. Transport Canada on Thursday announced the extension of the ban enacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada blocked cruise ships of more than 100 passengers starting in spring 2020. The ban was set to expire at the end of February, but Transport Canada said “cruise vessels in Canadian waters pose a risk to our health care systems.”