This past Thursday was the deadline for Global Traveler‘s March issue. Deadline week always proves busy as the editorial team takes in and edits late-arriving text for articles and art director Tracey Cullen hustles to get final photo releases and finishes layouts. Editor in chief Kimberly Krol Inlander has to direct her keen eye to every page for approval before sending off the final proofs to the printer, all while finishing up her Letter from the Editor and other writing obligations she may have. No matter how well-prepared we are, there always seems to be some hiccup in the process that keeps us bustling right up to the end of that final day.

All of that is true in “normal” times, but as you can well imagine, publishing a travel magazine during COVID presents a whole new layer of challenges and last-minute changes. With travel restrictions and advisories constantly in flux and a wide range of levels of “openings” — from state to state or even one city to another within one state or region — it can be very difficult to be both topical and accurate. In every issue this past year we have reminded readers to always check with their destination and travel providers for the most up-to-date information before their departure, but we always confirm and reconfirm that every restaurant, spa and hotel mentioned in an article is still open for business (or only temporarily closed due to local health restrictions) as of our deadline. Sometimes, the subject matter for an entire article requires a major overhaul when events shift suddenly.

Such was the case just a week ago when an announcement from the Canadian transport department threw the upcoming cruise season in Alaska and Canada into total disarray. And wouldn’t you know it, our March Cruising article, penned by travel writers Margaret Backenheimer and J.D. Brown, featured Alaska cruising.

Photo 96170075 © Russ Heinl | Dreamstime.com

The original text comprehensively covered cruise options from luxury to small ships and expeditions for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Photo 10755997 © Photo168 | Dreamstime.com

The article had already been laid out and approved for publication when word came through that all large-ship cruising in Canadian waters would be suspended through February of 2022.

In short, the ban means that all foreign-flagged cruise vessels carrying more than 100 passengers can not call on Canadian ports or sail through territorial waters. Because of U.S. maritime law, those ships departing from a U.S. port must call on a “foreign” port before returning to a U.S. port.

Photo 28868433 © Lawrence Weslowski Jr | Dreamstime.com

That effectively blocks all major cruise lines from operating their Alaska and Canada itineraries; and while government officials, legislators and cruise industry partners are looking for creative ways to try to solve the problem while addressing health concerns, things are looking terribly bleak for all those communities and businesses in Alaska which rely heavily on tourism.

Photo 29268070 © Lawrence Weslowski Jr | Dreamstime.com

I spent a few days pouring over the website of every cruise line mentioned in the article to update all of the 2022 offerings and gather statements from the lines’ executives as to next steps and options. Editing out mention of the now-cancelled 2021 itineraries, adding more on 2022 and inserting an explanation of the Canadian ban resulted in more current information and rather different text.

As of our deadline, the article contains the most up-to-date information on Alaska cruising in 2021 and 2022, but as we caution in every issue of Global Traveler this year, “Always check in advance to confirm current requirements and restrictions.”

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor