In the winter, the port was preparing to welcome 7,000 to 10,000 guests from cruise ships on three to five vessels for this time of the year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that it was extending a no-sail order that had been scheduled to expire July 24.

The 2020 season was expected to be a record-setting year for the largest number of vessels on the schedule to visit Halifax.

Passenger ships with overnight accommodations and a capacity of more than 100 people will be prohibited from operating in Canada until at least November.

The measures are an extension to cruise ship and passenger vessel rules that Transport Canada implemented earlier this spring as the novel coronavirus spread globally.

Disney and Norwegian cruise lines show no cancellations past July 2 and June 30, respectively.

Canada's foreign affairs minister said officials are 'continuing to work with cruise lines and local authorities to ensure the safe return of remaining Canadian crew.'

Both national and local governments have stopped crews from disembarking in order to prevent new cases of COVID-19 in their territories.

Princess Cruises and Holland America Line had previously announced sharply reduced plans for voyages to and tours in Alaska.

"The short story here is that any place where you crowd lots of people together [is] prone to infectious diseases," one expert said.