How the New Cruise Safety Bill Affects You

[LauraS]

Cruise Critic has just posted the following news:

How the New Cruise Safety Bill Affects You

Read the entire news article...

[Kayenorthatlantic]

This would be great if it can be enforced. This is an American law. Do crews have to perform the OB tests and take crime scene evidence in international waters?

[BOSN]

Not having seen the exact wording of the law, the answer is most
likely both yes and no.
NO: As the ships are of foreign registry, and this is a U.S. law, they
would not be required to comply. HOLD THE FLAMES!
YES: I am assuming that most, if not all tof he cruise lines that are
sailing from U.S. ports will want to continue doing business in the U.S.
and carry U.S. citizens. That being said, I'm pretty sure the wording of
the law probably states that if cruise lines want to continue doing
business in the U.S., and carry U.S. citizens, than they must comply
with this law.
This is just my opinion, as I stated I have not seen the official wording
of the law.

Lee

[smeyer418]

Originally Posted by BOSN

Not having seen the exact wording of the law, the answer is most
likely both yes and no.
NO: As the ships are of foreign registry, and this is a U.S. law, they
would not be required to comply. HOLD THE FLAMES!
YES: I am assuming that most, if not all tof he cruise lines that are
sailing from U.S. ports will want to continue doing business in the U.S.
and carry U.S. citizens. That being said, I'm pretty sure the wording of
the law probably states that if cruise lines want to continue doing
business in the U.S., and carry U.S. citizens, than they must comply
with this law.
This is just my opinion, as I stated I have not seen the official wording
of the law.

Lee

the law requires any ship that leaves from, stops in, or embarks in the US to comply with the law. besides the fines and criminal penalties, the CG is empowered to bar the ship from US ports if it doesn't comply.

I posted a link to the actual law on another thread but if you want I'll post it here too.

The US market is so important to the cruise lines that they cannot afford not to.

and finally the CLIA, the trade association for the cruise lines, after a change, didn't oppose the law.

Although the reports that the EPIC has peep holes was contradicted by a passenger report... but the report also says all NCL ships already comply with the 42 inch requirement...

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...360enr.txt.pdf

[smeyer418]

Originally Posted by Kayenorthatlantic

This would be great if it can be enforced. This is an American law. Do crews have to perform the OB tests and take crime scene evidence in international waters?

yes see above....

[smeyer418]

from the law....

‘‘(2) DENIAL OF ENTRY.—The Secretary may deny entry
into the United States to a vessel to which this section applies
if the owner of the vessel—
‘‘(A) commits an act or omission for which a penalty
may be imposed under this subsection; or
‘‘(B) fails to pay a penalty imposed on the owner under
this subsection.


Almost all the cruise lines apply the CDC food rules on any vessel that may visit the US even when the cruise line sends the ship overseas with no US ports because they just can't afford the CDC saying no entry- and that law IS voluntary unlike this one that is mandatory....

[camarodrivenrs]

Congrats....the prices of our cruises just went up more.....more business regulations translates directly into higher consumer costs

[Snorkel Dawg]

I personally think the new law is a good thing. It remains to be seen if it increases the price of a cruise. Even if it does, I prefer my family & myself as safe as possible. No matter what the cost.

[Lard Greystoke]

Originally Posted by camarodrivenrs

Congrats....the prices of our cruises just went up more.....more business regulations translates directly into higher consumer costs

The article states that some cruiselines are already in compliance with the physical requirements of the bill. All lines have 18 months to comply. Some ships will be upgraded anyway in that timeframe; some lines will have to spend more money than others, and some won't have to spend much or any.

The bill also mandates that allegations of crime be reported to the appropriate authorities, such as the FBI. Wow. This violates the "let criminals go free" clause of the US Constitution. Likewise ships are required to stock medications to prevent victims of sexual assault from contracting STDs. Another really major infringement on our liberty. Reporting sexual crimes and minimizing some of the trauma might add a few pennies to the cost of a luxury expense? "Don't tread on my cheap cruise ticket" if it means getting justice for some kid's mother, or some kid.

Carnival's CEO made $7.2 mil in 2009. That doesn't raise the cost of anyone's ticket?

Not to mention that we can cruise places like the Caribbean and Alaska at all because we don't have pirates swarming all over the place, unlike Somalia, a "small government" paradise if there ever was one. No "big gummint" regulations there!!!