US clamps down on ‘cruises to nowhere’
New US regulations have been issued that come into force next year outlawing cruises on foreign flagged ships that do not stop at a foreign port.
The new law has sparked a spate of itinerary changes by major cruise lines such as Carnival and Norwegian.
The so-called ‘cruises to nowhere’ typically involve short one- or two-night sailings that remain at sea in international waters before returning to the same port.
These often involved themed sailings such as party cruises and were popular as a taster for new cruisers.
Cruise lines have responded quickly and cancelled all of their cruises to nowhere that were scheduled to sail next year.
This includes several two-night cruises on the Norwegian Breakaway out of New York and sailings out of Norfolk, Va., on Carnival Sunshine.
"While itinerary decisions are made by individual cruise lines, beginning in 2016, in compliance with US laws and regulations, foreign-flagged cruise lines operating out of US ports are not to offer cruises for sale that do not include a call in a foreign port," a statement from the Cruise Lines International Association said.
The change is necessary due to procedures used to screen ships in and out of the US.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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