New rules for cruises proposed

The American government is considering changing federal rules which would considerably modify where cruise ships travel. A number of cruise lines and ports in the U.S. have voiced disapproval to the proposals.

The proposal put forward by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection would require cruise ships that are foreign-flagged and departing from a port in the U.S. to spend at least 48 hours in a foreign port. Additionally, the proposed regulation would require ships to spend at least one day abroad for every two days in spent in the U.S.

The regulation would have a serious impact on port cities in America. Requiring ships to spend more time abroad would mean less time for foreign shoppers to spend their cash in America. Places like Southeast Alaska, Seattle and Portland, Maine would see tourist spending fall considerable should the regulations come to pass.

The regulations would help domestic cruise ships, however, particularly those based in Hawaii sailing between the islands and California. Unfortunately, many believe that the legislation will impact more than just the Hawaiian cruise industry, taking millions of dollars of revenues away from the rest of America.

Aaron Ellis is the communications director for the American Association of Port Authorities, an organization which opposes the change. “They’ve sunk all of this money into cruise facilities and now the government is changing the rules,” he said.