NEW YORK: New U.S. government regulations mean that cruise lines will no longer be able to offer cruises to nowhere — short voyages where ships sail into international waters and return without calling on any ports — from American ports.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) explains that, beginning in 2016, foreign-flagged ships sailing from U.S. ports will be required to call on at least one foreign port before returning to the U.S., meaning cruises to nowhere won’t be allowed.
Vance Gulliksen, a spokesman for Carnival — the only line currently offering regularly scheduled cruises to nowhere — says “certain short duration cruises without a foreign port of call are subject to itinerary changes.”
John Heald, senior cruise director for Carnival, adds that three-night cruises to nowhere out of New York’s Manhattan terminal on the line’s brand new Carnival Vista will be affected; any passengers currently booked on those sailings will be notified of the new policy and any planned itinerary changes.
The regulation also forced Norwegian Cruise Line to cancel three two-night cruises on Norwegian Breakaway, scheduled for 2016 out of New York, spokeswoman Vanessa Picariello said.
Specifics on the regulations were not immediately available, but Cruise Critic has contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment.
