Charles wrote:
> In article , J Carnaghie
> wrote:
>
>
>>My understanding of the Act(s) involved is that they only apply
>>to the Pacific Coast ports. They were enacted to "protect" the U.S.
>>flagged ships serving the Pacific Coast long, long ago. Of course, now
>>we don't have any U.S. flagged ships serving the Pacific Coast (Except
>>the Hawaii NCL ships). There is no problem on the Atlantic because the
>>laws do not apply there.
>
>
> Sheeesh, I hate to get cranky tonight but why don't you all read the
> act instead of making things up.......
>
Dear Charles,
I am sorry I may have made you cranky but I was passing on
information that I thought was reliable. The Passenger Services Act
has disrupted my travel plans several times.
It does indeed turn out that the Act does indeed impact both
coasts. Isn't Congress nice to protect all those American Cruise
ships? It seems that the biggest "problem" is the lack of U.S. built,
U.S. owned, U.S. crewed vessels is the biggest hindrance right now.
Cheers,
John in LALALand (On the Left Coast)
From: http://www.ahla.com/public_view_brief.asp?mstr=28
SUMMARY
An 1886 law, The Passenger Service Act (the "Act"), requires that only
U.S. built, U.S. owned, U.S. crewed vessels can offer domestic cruises
between two or more U.S. destinations (ports) without paying a costly
and prohibitive penalty. Currently, there is only one cruise ship that
qualifies under this law and it sails only within Hawaii.
Additionally, U.S. shipyards have not built an ocean liner since 1951.
As a result, no passengers can book cruises between scenic and
historic ports in the continental U.S.
To comply with the Act the only cruises available to tourists, with
the exception of Hawaii, which leave from or return to a U.S. port
must make intermediate stops in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands.
SNIP |