Southern cruise?

[CLEMM]

OK, please forgive my ignorance if this is not feasible, as I am geographically challenged. But would it be possible for a cruise line such as Celebrity to do a southern US cruise, such as Charleston, Miami, Key West, New Orleans, Galveston? Would it take too long? I would enjoy a cruise like that.

[chessbriar]

It would fall under the Jones Act and the Passenger Services act.

 

If it's on one way cruise, it would have to go to a distant port(South America).

 

If it's a round trip it would still have to go to a foreign port at this point for a day. As Norwegian and the Senator from Hawaii have the government looking at enforcement of these laws, they want any cruise leaving from a US port round trip to spend 24 hours in a foreign port if they go to an American port.

 

This is all because Norwegian cruises in Hawaii can't compete with an all American crew. Higher wages mean higher cost of cruise. They figure if they do this, they can eliminate all compettion. Sad part is, this will ruin cruising all over. Look at the number of hours cruises spend in foreign ports in the Caribbean. It would kill St Thomas, St Croix, and San Juan as cruising destinations. It will also ruin Alaska or force all cruise to depart from Canadian cities.

 

I know it's more of an answer than what you want. Sorry

[DHADEN]

If this was the itenerary, they would ahve to close the Casino. You have to have a foreign port to legalize gambling.

 

Also, the weather in the Gulf of Mexico is pretty unpredictable most months out of the year. Maybe May and June would work. I know they have cruises that leave from these ports, but they immediately head south where the temps and water is much warmer.

 

Hope This Helps.

[Essiesmom]

Just to clarify the mud a little, I believe the Jones Act pertained to cargo, the Passenger Vessel Services Act covered passenger travel. I said that any vessel that carries passengers from one US port to another has to be registered (flagged) in the US, and to do that they have to be BUILT in the US. Otherwise, they have to visit the distant foreign port. They can do a closed loop/round trip returning to the same port, but they must visit a foreign port. EM

[CLEMM]

Such a shame. It would be fun. And different.