Could New Regulations Force Cruise Lines to Move On?

With the new and not so new rules that look to have an affect on the cruise industry staring this year in the U.S. it makes me wonder what options the cruise lines have. They will probably deal with it for the short term while trying to fight. But assuming that its a losing battle and Non U.S. flagged ships are forced to spend time in dock, places they don't want to be if traveling between U.S. ports, then they may just change where they go. Right now, we have choices in cruise lines just like choices in airlines. What could happen, especially in the Hawaii and Alaska markets could become a monopoly for Norwegian Cruise Line not just at the expense of the other cruise lines but also the passengers and the ports visited. Its probably way to early yet to know what is going to happen, but it is something to keep an eye on especially if you plan on taking a cruise to Alaska or Hawaii in the future.

Comments

Anonymous said…
You are partly right. NCL does not and will not monopolize the Alaskan run as our ships that sail the mainland are not US flagged. Only our offshoot NCL America's ships are (Pride of Aloha & Pride of America.) Like everyone else who sails from the west coast we make a stop in Canada to satisfy the Jones Act.
January 23, 2008 at 3:49 PM
D.C. said…
Thank you for your comment. I stand corrected on the Alaskan market. Thank you again for bringing this to my attention.
January 26, 2008 at 9:39 PM
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