New plans needed: Carnival Vista would have gone nowhere from New York in 2017. Photo: Carnival
New rules issued by the U.S. mean the end of “cruises to nowhere”—ocean voyages by cruise ships that leave U.S. territorial waters for a day or two, and then return to port. The cruises have been popular short breaks that combined cruising with offshore gambling and access to duty-free shopping.
Beginning in 2016, under new U.S. customs regulations, ships will be required to call at at least one foreign port before returning. Among the lines that have run these cruises are Carnival, which has scheduled 3-nighters from New York, and Norwegian, with two-night trips.
Passengers who have already booked on those cruises are being notified of possible changes. Cruise Critic, a leading website for cruisers, says that the specifics of the regulations are not yet available, and has contacted government and industry spokespeople for more information. Follow the responses HERE.
