Under the new interpretation of the 122-year old Passenger Vessel Services Act (PSA), cruise ships embarking from a U.S. port that are foreign flagged will now be required to have a 48-hour layover away from the United States. And, for every 48 hours spent at a U.S. port, these ships must also spend a minimum of 24 hours away.

In order to comply to the new federal law recommendations by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, experts predict that about 80 percent of the ships in the american cruise industry will have to change itineraries and cancel scheduled port stops or face a hefty fine for each passenger transported. International Herald Tribune reports that “Cruise Lines International Association, which represents 24 operators including Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean International, warns that about 10 million U.S. vacationers stand to have their cruises altered.”

So unless you are sailing around the Hawaiian Islands aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s U.S. flagged ships Pride of Aloha and Pride of America, cruise itineraries to Mexico, Alaska, Panama Canal, Canada/New England, Repositioning, Caribbean and Bahamas leaving from a U.S. port will be affected by the new regulations.

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