Embarking from a U.S. port on a ship that is 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.

The new federal law recommended by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 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. ¨

Unless you are sailing around the Hawaiian Islands aboard NCL´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 may be affected by these changes.

What exactly is the reasoning behind this decision? This is the first I have heard of this and would be curious to know as to why it is being implemented? thanks.

There can be many reasons. I speculate on possibly two.
1) The new Homeland Security Directives. Perhaps they feel it is a national threat to have a foreign flag flying in the ports.

However, almost all US Cruise Lines such as Carniva, Princess, etc. fly another countries flag. The reason these companies do that, is for tax purposes. A registered ship in Panama is much more cost efficient than to register in the US.

2)So it could be the squeeze from the IRS to force these ships to re-register in the states.

Anyones guess...:_b_link__: