“I’ve never been on a cruise, do you think I’ll like it?”
It’s a question I’m asked quite a bit and the answer I usually give is, “they’re not for everyone, but definitely worth trying!”
For many the thought of spending a week on a ship is pure bliss, for others it could be the opposite. Some people think they will feel confined or go a little stir-crazy “trapped” on a floating luxury resort island hopping in the Caribbean.
For those who never cruised before and are looking to experience what it’s like onboard these giant cities at sea, I usually recommend a short 2 or 3-day “cruise to nowhere” or a 5-day or less Bahamas adventure. This way they get to whet their whistle with what so many of us feel is the ultimate in vacationing without committing to journeys that are a week long or more… just in case!
I’ve been on several of these short journeys and for the most part, enjoy a “cruise to nowhere.” What’s not to like about sailing around the open waters, laying out in the sun with a cold drink in hand and being pampered for a few days?
Unfortunately, the days of the “cruise to nowhere,” or CTN as they are sometimes referred to, is coming to an end thanks to a new ruling by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Let’s travel back to the year 1886 – yes more than 100 years ago. This is when the Passenger Vessel Services Act was passed which, in a nutshell, says that any foreign-flagged ship leaving from the United States must stop at a foreign port before returning to the States. For the most part, cruises to nowhere existed because the Passenger Vessel Services Act was often “overlooked.” Beginning in 2016, the way passengers and crew will be cleared through immigration and customs is changing, forcing cruise lines to do away with these short journeys and adhering to the centuries old law.
With the exception of Norwegian’s Pride of America, cruise lines do not “flag” their ships in the United States. They usually register their ships in the Bahamas, Panama or other “flag countries” so they are not subject to certain United States laws.
Only a few cruise lines offered cruises to nowhere and there weren’t many on the schedule anyway, so this change won’t impact many travelers, but it does bring an end to a quick get-away that many enjoyed.
Oh the bureaucracy!