Felipe45

The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (2021) temporarily waived the foreign stop requirement of the PVSA, without changing the definition of "passenger vessel". I believe that the smart people who figured out a temporary waiver could also figure out how to make such provisions permanent.

I do not work for the cruise lines, and the cruise lines might not be the lobbyist to the law makers, purely on behalf of their passengers. I was trying to open my mind, from the literally stated context a legal "repeal" - as in all-or-none. I.E., The posters of such topics might have no problem with the provisions of law still being applied to the often mentioned ferry boats, or to smaller river boats? I believe that they might be open to mere amendments of the PVSA, that would neither ruin or inconvenience their trips. I believe that too much is inferred by the mere title of laws, say by using a legal term, "passenger vessel" in the title. For example, a law could have the word "reduce" in the title, yet increase that very same thing that the "title" infers might be reduced (e.g., inflation?). How many posts repeat the title of laws. They could title it the "Cruise Critic Act" if they wished. The "1000 passengers" figure and the quoted term "covered passenger vessel" were actual excerpts from a bill/proposed U.S. law, (that would not apply to ALL passenger vessels). If a provision of law (requirement or prohibition) does not apply to all passenger vessels (i.e., not "covered"), then there would be no need for 140+ countries to agree upon changing a definition of any or all passenger vessels. And, the term "covered" is a kind of common adjectival term, having specific meaning when used in a section of law; we would not substitute some other internationally-defined term for the words used in our own national laws. I am not a lawyer proposing any specific law, but I believe that making adjustments (with both winners and losers) might benefit the passengers of cruise ships.

For example, “COVERED PASSENGER VESSEL.—The term ‘covered passenger vessel’ means a vessel of at least 100 gross tons, that is transporting more than 1000 passengers. “COVERED PASSENGER VESSEL.—The term ‘covered passenger vessel’ does not mean any and all cruise-criticizing "passenger vessels (e.g., boats of at least 100 gross tons). Covered does not mean a canopy, but rather a ship that would be 'covered' by a provision of law.

Not clear why U.S. laws would have to apply more broadly than intended by the lawmakers? If a proposed amendment somehow limited the applicability of a provision to "covered vessels" - and exempted others, then it is not clear how some international committee's definition would apply in its stead? The 140+ nations could keep their international definitions, and an amendment to U.S. law use its own definitions, as the U.S. law makers may deem to fit?

This is an old topic, but a good one. For HAL ships, I was wondering what those gray plus signs or cross symbols (+) shown on the outside some of the Veranda staterooms (with balconies) meant, thinking that it might have indicated a partial obstruction from lifeboat machinery. That initial guess was incorrect. On closer view of the .pdf diagrams, I can now see that that just happens to be the only one symbol to be displayed outside (besides the lifeboats), because the it has to do with the division in-between two rooms. The marking inside a stateroom would probably not be clear as to exactly which staterooms could be connected to which. Also, if one looks closely, they can see a little doorway drawn in-between the connecting rooms. Maybe I figured this out before(!), and just forgot(?), but maybe by posting I will remember and help others wondering the same thing.

Or just tinker around the edges a bit. Like stating a "covered vessels" definition, (to effectively exempt larger passenger vessels); Like maybe reducing the fine to $1.00 per passenger. Things like that; (maybe some lawyers can figure out the details, and unexpected consequences?).

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