Casino: US Territorial Waters May Be Extended to 24 Miles

[mcwebber]

From everything I have found online, the casino can't open until the ship is 12 miles out.

The bill, H.R.529 - Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act, passed the House by a wide margin. Only 6 votes against. No word on when it will be taken up by the US Senate and signed into law by the President. The bill will "extend the customs waters of the United States from 12 nautical miles to 24 nautical miles from the baselines of the United States, consistent with Presidential Proclamation 7219."

I gather this will affect on board casino opening and closing times. Especially closing time on those returning to ports like New York and New Orleans that have long sailing times in US waters before docking. 

[AV8rix]

Ewww!  This will DEFINITELY affect Alaska cruises.  We're very often barely 12 miles out, even during the night between lower Alaska ports.  Might as well not even open the casinos at all on the Alaska itineraries if this bill passes.

[ajtaylor29]

hmmm, i'm curious as to the reasoning for this? I know how it might affect our cruise casinos, but that's not why they're changing the law....?!?

I wonder what it is? Something about pushing international waters further out, increasing US waters/territory??

I guess i need to do some research! This will definitely affect us as we're always waiting impatiently for the casino to open on sailaway days!!!