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Cruise Lines Navigate Complex Rules as Alaska Voyages Resume

The first Alaska cruise of the season set off on Monday on a 7-night voyage as Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas. It’s a sight that the city of Seattle had not seen in a while, all due to a pandemic hiatus: vacationers wearing their extravagant Hawaiian shirts, bucket hats and sunglasses. “We’ve been waiting… Read More

Could Passengers of American Jazz Sue After Kentucky Grounding?

Last Wednesday, on July 7th, an American Cruise Lines river cruise ship known as American Jazz found itself run aground near Canton Kentucky. The vessel was carrying around 160 people and was grounded after straying from the main shipping channel. The ship then drifted into a sandbar and was planted there unable to move. The… Read More

CDC Health Guidelines for Cruises Challenged by State of Florida

Major outbreaks on the Diamond Princess and other cruise liners in 2020 were our first glimpse into the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s now been over a year since cruise ships have risen their anchors and those in the industry are eager to dip their toe back in. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention… Read More

President Biden Signs Act to Restart Alaska Cruises from Seattle, WA

President Joe Biden signed into law the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act early Monday. This act will allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to operate cruises to Alaska in 2021. Elective representatives of the state proposed the act in March after Canada announced its ports would be closed to cruise ships until February 2022. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski… Read More

Florida Injunction Puts Pressure on CDC to Restart the Cruise Ship Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately put a lot of industries in jeopardy thanks to the regulations set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cruise liner business is no exception. The industry is home to over five thousand jobs and creates millions of dollars in annual revenue each year. However, this… Read More

Holland America and Princess Cruises Cancel Alaska Voyages Scheduled for Early 2021 Due to Pandemic

Signaling that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to impact Alaska’s tourist season, Holland America and Princess Cruises have announced that they will cancel several sailings in 2021. Carnival Corp. brands Princess Cruises and Holland America issued statements Wednesday that rules imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and uncertainty around travel restrictions prompted… Read More

U.S. CDC to Lift Ban on Cruises in U.S. Waters, but Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line Extend Voluntary Suspension Through the End of the Year

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Oct. 30, 2020, that it would soon lift a ban on cruises in U.S. waters.  The agency detailed the requirements that cruise lines must meet in order to resume operations. The initial phase of restarting the cruise industry will require vessel operators to “demonstrate… Read More

What is happening to the cruise line industry during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The cruise line industry was worth $150 billion and supported over 1.17 million jobs worldwide in 2018. Of course, back then, the world wasn’t suffering from the reverberations of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Various industries have been affected by the coronavirus, and it has taken a toll on the cruise lines. As of February, since… Read More

The Battle Against the Coronavirus enters the Cruise Ship arena

People are panicking as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads globally, causing sinking markets, ending travel plans, canceling schools for children, and leaving employers to wonder how to make it more feasible for employees to work from home. Government officials worldwide have intensified their efforts to control the virus. Italy and Saudi Arabia enacted restrictions on travel,… Read More

The Surprising Reasons Why People Keep Falling Off Cruise Ships

Cruise ships facilitate fun, relaxation and travel to exciting new places. Given the seemingly endless expanse of the ocean and seas, there is a reasonable expectation of safety that cruise lines provide for their customers. Research suggests however that cruise lines can do more to keep their guests safe. From 2000 to 2008, 284 people… Read More

  • The Maritime Law Association of The United States
    The Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) was founded in 1899. Its formation was prompted by the organization, some three years earlier, of the International Maritime Committee.
  • Washington State Bar Association
    The Washington State Bar Association operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals.
  • Oregon State Bar
    The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession.
  • Alaska Bar Association
    The Alaska Bar Association is a mandatory bar association responsible to the Alaska Supreme Court for the admission and discipline process of attorneys for the State of Alaska.