Cruise Ship Cruise Ship Passenger Rights and Consumer Protection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA), cruise lines operating in the US must maintain a '24-hour' hotline for what purpose?
- Booking dining reservations
- Reporting crimes and emergencies occurring on board (Correct answer)
- Shore excursion customer service
- Passenger medical consultations
Correct answer: Reporting crimes and emergencies occurring on board
The CVSSA requires US-linked cruise lines to maintain a 24-hour hotline for passengers and crew to report crimes and emergencies occurring on board.
Question 2: What federal agency receives mandatory crime reports from cruise ships under US law?
- The FTC (Federal Trade Commission)
- The FBI (Correct answer)
- The US Secret Service
- The Department of Homeland Security
Correct answer: The FBI
The CVSSA requires cruise lines to report certain crimes to the FBI, which has jurisdiction over crimes on ships sailing under US-flagged authority or in US waters.
Question 3: What does the FMC (Federal Maritime Commission) oversee regarding cruise ships in the US?
- Onboard food safety inspections
- Financial protection requirements ensuring cruise lines can refund passengers if they fail (Correct answer)
- Navigation safety certifications
- Crew employment standards
Correct answer: Financial protection requirements ensuring cruise lines can refund passengers if they fail
The FMC requires cruise lines to maintain financial protection (Performance Bonds or escrow) to ensure passengers receive refunds if the cruise line ceases operations.
Question 4: When a cruise line significantly changes an itinerary, what are passengers typically entitled to according to most standard cruise contracts?
- A full free upgrade to a higher cabin category
- A partial credit, rebooking option, or in some cases a full refund depending on the contract terms (Correct answer)
- Free unlimited drinks for the voyage
- A shore excursion credit equal to the port missed
Correct answer: A partial credit, rebooking option, or in some cases a full refund depending on the contract terms
Cruise contracts typically offer passengers credits, rebooking options, or refunds when itineraries are significantly changed, though specific terms vary by cruise line.
Question 5: What is the 'Athens Convention' relating to cruise ship passengers?
- A treaty governing cruise ship labor standards
- An international convention establishing cruise lines' liability for passenger death, injury, and luggage loss (Correct answer)
- An agreement setting Mediterranean cruise pricing
- A convention regulating cruise ship environmental standards in the Mediterranean
Correct answer: An international convention establishing cruise lines' liability for passenger death, injury, and luggage loss
The Athens Convention (1974, amended 2002) establishes cruise ship operators' liability limits and obligations for passenger death, personal injury, and loss of luggage.
Question 6: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what obligation do cruise ships operating from US ports have?
- Provide free cruises to disabled passengers
- Make reasonable accommodations for passengers with disabilities and ensure accessible facilities (Correct answer)
- Provide a dedicated ship exclusively for disabled passengers
- Refund disabled passengers who cannot access all facilities
Correct answer: Make reasonable accommodations for passengers with disabilities and ensure accessible facilities
Cruise ships operating from US ports must provide reasonable accommodations for passengers with disabilities and maintain accessible facilities under ADA guidelines.
Cruise Ship Cruise Ship Passenger Rights and Consumer Protection 1
Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA), cruise lines operating in the US must maintain a '24-hour' hotline for what purpose?