RECENT REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
(Published April 2002)
FMC Posts Consumer Cruise Advisory Website
At its January 2002 meeting the Federal Maritime Commission ("FMC") addressed the issue of recent bankruptcies of passenger vessel operators and the resulting impacts of the bankruptcies on passengers. The FMC has issued a consumer advisory to provide prospective passengers with information concerning its own role in ensuring that passenger lines maintain sufficient financial coverage to indemnify passengers in cases of nonperformance of the voyage, as well as information concerning cruise lines' legal obligations involving cancellations, port call changes, compensation for damage to personal property, medical personnel/concessionaires and travel insurance. The advisory is posted on the FMC's website at www.fmc.gov, under "FAQs and Notices."
