"OPINION: I decided to give an Alaska cruise a try. Then I got fined."
I haven't read the referenced law. But it sounds like the fine was intended for the foreign owners of the ship, not the passengers.
“In accordance with this law, cruise lines that operate foreign-flagged vessels are fined $798 for each passenger who boarded such a vessel in one U.S. port and left the vessel at another port.” —Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (non-FR)
A scam?
Garbage and outdated law in true.
I live near Tampa. Every year there is like port disruptions, weather, fog or hurricane, that interferes with a 4-day cruise out of Tampa. Trip cut a day short due to a late returning vessel or such. Next trip is a 4 day to Mexico. Can’t get there with only 3 days out. So our lovely govt will make a one-time exemption so they can ‘sail to nowhere’
Isn’t our govt great. There is no reason this should be possible with permission.