Senator pushes for Bill of Rights for cruisers. Your thoughts?

Jason · March 21, 2013

Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, is pushing for passage of a passenger bill of rights for cruise line travelers, following a handful of incidences that left tourists sick and stranded in the middle of the ocean.

Poor weather is an understandable reason to delay a ship, the senator said, in a report from The Hill. But technical failure is not.

“It can be scary to watch the shore drift away as you’re hundreds of miles out to sea,” Mr. Schumer said. “But to be out to sea without access to a doctor, electricity, toilet facilities — that’s unconscionable.”

Mr. Schumer’s proposal is akin to what’s afforded airline travelers, The Hill says. It also requires all cruise ships to have medical officials who are both on board and be prepared for emergencies. Also in his plan: Ships must carry backup generators. Ship operators are responsible for maintaining a sanitary environment, even during delays.

Ships that violate the provisions would have to reimburse passengers, his plan states.

“If failures — mechanical, plumbing or otherwise — occur on these ships, passengers should get a full refund,” Mr. Schumer said.

His proposal comes on the heels of a Triumph ship disaster, in which 4,000 people were stranded at sea for four days. Another Carnival cruise line ship, the Dream, was then stranded in the Caribbean.

The proposed "Bill of Rights" for cruise ship passengers

1. The right to disembark a docked ship if basic provisions cannot adequately be provided onboard

2. The right to a full refund for a trip that is abruptly canceled due to mechanical failures

3. The right to full-time, on board professional medical attention in the event of a major health crisis

4. The right to real-time information updates as to any adjustments in the travel plan of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency

5. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures

6. The right to backup power in the case of a generator failure

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By Cheryl K. Chumley, The Washington Times

Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more

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Sarge6870 · March 21, 2013

First off, I wonder how many cruises Mr. Schumer has been on. With the current state of our country, not to mention the state of his own State where a Mayor wants to control the sizes of your soft drinks, I think there are more important pressing issues. Let's break it down in MY opinion.......

1. The right to disembark a docked ship if basic provisions cannot adequately be provided onboard. In the event of the Triumph, it's kind of difficult to disembark a vessel AT SEA!! If the ship was foundering, the ship could be evacuated.

2. The right to a full refund for a trip that is abruptly canceled due to mechanical failures. Um, Carnival did this!!

3. The right to full-time, on board professional medical attention in the event of a major health crisis. Cruise vessels DO have 24/7 medical staff onboard in the event of an emergency or even for passenger discomfort.

4. The right to real-time information updates as to any adjustments in the travel plan of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency. Looking at how many people panicked AFTER the ship returned to dock, what good does it do to tell them you are working on correcting the problem. The word "Problem" when used on a disabled vessel provides a "Problem" within itself!!

5. The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. The crew onboard ARE trained in emergency and evacuation procedures but it is ultimately the Captain of the vessel to give those directions and orders.

6. The right to backup power in the case of a generator failure. There ARE redundant systems in place on newer (post 1980's) cruise ships. In the event of the Triumph, they worked but understand, they are there for EMERGENCY appliances such as lighting, communications and equipment to keep the ship afloat. ALL of which functioned properly on the Triumph.

Stay focused on items that concern our Country FIRST Mr. Schumer. The vast majority of these cruise vessels are not even registered in the U.S. so your "Bill of Rights" is moot!! Again, just in my opinion!!!

Eph60 · March 21, 2013

I have to agree with Sarge6870. The crew is trained for safety, I know I have worked on cruise ships, but not all staff in any job will act properly in an emergancy. There are backup generators the Triumph was an extreme incident that rarely happens and small generators take up space and also may provide exhaust to improper areas. A small generator is not going to power a ships electrical needs. The cruise lines normally do refund the full price of a cruise and then add a discount to future cruising with them. There are medical personel on all cruise ships and most cruise ships now days can connect with experts on land if there is a major medical problem. As far as sickness on ships, most think of norovirus when they here of this, there are more cases of this in public places on land then at sea, however ships have to report them to the CDC so they get more publicity.

The fact is if the government starts sticking their nose into things they will mess it up, because they will put to many loopholes in it and they will get to restrictive. JMHO.