This spring, cruise ships started going on probation.
If you break the law out here in the real world, and you're convicted, chances are you'll have a probation officer…at least.
Now, if you "break the law" out there in the cruise world, somebody will be 
watching you.
The U.S. Coast Guard.
Unannounced ship inspections at American ports are not new. What's new is that ships with "a record" will be targeted. In surprise visits to 140 cruise ships in U.S. ports last year, the Coast Guard discovered 351 deficiencies…most of them relatively minor, but deficiencies nonetheless.
What the Coast Guard discovered is that a "population of cruise ships had most of the deficiencies." They become sub-standard ships in the eyes of the Coast Guard and, as such, subject to more frequent, surprise inspections.
Sounds like probation, doesn't it?
Today at portsandbows.com: After almost a week on the water, the Emerald Sky
Carnival Freedom
8 nights
July 5, 2014
Fort Lauderdale (return): St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan, Grand Turk
Inside: $749
Cost per day: $93
www.carnival.com