You’re on a cruise and there’s a problem. It could be something relatively small, like a safety issue you spotted that needs reporting, or something big, like sexual assault. What do you do?
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a webpage this week that, hopefully, will serve as a guide. It’s not just about when something goes awry on a cruise, but also a “one-stop resource on consumer assistance, vessel safety and cruise-line incident reporting statistics.”
In short, it gives you — the cruiser — a place to turn for assistance if you feel the cruise line is not satisfying your concerns. It includes what your rights are (or are not) if a cruise is canceled or if there’s an injury or death on a ship, what to do about safety concerns and how to find out about the frequency of incidents from scouring regular reports compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard.
For example, in the most recent three-month report, there were 10 incidents on five cruise lines: two suspicious deaths, three passenger injuries from assaults and five sexual assaults. These are cases “no longer under investigation” by the FBI.
If nothing else, it’s what one famous TV detective used to say regularly:
“Just the facts, ma’am.”
Today at portsandbows.com: Dancing With The Stars: At Sea
Emerald Princess
5 nights
November 29, 2014
Fort Lauderdale (return): Nassau, Princess Cays
Inside: $199
Cost per day: $39
www.princess.com