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Who enforces the law on a cruise ship?

Cruise ships do not have police. Instead, an onboard Security Director will oversee the ship's own dedicated security department, staffed by former federal, state and military law enforcement personnel from various countries.



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Law on a cruise ship (or any other ship) starts with the flag the ship is flying under. A ship flies the flag of the country where it's registered, and, in general, the laws onboard a ship are the laws of that country.

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The Cruise Vessel Safety & Security Act (CVSSA) of 2010 requires cruise ships calling on U.S. port to report certain shipboard crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

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Maritime Law Typically, while in international waters, a cruise ship follows the same laws of the country that it is registered to. If the ship is out to sea, under the captain's discretion, you can be detained in a separate room until the ship can dock at the next port and local law enforcement can get involved.

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The Captain is the highest ranking officer and the Master of the cruise ship. He/she has a full authority to make executive decisions in order to preserve the life and safety of the ship's personnel and guest and must apply extreme care and proper judgement according to...

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Rooted in maritime law and tradition, the captain holds absolute authority over the ship, cargo, and crew. Similarly, in aviation, the aircraft captain possesses ultimate responsibility and authority during flight.

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79% of all crimes reported onboard cruise ships are sexual assaults, as per the US Department of Transportation. This statistic is a stark reminder of the prevalence of sexual assaults on cruise ships, and serves as a powerful reminder of the need for increased safety measures to protect passengers.

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Once a ship exceeds the 24-mile marker, it is then in International Waters, and must follow the law of the country whose flag it's flying. So, if a cruise ship is registered in the Bahamas, and is 30 miles off the coast of Florida, it is subject to Bahamian law, not U.S. law.

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The Cruise Vessel Safety & Security Act (CVSSA) of 2010 requires cruise ships calling on U.S. port to report certain shipboard crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The CVSSA was the result of the efforts of the International Cruise Victim (ICV) which is a grass-roots organization created in 2006.

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It comes as no surprise that the ship's captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation. The captain can earn almost $100,000 manually depending on the cruise line and experience.

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The cruise director reports to the hotel director, has a deputy or assistant cruise director, and is supported by a team of entertainment staff. Responsibilities of a cruise director may include: Scheduling of entertainment, activities and social events. Officer in charge of entertainment staff.

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Yes, cruise ships have brigs, which is the nautical term for a jail on a vessel, including a cruise ship. The term comes from the word brigantine, which is a type of two-masted sailing ship formerly used to house criminals.

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The Maritime Injury Guide reports that 19 people go missing from cruise ships yearly. While that may not sound significant, it adds up to 400 people over the last 20 years. This includes accidental falls overboard, suicides, and disappearances during port visits.

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Investigating crimes on cruise ships If the victim or perpetrator of a sexual assault is an American national, and their ship sails from or to a U.S. port, then the FBI will have jurisdiction over the case. In other circumstances, it's more complicated to determine which agency—or even which country—has jurisdiction.

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