Thinking of taking a cruise, leaving New Orleans for a sweet spin through the Caribbean? 

Have you seen those inciting ads — 75% off vacation packages for a long weekend, or even a couple of weeks? 

Heck, Affordable Tours is offering a 4-day cruise on Carnival’s Fantasy cruise ship through the Caribbean and with a Mexico stop or two, all for $250! (It leaves February 28th and gets back March 3d, if you’re interested ….)

Lots of people are taking advantage of these deals — and packing in the added bonus of a New Orleans holiday before jumping on board a Carnival or Royal Caribbean or Norwegian cruise ship and heading out to sea…. We’re almost back at pre-Katrina vacation volume.

In fact, Western Caribbean cruises are the most popular packages being sold today, and New Orleans is one of the most popular ports for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Caribbean vacations.

And yet, no one is paying much attention to the sobering realities.

Did you know …

–  you may not be protected by American law, or U.S. authorities, once you are aboard ship and underway?

Almost every cruise ship is registered in a foreign country, and flies a flag of that nation - not the United States.  The laws of that country, as well as international treaties, may decide your claim, not the federal or state law you may assume applies.  At least the cruise line will argue this to be the case.

–  serious crimes occur onboard everyday — including sexual assaults, thefts, even unexplained disappearances?

Your risk of being raped is reportedly higher on a cruise ship than in any major American city, according to the International Cruise Victims organization. 

Read the rest of this entry »