From my understanding these cruises would be under the Jones Act (hopefully). 300 Passengers is big enough to possibly warrant unlimited licenses. Maybe we could see some new jobs in New Orleans. We could definitely use them.
[QUOTE=maritimebill87;184393]http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/Cruises-rolling-on-river-378695111.html?d=mobile
From my understanding these cruises would be under the Jones Act (hopefully). 300 Passengers is big enough to possibly warrant unlimited licenses. Maybe we could see some new jobs in New Orleans. We could definitely use them.[/QUOTE]
Are the Norwegians going up river as well as capturing the Mud boat market in the GOM?
Jones Act?? Doesn’t that cover carriage of cargo between US ports Only??
it covers passengers too, which is what this will carry.
[QUOTE=z-drive;184406]it covers passengers too, which is what this will carry.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for clarification. Maybe Mr. Hagen has dual citizenship?
[QUOTE=z-drive;184406]it covers passengers too, which is what this will carry.[/QUOTE]
I thought there was a separate law covering the carriage of passengers between US ports.
[QUOTE=Capt. Phoenix;184416]I thought there was a separate law covering the carriage of passengers between US ports.[/QUOTE]
correct…the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 predates the Jones Act by 36 years
I knew there was something separate but thought it became one in the same, learn something new once in a while. Cabotage none the less
Passengers are referred to as self loading cargo
[QUOTE=c.captain;184418]correct…the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 predates the Jones Act by 36 years[/QUOTE]
So I wonder how these guys get around it:
http://www.crystalcruises.com/northwest-passage-cruise/northwest-passage--6319
First five and last four ports on their itinerary are all U.S.
An oversimplification is that they’re not transporting people from one place to another, like a ferry. If you do that, you have to have coastwise rights. Making a stop to let people off, visit, then get back on is ok if they visit a foreign port that meets certain requirements…I think Aruba is one of those.
If they go to a foreign port then they are in the clear. The LA cruises to hawaii and back always stop in Mexico and the seattle cruises to alaska stop at victoria
Then there’s Hawaii. John Mcain and the MM&P colluding to get around the Jones act. http://bridgedeck.org/news/mmp-wheelhouse-weekly/wheelhouse-weekly-may-04-2001/#anchor1335125. This is after they spent my retirement fund a a couple of cruise ships…
All you want to know about Viking River Cruises: http://riverboatratings.com/river-boat-ratings-and-evaluations-viking-river-cruises/
They do appear to have a North American HQ in LA: http://www.vikingcruises.com/about-us/history.html
But I don’t see anything about any Mississippi River Cruises???
FYI: Viking Ocean Cruises has just received their second Cruise ship, the Viking Star: http://www.vikingcruises.co.uk/oceans
More on the naming ceremony for Viking Sea: http://www.cruisecurrents.com/viking-welcomes-new-ocean-ship-viking-sea/
PS> Sorry, I had the name wrong in the last post.
Found this on the Maasmond Newsletter today:
Viking Mississippi Cruises – Viking River Cruises, the leading river cruise line in Europe, is planning on bringing their award winning ships and service to the Mississippi River. How soon will Viking be sailing on the Mississippi? According to Viking CEO Torstein Hagen, the first U.S. Viking river ship will debut before Mardi Gras. Which year? That we will have to wait and find out. Source: cruisefever
Will this have to be new vessels built in USA? Maybe something like the existing replica paddle steamers now cruising the Mississippi River, or will their Mississippi river cruisers be looking something like this: Viking Freya Cruises
FYI: Here is the present fleet: My Trip - My Viking Journey | Viking® River Cruises
[QUOTE=ombugge;190394]Found this on the Maasmond Newsletter today:
Will this have to be new vessels built in USA? [/QUOTE]
of course and being a foreign owned corporation will need to set up a US owned operating entity.
regarding the style of the vessels, I do not think that Viking will go with a riverboat style but more European however since the Mississippi is not covered by low bridges, they will not need to go with such a low profile design. Maybe more like those cruise vessels found on the Nile or Yangtze like this?
[QUOTE=c.captain;190395]of course and being a foreign owned corporation will need to set up a US owned operating entity.
regarding the style of the vessels, I do not think that Viking will go with a riverboat style but more European however since the Mississippi is not covered by low bridges, they will not need to go with such a low profile design. Maybe more like those cruise vessels found on the Nile or Yangtze like this?
[/QUOTE]
Viking River Cruises is a US Corporation: http://www.vikingcruises.com/about-us/history.html
With HQ in Los Angeles: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/contact/
Pearl Mist is foreign built and flagged in the Marshall Islands.
[QUOTE=lm1883;190406]I thought enough work was completed in an American yard to qualify. I know it wasn’t finished when it left Halifax for the states (New York?). My mistake.
There are the Clipper ships and the old ACV ships I’m sure they could charter.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, there will not be any slap dash approach from Viking, they will build, or rather charter, new ships to be built in America according to this article from last year: http://www.travelagentcentral.com/river-cruises/its-official-viking-entering-us-river-cruise-market-2017-50258
What it doesn’t say is the style these vessels will be built to, whether along the lines of the “Longships” that Viking has in Europe, or some new design to be developed especially for the Mississippi River.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the have their eyes on other US rivers as well.
I’m thinking purpose built cruise ships with a classic “American River Queen” style. They probably just want to build them to their specs and passenger accommodation size. There probably isn’t existing tonnage that fits what they’re looking for.
Edit: Actually I can picture it being a competitor to, and really similar to, American Cruise Lines (http://americancruiselines.com) Has any one here worked with them before or had any friends that did. I don’t really know much about it.