Why Do Cruise Ships Stop In Foreign Ports?

The Jones Act is an unrelated law affecting freight transportation, not the reason why foreign cruise ships must stop in a foreign port. It states that if a passenger sailing a foreign vessel is on a trip only to one or more American ports, then it is a violation of the law. However, various economic, legal, and logistical considerations make it necessary for cruise ships to include foreign port stops in their itineraries.

All cruises sailing from the U.S. must stop in Canada or another foreign port due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA). Under this act, foreign-flagged ships must visit at least one foreign port. This prevents foreign-registered ships from conducting round trips into international waters without calling on any ports. Destinations struggling with overtourism are putting a stop to ships that bring toxic emissions and millions of passengers.

The 1830s law on the books states that foreign-flagged ships are not supposed to transport passengers. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which regulates the transportation of goods, also plays a role in this reasoning. Foreign-flagged cruise lines must call on foreign ports of call if an itinerary begins and ends in a U.S. port. Stopping at alternate ports of call would require additional time and could cause delays, impacting the rest of the itinerary. If Panama obtained distant foreign port status, it could attract more cruise tourism because cruises starting in the U.S. would no longer be required to stop at a foreign port.