| Doctors on every ship

UNITED States Congress is mandating a doctor on every cruise ship as well as security cameras in all public places on board, as part of a US$740 billion defense bill.

The requirements were part of provisions approved by the Senate on the weekend under the National Defense Authorization, which will also make it mandatory for ships to have a trained physician on board.

The Cruise Passenger Protection Act was sponsored by the Senator from Connecticut, Democrat Richard Blumenthal, who said “the significant and long-overdue cruise ship health and safety standard improvements included in this bill will make our seas safer for passengers and crew alike.”

A veto-proof two-thirds majority in both chambers cleared the bill, despite the fact Trump yesterday tweeted his intention to reject the policies.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) spokesperson Bari Golin-Blaugrund, said the group supports the new rules, with all CLIA ships already having doctors on board.

“CLIA supports the new US regulations, many of which are already in place globally as part of existing CLIA policies,” a spokesperson said.

“As a condition of membership in CLIA, all member lines must agree to have a well-equipped medical facility that complies with the robust guidelines of the American College of Emergency Physicians…and must have onboard medical professionals available around the clock.”

The last cruise regulations passed by Congress was 2010’s Cruise Vessel Security & Safety Act, which required each ship to have a registered nurse on board.