DOT unveils web page for cruise passengers

The U.S. Department of Transportation has a new Web page aimed at cruise passengers that aggregates several sources of information pertaining to cruises.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said he believes the page “will serve as a helpful tool for consumers when choosing among cruise ships after spending years saving for that once-in-a-lifetime vacation.”

The Web page has links to the Federal Maritime Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The commission can review problems or inquiries about cruises that passengers bring to its attention and can prod cruise lines to respond, although it doesn’t intervene directly, the website says.

The Coast Guard regulates cruise ships for safety and posts statistics on its website regarding crimes on ships reported by cruise lines to the FBI.

In a statement announcing the site, Foxx praised Senate Commerce Committee chairman Jay Rockefeller (D.-W Va.) for his “continued advocacy on behalf of the traveling public.”

Rockefeller, in turn, complimented Foxx, saying his “leadership on this issue is a game changer.”

“I commend the Department of Transportation for this first step toward providing consumer protections for passengers,” a statement from Rockefeller said.