Jaunted

Peepholes on cabin doors, rails no lower than 42 inches and information packets on how to report crimes are some of the changes commercial cruise passengers can expect to see after the legislation takes effect. Ships built after the legislation's passage also must be equipped with security latched and time-sensitive key technology.

Sadly, the impetus for this legislation was a recent history of attacks onboard cruise ships, from rapes to assaults and even disappearances by both crew and other passengers. Regarding just rapes, the new legislation will require cruise ships to carry rape kits, a supply of STD-prevention medications, a medical staff trained in handling assaults, and access to 24-hour sexual assault hot lines. Since CNN points out that between 15-12 million people cruise each year, facilities such as this and the security offered by them are much in need.

Now if cruise lines could just handle the pesky problem of the Norovirus...

[Photo of Queen Mary 2 in NY Harbor: Jaunted]