ABSTRACT
In Chapter 1 the development of the cruise industry was described from a historical perspective. This chapter broadens the focus in order to take a more holistic view of the contemporary nature of shipping so as to develop a greater depth of understanding about the cruise industry in context. There are many constraints for operators in the international shipping arena that are in place to ensure certain safeguards exist; therefore, the legal environment is also examined to highlight critical factors. Legal issues are paramount for a number of organisations that have vested interests in either developing the legal framework or in supporting operators to comply appropriately. For this reason, an overview is provided of the major maritime organisations to illustrate the importance and involvement for the cruise industry and the maritime industry.
