[Bernard]

Is all of that much different than the airlines? Passenger railroads are okay, because Amtrak lives on the federal printing press life support system, but large-scale transportation of people seems to be in distress.

Another question - what impact if any would a $15 minimum wage have on the cruise lines? I don't know enough about the industry, and you seem to have some interest and knowledge in the subject. Thanks in advance.

[DugwayDuke]

Bernard wrote: “Another question - what impact if any would a $15 minimum wage have on the cruise lines?”

Two points. First, US wage laws do not apply to cruise lines since they are foreign flagged.
Second point. You wouldn’t be able to afford a cruise if this did apply.
Third point. Cruise ship personal maybe paid less than US wages but that doesn’t indicate they are underpaid. There is a long waiting list to sign up for crew slots. The wages paid is very high compared to what’s available in their home country. A bartender told me he would only work four years because then he would have saved sufficient money to build and pay for a new home back in Croatia.

[Capt. Tom]

Another question - what impact if any would a $15 minimum wage have on the cruise lines? I don't know enough about the industry, and you seem to have some interest and knowledge in the subject. Thanks in advance.

The cruise lines use foreign flagged cruise ships so they don't have to follow any of our wage laws.

We probably could pass punitive laws that would make it difficult for them to operate in this country. -Tom

[ClayinVA]

Zero impact as they are not US flagged.