Powers of the Master??

If anyone on this newsgroup is familiar with maritime law and the
powers of the Master of the Vessel, can you please comment on the
ability of the Master to detain passengers for the safety and concern
of other passengers?

Royal Caribbean has stated (Guest Relations Manager and Guest Claims
Manager that they are not a legal authority and cannot technically
"detain" them in a stateroom, etc. for even further legal reasons,
etc. They have promised to check in with their Legal department to
clarify this issue.

This group is full of very knowledgeable cruisers and travel agents.
I hope that someone has the case law or experience to answer this for
me.

jeff

The Master certainly does have the authority to detain anyone, even
forcibly, if the safety of the ship or it's passengers and crew are
involved. He is the final decision maker on board.

....peter


"Jeff" wrote in message
om...
If anyone on this newsgroup is familiar with maritime law and the
powers of the Master of the Vessel, can you please comment on the
ability of the Master to detain passengers for the safety and concern
of other passengers?

Royal Caribbean has stated (Guest Relations Manager and Guest Claims
Manager that they are not a legal authority and cannot technically
"detain" them in a stateroom, etc. for even further legal reasons,
etc. They have promised to check in with their Legal department to
clarify this issue.

This group is full of very knowledgeable cruisers and travel agents.
I hope that someone has the case law or experience to answer this for
me.

jeff

Subject: Powers of the Master??

Yes, Jeff... he is.

There was a recent appeals court decision that pretty much said the Master
was even more powerful then Oz. It states where the powers stemmed from,
(see quotes below) then goes on to say they do have the power to detain
somebody, etc. Pretty much anything they can claim is any way, shape, or
form harmful to the ship or the management of it, they can do.

----------start

The maritime law as to the position and powers of the master,and the
responsibility of the vessel, is not derived from the civil law of master
and servant, nor from the common law. It had its source in the commercial
usages and jurisprudence of the middle ages.

The master of a ship is the person who is entrusted with the care and
management of it, and the great trust reposed in him by the owners, and the
great authority which the law has vested in him, require on his part and for
his own sake, no less than for the interest of his employers, the utmost
fidelity and attention.

"Jeff" wrote in message
om...
If anyone on this newsgroup is familiar with maritime law and the
powers of the Master of the Vessel, can you please comment on the
ability of the Master to detain passengers for the safety and concern
of other passengers?

Royal Caribbean has stated (Guest Relations Manager and Guest Claims
Manager that they are not a legal authority and cannot technically
"detain" them in a stateroom, etc. for even further legal reasons,
etc. They have promised to check in with their Legal department to
clarify this issue.

This group is full of very knowledgeable cruisers and travel agents.
I hope that someone has the case law or experience to answer this for
me.

jeff

As I tell the students I teach (licensed merchant marine officers), the
Captain is next to God in his authority.

"Jeff" wrote in message
om...
If anyone on this newsgroup is familiar with maritime law and the
powers of the Master of the Vessel, can you please comment on the
ability of the Master to detain passengers for the safety and concern
of other passengers?

Royal Caribbean has stated (Guest Relations Manager and Guest Claims
Manager that they are not a legal authority and cannot technically
"detain" them in a stateroom, etc. for even further legal reasons,
etc. They have promised to check in with their Legal department to
clarify this issue.

This group is full of very knowledgeable cruisers and travel agents.
I hope that someone has the case law or experience to answer this for
me.

jeff