Less than six months from now the new Vessel General Permit (VGP) will come into force, replacing the EPA rules from 2008.

Is your vessel subject to these rules and are they the same as the USCG rules? Find the answers and a link to the full report.

The largest cruise industry trade organization released their "International Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights" to help ally concerns about recent incidents in the industry, mostly dealing with interrupted trips.

Cruise Lines International Association does plenty of good for the industry but this program misses the mark. Overarching problems within the cruise business cannot be solved with this type of project.

The Italian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure released a three part report on the events surrounding the Costa Concordia disaster last week.

After reading the very detailed report it's very clear that the Master is mostly, or entirely to blame for the accident. The vessel was three times closer to the Island of Giglio, off the West Coast of Italy, than called for in the sailing plan. An emergency turning maneuver was started only one third of a mile from Le Scole Reef, which the vessel struck with her stern.

An official timeline and some thoughts on what lessons we can all learn from this tragedy are available in addition to the official report.

This is the time of year many tourists get aboard small day cruises to see the sights or have a party on the water.

Thoughts about the freedom and lifestyle of owning such a business are appealing and some do take the plunge.

It's never been easier or less expensive to market yourself online and on social media. Thoughtful preparation and good attention to customer service and marketing help make this kind of business more viable than ever for a small operation.