You may have noticed that Congress passed, and President Obama has signed, legislation called the “Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act,” or by it’s nickname, the “cruise ship crime bill.”

If you’ve taken a cruise, then like the vast majority of cruise passengers you’ve probably felt safe enough to assume that either such a law already existed, or was unnecessary. Indeed, it’s only after serious trouble that American passengers have learned they have little access to help and no right to American law enforcement when something happens in international waters.
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Recently the Center for Disease Control has become increasingly concerned about the large number of international travelers who don’t take health precautions very seriously and thus post the risk of spreading dangerous, infectious diseases to other travelers.

In the past two or three years, the CDC has logged over 650 reported cases of tuberculosis among travelers, carried principally by air when arriving or returning to the U.S. With the speed and abundance of air travel, a serious disease such as this has the potential to spread farther and faster than more notorious infections such as the famous case of Typhoid Mary.
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Has this ever happened to you? You’re somewhere far-flung … say, China or Peru … and despite all the exciting culinary choices around you, you’re overcome with an inexplicable desire to go for Italian.

We say, give in and make an occasion of it. Here are some off-culture recommendations for a few major destinations.

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Sometimes it’s just so easy to do the right thing.

In this tough job market, with so many people looking for work, imagine how difficult it would be to compete if you didn’t even have proper clothes for the job interview?

It’s an obstacle that keeps thousands of women impoverished. But you can change that, simply by eating ice cream in July — something you’re likely to do anyway — at a participating restaurant.

The idea is the brainchild of Kimpton Hotels and Resorts, who have long put a premium on giving back. They’ve paired up with the non-profit Dress for Success organization, who provide interview suits and training to help low-income women raise themselves up a notch. It’s good for them, and good for the economy, too.

Want to do a little good? Just eat some ice cream. (How easy can it get?)

For a list of participating restaurants, just go to the Kimpton page that describes it all. Thanks!

Part One of the Dior cruisewear show. For Part Two, see the end of this blog.

We mentioned fashion the other day (Diane von Furstenberg designing suites at Claridges in London), and here’s a follow-up: Dior has released their 2011 “cruise collection.”

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