Does an American law mandating equal access for the physically challenged apply to foreign flag vessels operating out of US ports? Under what principles of law, admiralty or otherwise, does one decide the extent to which vessels flying under another nation’s flag must comply with US statutes? The United States Supreme Court has recently grappled with these controversial issues in Spector Ltd v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd .1 Whilst the highest court in the US issued a decision, the case is far from over, as it was decided to remand the case for further proceedings. Although the lawsuit was strictly limited to the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) to foreign flag cruise ships operating out of US ports with primarily Americans as passengers, at stake are fundamental principles of just how much one nation can impose its will upon the vessels of another sovereign state.