New US government regulations mean that cruise lines will no longer be able to offer cruises to nowhere from American ports, CruiseCritic reports on its website.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) explains that, beginning in 2016, foreign-flagged ships sailing from US ports will be required to call on at least one foreign port before returning to the US, meaning cruises to nowhere won't be allowed, the report said.

Vance Gulliksen, a spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line -- the only line currently offering regularly scheduled cruises to nowhere -- says "certain short duration cruises without a foreign port of call are subject to itinerary changes."

John Heald, senior cruise director for Carnival, adds that three-night cruises to nowhere out of New York's Manhattan terminal on the line's brand new Carnival Vista will be affected; any passengers currently booked on those sailings will be notified of the new policy and any planned itinerary changes.

The regulation also forced Norwegian Cruise Line to cancel three two-night cruises on Norwegian Breakaway, scheduled for 2016 out of New York, spokeswoman Vanessa Picariello said.