Norwegian Cruise Lines defended the lawsuit contending that its cruise ships fly the Bahamian flag, and therefore as a foreign-flag vessel, it is not obligated to conform to the requirements of the United States' ADA. Norwegian Cruise Lines also argued that the absence of any specific ADA regulations applicable to cruise ships renders compliance with the ADA impossible. While the federal district court acknowledged the deficiency in passenger-vessel regulations, that court held that foreign-flag vessels were obligated to follow the ADA.