macun

So far it looks like the Dream will be soiling with a flip flop of schedule. Castaway Cay change up with Nassau. We have an at sea day Thursday 9/7 and are scheduled to be in port Canaveral 9/8 am. May be making a beeline for Tampa to board up the house. Hope not.

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About to board on our way to the Bahamas. I have cruised before and so far this has been the best experience. Well organized, moves quick, and the Disney employee are super friendly.

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At the terminal. Waiting to board the Disney Dream. They just reversed the schedule. No biggie. So very excited.

Going on Disney dream 9/4-9/8 to Bahamas's really wishing they change to Jamaica or somewhere else

Agree. Away from Irma.

LEaving sept 4th from port canaveral on the Disney Dream for 4 nights to the Bahamas. Haven't heard anything from Disney. I even called them and the lady over the phone didn't even know who Irma was!;p

From the CBP website

" You should always check with your cruise ship, travel agent and or destination country to confirm the requirements for entry into the foreign countries you will be visiting. "

LOL never ending do-loop.

While the information given to you by CBP is correct, it isn't complete. Their information deals only with exit and entry into the US. When the cruise line transports you to a foreign country, they have the right to ensure that the passenger has the required visa for all countries visited. If she does not have a required visa, they can refuse to allow her to board, with no recourse for refund of the cruise price. As I've said, it doesn't matter whether she remains onboard in the foreign ports or not, as far as the customs and immigration at each port, every passenger onboard must clear into and back out of the country, essentially entering the country, and if she were to be onboard without a required visa, the ship could be liable for fine and/or the cost to escort the passenger under guard to the airport and pay for the flight out of the country. This is why the cruise line will check for required visas, and deny boarding to anyone without a visa.

Understood. This is where the cruise company I feel has failed me. They are in a better position to tell me if I need a visa for her for Jamaica/GCI/Mexico and Bahamas. So if I book this cruise and do the online check in and pay and show up at the embarkation port, Miami, they can deny her entry and keep our money. That just doesn't seem right.

Thank you all for your replies. Honestly my head hurts just thinking about all this.

I emailed the CBP on their website and asked this hypothetical question:

As a Cuban national with a Cuban passport visiting the usa on b2 visa with a valid !-94, can I board a closed loop cruise from Miami and be allowed to re-enter the usa?

Thanks much.

Julio

Here is the answer I got:

Dear Julio,

You need to have a multiple entry visa to re-enter the US.

Mark

About Visas - The Basics

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/frequently-asked-questions.html

Information for International Visitors to the US

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors

From this answer I gather that if she has a Multiple entry B2 visa not expired she can get on and off the boat at a minimum.

Additionally, the OP needs to determine if the sister's visa is a single or multiple entry B2 visa. Unless specifically requested at application, the visa will not be a multiple entry. Therefore, when the sister leaves the US on the ship, she will not be eligible to re-enter the US at the end of the cruise, regardless of whether the visa has expired or not. That will have a much larger significance than individual port of call visas. If the B2 visa is not a multiple entry visa, MSC will not allow the sister to board.

Thank you very much for teh reply. It is a multiple entry B2 visa. The MSC cruise in question out of Miami travels to Jamaica, CI, Cozumel and Bahamas and back Miami.

I would be ok if she just stays on board and doesn't get off the ship. What kinda surprised me was that the cruise operator on the phone had no clue or help or info whatsoever. If they know enough at time of embarkation to not let her on the boat, why wouldn't they know now on the phone and have me gamble on a ticket. Don't understand...

Apologize if this has been asked before but I could not find an answer and MSC cruises was absolutely no help.

I want to take my sister on a cruise out of Miami on the MSC Divina in June. She is here on an unexpired B2 visa. Her passport is Cuban.

My question is simple. Can she get on and off the boat? If she cant get off teh boat at the ports of call then so be it. I jsut want to make sure she can get back in the USA.

Does anyone know the answer to this or where I can get help. Contacting the Cuban embassy (as suggested by the MSC rep) is not an option.

Thanks Much in advance