Visitors in Ports

[jamessemaj]

I have seen local people in some ports who are allowed to visit the ship in ports. Does anybody have experience having non-passengers visit on the ship in port? How does it work?

 

I know that eventually I would have to go through the cruise line, but just ask for general information from those who may have experience with this.

[SadieN]

I've only experienced Travel Agents, Wedding Parties and some families of crew onboard during embarkation. During the cruise it seems to be entertainers/lecturers and government workers.

[dmwnc1959]

Princess cruises has a program where sailing passengers can bring on visitors at the embarkation port only, and for a fee that includes lunch.

 

Bon Voyage Experience

The Bon Voyage Experience is an innovative new program giving sailing passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to share the fun and excitement of sail-away day.

 

What is the cost and what does it include?

The $39 USD per person fee includes priority embarkation, a guided ship tour, a souvenir photo and a four-course lunch (wine included) in one of the beautiful dining rooms. In addition, each participant will receive a $39 USD Future Cruise Credit to be used as a discount on their next Princess cruise. The booking must be made within 3 months of the Bon Voyage Experience.

 

Details here of which ships and dates offer this

https://book.princess.com/BookingSystem/jsp/home/ship_visit/BonVoyageExperience.jsp

 

 

As for having visitors on board the ship at ports of call during the cruise it will not be allowed due to security reasons.

[Keith1010]

All of this varies by cruise line. The majority of cruise lines do not allow visitors but a few do. For example we cruise Crystal and you get get approval to have guests on board.

 

In most other cases you are seeing travel agents visit the ship or some local dignitaries or someone else invited by the cruise line to visit including local media.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

On HAL you can invite a visitor on board in any port if you go through the proper channels.

[chipq]

Most of the new people embarking at mid-itinerary ports are usually part of the entertainment contingency. Last cruise the line changed out the comedians and a couple of the musicians about mid-cruise.

 

It is rare that a passenger would have a friend visit the ship for a day at a port during the cruise. Each line will ahve their own policy but thye do seem to be easing up a bit and allowing some if gone through proper channels, I guess well before the cruise began.

 

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[jamessemaj]

Thanks for the responses. Of course I would have to check with the cruise line if I want to follow up.

 

I know of crew and entertainers who carry baggage and embark during the cruise, but I have seen cases where there are locals who visit the ship. The most notable was in Rotterdam, I think, not sure, where a fairly large group boarded. Some were given a tour, some seemed to wander on their own. There were also a few local police officers who boarded. I should have asked at the time, but didn't think of it. It was on the Emerald Princess.

[mrsfuzzmo]

I'm guessing it was a Travel Agent ship inspection. That happens often.

[paul929207]

Princess cruises has a program where sailing passengers can bring on visitors at the embarkation port only, and for a fee that includes lunch.

 

Bon Voyage Experience

The Bon Voyage Experience is an innovative new program giving sailing passengers the opportunity to invite their friends and family aboard their ship on embarkation day to share the fun and excitement of sail-away day.

 

What is the cost and what does it include?

The $39 USD per person fee includes priority embarkation, a guided ship tour, a souvenir photo and a four-course lunch (wine included) in one of the beautiful dining rooms. In addition, each participant will receive a $39 USD Future Cruise Credit to be used as a discount on their next Princess cruise. The booking must be made within 3 months of the Bon Voyage Experience.

 

Details here of which ships and dates offer this

https://book.princess.com/BookingSystem/jsp/home/ship_visit/BonVoyageExperience.jsp

 

 

As for having visitors on board the ship at ports of call during the cruise it will not be allowed due to security reasons.

Note that Princess does not offer this at all ports. Check with them if you are interested. It must be booked in advance.

[jocap]

HAL are offering tours and lunch through travel agencies to people in the UK who are either new to cruising or new to HAL. They were popular last summer, and seem to be filling up this summer.

I know Ocean Countess does lunch visits, and Hebridean Princess offered lunch through a newspaper competition- I know someone who has won one of these lunches, plus air to Scotland and hotel nights.

Jo.

[cruising cockroach]

RSSC offers visitors mid-itinerary. Some friends gave us an invitation when we were all going to be in Dubrovnik at the same time but their ship never sailed.

[FTLcruisers]

In South Florida, non-profit groups often have luncheons on ships while they are in port. Our non-profit group installs its new officers each year - we go to a lounge where drinks are served for about 45-60 mins and have our ceremony - we then move to a dining room to have a 3 course lunch. Once lunch is over we can wander around the ship as long as we are off by the designated time.

 

Marianne

[sail7seas]

HAL often has children aboard for lunch and some fun. HAL crews are very supportive of people in various Caribbean islands etc who are suffering hardships.

 

We've seen all sorts of people invited aboard for a visit. Some are led directly to the dining room. Other are taken to the show lounge for a presentation and then perhaps Lido or the dining room.

 

Always, whoever is hosting the guest must submit their name to security for a check prior to the day they will be visiting. You must provide either a passport or drivers license number. The names of those expected aboard is on a list at the gangway and the ID is held until you leave the ship. A guest always wears a 'visitor tag' while aboard.

 

Since 9-11, it is mostly groups that visit but with invitation and approval, individuals certainly have been cleared to visit.

 

[jamessemaj]

Thanks again to all for the information.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Some years ago (2006) Celebrity had a travel agent tour set up for the port of LA. I found out about this on another cruising site, and when someone else had to drop out, I gave the TA my info. Before boarding, I had to show my passport (I think I actually had to hand it over to be returned when I left), and our group was given a list of cabins we could check out (covering many of the different categories). Then we were to met in one lounge so we can be escorted for lunch in the MDR. We had a couple hours more to explore and then off the ship.

 

My only expense was parking for the day.

[jocap]

MSC Opera is offering lunch on board on quite a few turn around dates in Southampton this summer.

Jo.

[room010]

Local travel agents are often given VIP tours and/or lunch for obvious reasons.

 

During our stop in Manilla last year some families were allowed on board to visit the Filipino crew members who weren't able to take the day off and go ashore. It was very touching to see happy reunions, especially parents with their young children who they hadn't seen for several months on some cases. Other crew almost ran off the ship when we docked and headed off for a family rendezvous elsewhere in the city. It was very quiet on board that day :)

[sail7seas]

Local travel agents are often given VIP tours and/or lunch for obvious reasons.

 

During our stop in Manilla last year some families were allowed on board to visit the Filipino crew members who weren't able to take the day off and go ashore. It was very touching to see happy reunions, especially parents with their young children who they hadn't seen for several months on some cases. Other crew almost ran off the ship when we docked and headed off for a family rendezvous elsewhere in the city. It was very quiet on board that day :)

 

That had to be a very special day for the Filipino crew.

Wonderful many got to see their families, if only briefly.

 

[room010]

That had to be a very special day for the Filipino crew.

Wonderful many got to see their families, if only briefly.

 

 

It was a stark reminder of the sacrifices many crew make in order to support their families back home. Unusually, our lovely cabin stewardess and her maintenance crew husband were working on the same ship which was lucky for them but they still hadn't seen their 3 young children for several months until that brief stop in Manilla. Grandma was looking after them and it made me realise how important the extended family is for so many crew members and their children.