Leaving The Ship On A Roundtrip Cruise

[namaste1223]

On the 14 day NCL Alaskan roundtrip cruise, Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier, or Vancouver-Whittier-Vancouver, is it mandatory to leave the ship at the halfway point (either in Vancouver in the first case, or Whittier in the second)? May one stay onboard and relax rather than be required to exit just to go through customs and get right back on or to go ashore for the day? I know that on B2B you must get off the ship, but this is advertised as a roundtrip. Thank you!

[CruiserBruce]

In a US port, the ship must "zero down". Everybody must get off.

 

I am not aware that any other country requires this.

[namaste1223]

In a US port, the ship must "zero down". Everybody must get off.

 

I am not aware that any other country requires this.

 

So, Vancouver-Whittier-Vancouver, everyone must exit, even if just to turn around and get right back on, but Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier, it might be possible to just stay onboard and relax?

[CruiserBruce]

So, Vancouver-Whittier-Vancouver, everyone must exit, even if just to turn around and get right back on, but Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier, it might be possible to just stay onboard and relax?

 

That would be my understanding. That is how it has worked for us on our B2Bs.

[Coral]

So, Vancouver-Whittier-Vancouver, everyone must exit, even if just to turn around and get right back on, but Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier, it might be possible to just stay onboard and relax?

 

On Princess, you did not need to leave (done this 3x). We just had to go to the entry area and have our new card keys activated and photo taken.

[Kamloops50]

On the 14 day NCL Alaskan roundtrip cruise, Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier, or Vancouver-Whittier-Vancouver, is it mandatory to leave the ship at the halfway point (either in Vancouver in the first case, or Whittier in the second)? May one stay onboard and relax rather than be required to exit just to go through customs and get right back on or to go ashore for the day? I know that on B2B you must get off the ship, but this is advertised as a roundtrip. Thank you!

 

On our B2B to Whittier we didn't have to leave the ship. The day before you got a new cruise card and just had to cancel your old one and activate your new one.

[1025cruise]

Alaska cruises are different. Since you go through customs before getting on the ship, since the entire cruise is in the US, the requirement to 0 down in Whittier doesn't normally occur. Just have to go and reactive your new card.

[Putterdude]

On our b/b in Whittier we chose to go ashore, rent a car and drive to Anchorage however there is still the requirement, at least on Princess ships, to go to the gangway, cancel your old cruise card and activate your new cruise card. There is no CBP procedure as you have never left the USA.

[Budget Queen]

I also didn't have to disembark in Whittier, but I sure did "run" off the ship, so I could enjoy my day in Prince William Sound, no way would I just stay on a ship in this area. :)

[namaste1223]

Thank you everyone for your replies!

 

I also didn't have to disembark in Whittier, but I sure did "run" off the ship, so I could enjoy my day in Prince William Sound, no way would I just stay on a ship in this area. :)

 

I wholeheartedly agree! We're leaning towards doing the Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier sailing after arriving in Anchorage 2 days early. After the cruise, we're planning on another week in Alaska (with 2-3 days in Denali as per your often given advice! :)). As you also often advocate, a Prince William Sound boat excursion is also part of our plans!

[Kamloops50]

Thank you everyone for your replies!

 

 

 

I wholeheartedly agree! We're leaning towards doing the Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier sailing after arriving in Anchorage 2 days early. After the cruise, we're planning on another week in Alaska (with 2-3 days in Denali as per your often given advice! :)). As you also often advocate, a Prince William Sound boat excursion is also part of our plans!

 

You'll have clear US Customs on turnaround day in Vancouver. They will give you a time to meet and you'll be escorted to the CBP.

 

 

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[namaste1223]

You'll have clear US Customs on turnaround day in Vancouver. They will give you a time to meet and you'll be escorted to the CBP.

 

Why would we have to clear US Customs if we board the ship in Whittier, which is in the US, and never leave the ship to enter Canada in Vancouver, which is the only non-US port on the cruise? In effect, we're not leaving US soil, are we???

[Budget Queen]

Why would we have to clear US Customs if we board the ship in Whittier, which is in the US, and never leave the ship to enter Canada in Vancouver, which is the only non-US port on the cruise? In effect, we're not leaving US soil, are we???

 

You aren't but the ship is. :) The ship is also not registered in the US, so upon boarding the ship, you are similar to entering different country.

 

You are going to stay on the ship in Vancouver and not take advantage of being there? I have an idea this may be a different case than a Whittier turn around port. You might want to go to the Princess board and also inquire.

[Putterdude]

The CBSA procedure would only be applicable on a Whittier to Vancouver turnaround. It is the same as doing a b/b in the Caribbean where you have to leave the ship and go thru American CBP procedures in Fort Lauderdale or Miami...you are entering a country from a foreign port and the customs folks need to zero out the ship. In the case of a Vancouver to Whittier turnaround you have cleared US CBP at Canada Place and have effectively never left the US since embarking the ship. Now if the ship did make a stop in Canada northbound that would effect things but mass market cruise lines no longer do this.

[namaste1223]

The CBSA procedure would only be applicable on a Whittier to Vancouver turnaround. It is the same as doing a b/b in the Caribbean where you have to leave the ship and go thru American CBP procedures in Fort Lauderdale or Miami...you are entering a country from a foreign port and the customs folks need to zero out the ship. In the case of a Vancouver to Whittier turnaround you have cleared US CBP at Canada Place and have effectively never left the US since embarking the ship. Now if the ship did make a stop in Canada northbound that would effect things but mass market cruise lines no longer do this.

 

Now I'm confused! Sorry if I seem dense, but just to clarify, that means that if the cruise originates in Whittier and turns around in Vancouver, returning to Whittier, that we would have to disembark, or is it the other way around? Or doesn't it matter and we'd have to in both directions?

[namaste1223]

You aren't but the ship is. :) The ship is also not registered in the US, so upon boarding the ship, you are similar to entering different country.

 

You are going to stay on the ship in Vancouver and not take advantage of being there? I have an idea this may be a different case than a Whittier turn around port. You might want to go to the Princess board and also inquire.

 

Budget Queen, we're not sure if we'll get off in Vancouver or not. I've had two foot surgeries in two years and if resting a day will make it easier to do everything we want to do elsewhere on our trip, this is the port we'd forgo rather than one in Alaska! :)

[Kamloops50]

Now I'm confused! Sorry if I seem dense, but just to clarify, that means that if the cruise originates in Whittier and turns around in Vancouver, returning to Whittier, that we would have to disembark, or is it the other way around? Or doesn't it matter and we'd have to in both directions?

 

Yes you would to disembark and clear US Customs before boarding the ship . This process takes only 5 minutes.The ship when it arrives in Vancouver is cleared by Canadian Customs . Meaning the ship needs to be precleared by US Customs before leaving leaving for Alaska or transit to a port in California or Hawaii.

[namaste1223]

The CBSA procedure would only be applicable on a Whittier to Vancouver turnaround. It is the same as doing a b/b in the Caribbean where you have to leave the ship and go thru American CBP procedures in Fort Lauderdale or Miami...you are entering a country from a foreign port and the customs folks need to zero out the ship. In the case of a Vancouver to Whittier turnaround you have cleared US CBP at Canada Place and have effectively never left the US since embarking the ship. Now if the ship did make a stop in Canada northbound that would effect things but mass market cruise lines no longer do this.

 

Another thought: Isn't the combined itinerary Whittier-Vancouver-Whittier cruise a closed-loop cruise just like the round trip from Seattle is (this particular cruise is not booked as B2B, but as a combined itinerary round trip)? On the Seattle round trip, if you elect to remain onboard in Victoria, is it required to exit the ship just to clear customs and get right back on?

Actually, I don't mean to blow this up into a life or death situation that will ruin our cruise. At this point I'm just curious. If we decide on this particular cruise and want to relax onboard in Vancouver but they tell us we have to get off just to reboard, oh well! :rolleyes:

[Putterdude]

Now I'm confused! Sorry if I seem dense, but just to clarify, that means that if the cruise originates in Whittier and turns around in Vancouver, returning to Whittier, that we would have to disembark, or is it the other way around? Or doesn't it matter and we'd have to in both directions?

 

With a cruise that begins in Whittier you would have to clear Canadian customs in Vancouver and the ship would have to be zeroed out. This is the same procedure that is followed in Florida with US customs with a b/b Caribbean cruise. The subtle difference with a Vancouver to Whittier cruise is that you clear US customs at Canada Place before embarking the ship to go north and you never set foot on Canadian soil (waters, yes) until you arrive in Alaska so there is no customs procedure in Whittier. However you still will have to go to the gangway and cancel out your northbound cruise card and activate your southbound cruise card.

[Coral]

We have done a B2B with Vancouver being turnaround day and we did have to disembark. The pier was not organized and we struggled to get back on (quickly) as the pier people didn't understand "in transit". This was the beginning of the season, I am sure it got better later in the season.

[Putterdude]

We have done a B2B with Vancouver being turnaround day and we did have to disembark. The pier was not organized and we struggled to get back on (quickly) as the pier people didn't understand "in transit". This was the beginning of the season, I am sure it got better later in the season.

 

Yes, unfortunately I could see this happening at Canada Place in the beginning of the season....fortunately things do get better towards the end of May. That said the cruise line should have made arrangements with CBSA to process in transit passengers separately from others....normally this is not a bit deal, it is just a quick look at a passport. I know that in Fort Lauderdale it is only a walk by a CBP official with your passport held up for a cursory inspection.

[fivefoot4]

If you are doing a B2B and you have to clear ship do you have to take your bags too?

 

I am doing B2B2B - Maimi to LA one leg, LA to Vancouver the next and then Vancouver to Alaska return. So I suppose, LA and Vancouver (the first time) will be the ports where this would happen.

 

I have been told by my TA that it depends on the security level at the time but normally we would meet Customs officials in one of the common rooms where we will be processed. Nothing was said about luggage though. I will be on an NCL cruise.

 

Anyone done a similar cruise?

 

Pauline

[ToUtahNow]

Saturday at Canada Place they made all of the in transit passengers leave the ship and go through immigration before returning to the ship.

 

Mark

[Keith1010]

My experience is that you just never know what the procedure will be like for in-transit guests.

 

Keith

[Budget Queen]

Now I'm confused! Sorry if I seem dense, but just to clarify, that means that if the cruise originates in Whittier and turns around in Vancouver, returning to Whittier, that we would have to disembark, or is it the other way around? Or doesn't it matter and we'd have to in both directions?

 

What is being missed is, there are no customs/immigration in Whittier or Seward.

US entry/exit is set up in Vancouver.