visitors aboard

[goodfloat]

Has anyone ever had visitors come aboard the ship? We’re hoping to have our son meet us on our next cruise and I’d like to have him come aboard. We sent in a formal request but I’m not too sure how it’s handled. How do we meet up? Can he stay for dinner? How long can he be aboard?

[luxlady]

Hi there. I do know that due to the higher level of security we all deal with, it can take 6 weeks to get visitors approved. I just dropped friends off in Long Beach for a Voyager cruise. There was a fence and waterway barring any cars from approaching the ship. My friends got clearance for their friends to visit them, but - as I say - it took many weeks. Not sure what was involved - an FBI check? Anyway, it is "more than a notion" these days. If you want your son to be able to board, start checking into this now with your TA!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Glenda Madrid

[petlover]

I don't know all the details but your TA should be able to make arragements for your son to come on board, it's done often by my TA.

As for dinner....this will most likely be AFTER sail away so not likely that he'll still be onbard! Happy Cruising!

[i]Marcie[/i]

[img]http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jan/2004166967450561983036.jpg[/img]

[dwightw]

Hi Goodfloat,

I believe you are on the May 19 cruise from L.A. My wife and I are also on this trip and really looking forward to it...our first RSSC cruise.

In the old days visitors were allowed on board, then things got much stricter. However, I did read somewhere in the RSSC info (to my surprise, post Sept 11) you can have visitors on board with prior approval....it didn't say how long, etc.. I would check with your travel agent asap to have them get an ok with RSSC. If that stalls, call RSSC direct soon afterwards....but it sounds like you have already made an initial inquiry.

Hope it works out for you and hope you have a great trip!

We should try to get those on this board that are on this cruise together at least to say hello and have a bon voyage glass of wine. Please drop us a note. Best to you!

Dwight & Sharos
So. Calif.

[dougburns]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]Having visitors aboard is not that difficult. There is a form that you fill out and send in to RSSC with the visitor's name, passport or drivers license info and date of birth. Your TA should be able to handle it for you. The form can be faxed to RSSC. We've had visitors aboard many times and have never been refused. We've had our son aboard in LA and SFO, friends aboard in FLL, and a group of 8 aboard in San Diego for lunch. The ship will have a visitor pass ready for approved guests. They leave their drivers license when they pick up the pass and get it back when they leave. The worst port we've found for visitors is San Pedro(LA), but it's the port authority that's the problem; not RSSC.

[goodfloat]

Thanks for all the information. I'm happy to learn that it's not too difficult to arrange a visit.

Yes, it would be nice for all of us to have a drink at some point during the cruise. We're looking forward exploring the ship and meeting new folks. Thanks Dwight!

[ITravelNow]

[url="http://63.103.252.109/rss/downloadcenter/Corporate/REQUESTFORVISITORSTOBOARD.pdf"]Request for Visitor to Board[/url]

I'm not sure if this link will work, but if it does you'll find a form that you can use with the help of your agent, or you can send it directly to RSSC.

We had friends meet us on two occasion and when we were in port until midnight, they were able to join us for dinner. There is a charge for dining. They enjoyed it very much and while I can't recall the price, it seemed reasonable to us.

You'll have lots of fun showing your son around the ship!

Margo
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[B]Voyager[/B] - Monte Carlo to FLL - [I]34 Days of Bliss![/I]

[I]Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.[/I]

[dougburns]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]As Margo said, there is a charge for dining, but it's minimal($13/pers for lunch) and wine was included for us. If your guest doesn't have time for a meal due to ship constraints re boarding and departing times, you can always order room service. We just ordered a steak sandwich for our son in LA, because he didn't get aboard until @ 1400 and had to get off at 1600. No charge for that.

[sea lover]

If you don't get the approval for your son to come aboard from RSSC before you leave on your cruise, give the information to a staff member on the ship (I don't remember who handles that)and if they allow visitors at that port, they will get the approval for you. I had that happen to me and it was no problem. A guest can stay on the ship until 15 minutes or so before departure time. Have a great cruise.

[goodfloat]

Thanks everyone, we're looking forward to this enjoying our time together.

[jhp]

goodfloat, while it is always a great adventure to be aboard even without a guest, it will be be an even greater treat for you son to come aboard to see what you are about to enjoy! On almost all my cruises in ports, I see TA's brought aboard to show them the ship. Glad you have arranged it.

[goodfloat]

Since the idea of having visitors aboard is so easy...my husband has now decided to be a visitor rather than a guest. I agree with jhp, it's a good idea to come aboard and visit a guest so you can really get a feel for the ship. My husband is not fond of sailing, or at least he thinks he isn't, but I hope he'll feel differenly once he steps aboard the Mariner. RSSC is wise to encourage this policy.

Thanks everyone! Let's hope my hubby likes it so we can have many happy voyages together!

[Aloha Cruiser]

Here is our experience with visitors.

You DO need to submit a form to RSSC at least 30 DAYS prior to the scheduled visit. You can call RSSC directly and they will fax the necessary form to you.

We requested for guests to come on-board for lunch at Port Hueneme. The PORT denied access to our visitors, apparently due to security concerns since this is a military installation of some kind.

However, our visitors were cleared for either LOS ANGELES or SAN FRANCISCO.

Hope this helps !!

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[goodfloat]

Aloha,


Sorry to hear your visitors were denied boarding at Port Hueneme, but it's nice that RSSC provided an alternative port. Since my visitors will be San Francisco and Seattle, I hope there won’t be any problems.

Happy sailing!

[dougburns]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]It's always best to get the approval request submitted well in advance, even through RSSC will not confirm the approval until @ the time your docs are sent. You can also make a request to have guests aboard once you are on board the ship. It'll take a couple of days to get the approval, but it can be done. Your docs will clearly state that.

[goodfloat]

Thanks.

I did send in the form for my son and his lady friend about two weeks ago and I've sent one in for my hubby. Since I've already received my docs, how will RSSC notify me of their approval?

[Aloha Cruiser]

Hi Goodfloat:

We actually were notified by Radisson about two weeks before we even got our docs.

RSSC will contact your travel agent and send them a written confirmation of approval for your visitors.

Our TA then faxed the approval to us. Your visitors need to have the RSSC approval with them when they get ready to board the ship. There will be visitor passes for them at the gangway, (which they exchange for the RSSC approval).

Hope that helps and that it wasn't too confusing.

Aloha [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]