Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Missed ship... Can I board at first Port of Call?

landlady1952

By landlady1952,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

 Share

Recommended Posts

Shmoo here

Shmoo here

Posted
Posted
That sucks. I hope you are able to catch up with the ship and enjoy your vacation.

 

It amazes me that with all the money the cruise industry has today they still haven't been able to lobby the right people in congress to pass an exclusion to a 100+ year old law (PVSA 1886, Jones Act 1920). They (all ocean liner companies) must have done something to piss someone off in the U.S. capital. You would think that the economic benefit would outweigh other objections to not having U.S. flagged vessels.

 

There have been several attempts to revoke, change the PVSA. The most recent was rejected because of the new, more strict requirements being proposed. Among them: all cruises must make a foreign port stop of at least 8 hours; and the number of foreign port stops must equal the number of US port stops on any given itinerary. In some cases an overnight foreign port stop was required.

 

Be aware that the provisions of the PVSA also are applied to airline travel (although they have their own law). That's another reason that the changes aren't being made. It's all about protecting the USA money flow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Towel Critter

Towel Critter

Posted
Posted
It's actually because of a death in immediate family. Scheduled to sail Sunday. Funeral us Monday. Could make it to Boston on Tuesday, first port of call. Would lose 100% of cost of cruise if I can't pick up in Boston. Thanks everyone for your input.
I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope things work out as well as possible under the circumstances for you. We just cancelled a cruise last week because of a life threatening illness in our immediate family, so I understand how stressful an illness, or death, in the family, coinciding with an already paid for vacation can be. Best wishes. And again, I'm sorry for the loss of your family member.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Miller_KC

Miller_KC

Posted
Posted
It's actually because of a death in immediate family. Scheduled to sail Sunday. Funeral us Monday. Could make it to Boston on Tuesday, first port of call. Would lose 100% of cost of cruise if I can't pick up in Boston. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

Sorry for your loss. Maybe you can get Carnival to be flexible. They were not with us under similar conditions but luckily we had insurance. I'm hoping for the best possible resolution for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
springs741

springs741

Posted
Posted

I too am sorry for your loss. It is an unfortunate occurrence.

 

I am going to suggest you carefully read the section in Carnivals FAQ regarding your situation. Additionally if you do speak to someone that "ok's" boarding in Boston I would request the permission in writing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
crzndeb

crzndeb

Posted
Posted (edited)
It's actually because of a death in immediate family. Scheduled to sail Sunday. Funeral us Monday. Could make it to Boston on Tuesday, first port of call. Would lose 100% of cost of cruise if I can't pick up in Boston. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

I have to agree with Shmoo that this will be a violation of the PVSA. Where is the first foreign port stop. Unfortunately, cruise ship reps are pretty clueless about this law and don't even call it by the correct name. (Jones Act is cargo)

 

As others have said, get what they tell you in writing.

Edited by crzndeb
Link to comment
Share on other sites
DaytonCruiser

DaytonCruiser

Posted
Posted

This is all you will get in writing from carnival

https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/541/~/selling-one-way-cruises

 

 

Any guest wishing to join the ship because of a legitimate travel delay (i.e., mechanical or weather related delay) may do so subject to any Jones Act or port restrictions.

 

Cruise-Only guests, or those with independent air travel will be responsible for any and all travel expenses incurred, including the $300 per person Jones Act fee. Guests will be charged the fee upon boarding the ship and can pay with a credit card, cash or on their Sail & Sign card. Carnival will assume responsibility for these expenses if guests are booked under our Fly-Aweigh program.

 

Carnival cannot guarantee that guests will be able to embark or debark in a port due to possible unforeseen weather conditions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Shmoo here

Shmoo here

Posted
Posted
I have to agree with Shmoo that this will be a violation of the PVSA. Where is the first foreign port stop. Unfortunately, cruise ship reps are pretty clueless about this law and don't even call it by the correct name. (Jones Act is cargo)

 

As others have said, get what they tell you in writing.

 

Apparently, it's not just the telephone reps - the Carnival website calls it the Jones Act:

 

The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ...

 

Guests cannot pre-plan or purposely embark or debark a ship in a U.S port that will violate the Jones Act.

 

including the $300 USD per person Jones Act fee...

 

Travel Services will cover the expense of the Jones Act fee of $300...

 

Cabatoge Law is the term used in Europe - Similar to the Jones Act,...

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/427/kw/jones

 

Maybe, if they ever figure out what laws apply to them, they will call it what it is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
S.S.Oceanlover

S.S.Oceanlover

Posted
Posted (edited)
The answer is , "it depends". I believe if they allow this, it changes the entire cruise because the passenger roster has changed and the cruise line is subject to fines. Also, it subjects the entire ship to a more lengthy debark process since the departing roster does not match the returning roster. And yes, similar things happen when passengers are left in ports..maybe not the fines but the extra scrutiny.

 

oops

Edited by S.S.Oceanlover
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ctkathchick

ctkathchick

Posted
Posted

A few years ago my sister missed the cruise departure because she forgot her Passport and tried to go back to get it and was stuck in traffic. She was able to board 2 days later in Puerto Rico at no additional cost besides the cost of a one way flight to P.R. My suggestion is the one where you keep calling Carnival until you find someone that is willing to help you and not charge you the 300.00 fee. The way Carnival usually operates it should not take long to find someone to accommodate you. Good Luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DaytonCruiser

DaytonCruiser

Posted
Posted (edited)
A few years ago my sister missed the cruise departure because she forgot her Passport and tried to go back to get it and was stuck in traffic. She was able to board 2 days later in Puerto Rico at no additional cost besides the cost of a one way flight to P.R. My suggestion is the one where you keep calling Carnival until you find someone that is willing to help you and not charge you the 300.00 fee. The way Carnival usually operates it should not take long to find someone to accommodate you. Good Luck

 

The difference is boarding in PR is the not the same as boarding in Boston. Plus it's really irrelevant what any rep on the phone tells you. It's how it's handled when you actually try to board the ship.

 

*

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/Files/Irman/bookccl/booking_procedure/TheJonesAct_ThePassengerServicesAct.htm

 

The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ships of Non-U.S registry from embarking and debarking guests at two different U.S ports. Such travel would constitute point-to-point transportation between two U.S ports, which is prohibited on foreign flagged ships.Note: Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands (St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John) are not in the category of U.S ports under this act.

Edited by DaytonCruiser
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Shmoo here

Shmoo here

Posted
Posted (edited)
I was under the impression that P.R. is considered U.S. soil which would make it the same as Boston. Also the day between leaving NYC and arriving in P.R. was a sea day. But then again I could be wrong it has happened before.

 

Cruises departing/arriving in Puerto Rico are exempt from the PVSA.

 

EXCEPTIONS

Transportation of Passengers Between Puerto Rico and Other U.S. Ports—46 U.S.C. § 55104

An exception to the PVSA permits non-coastwise-qualified vessels (vessels not qualified to engage in the coastwise trade) to transport passengers on voyages between ports in Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports until qualified U.S. vessels are available.

http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pvsa_icp_3.pdf

 

So, while San Juan is considered a US port, it would be allowed for someone (at least a couple of years ago) to "pick up" their cruise there.

 

As I noted, many times, cruise lines currently are opting not to allow people to catch up to the ship (even in foreign ports) due to the extra processing required for changing the cruise from a "closed loop" to a "foreign itinerary" cruise

Edited by Shmoo here
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SadieN

SadieN

Posted
Posted
A few years ago my sister missed the cruise departure because she forgot her Passport and tried to go back to get it and was stuck in traffic. She was able to board 2 days later in Puerto Rico at no additional cost besides the cost of a one way flight to P.R. My suggestion is the one where you keep calling Carnival until you find someone that is willing to help you and not charge you the 300.00 fee. The way Carnival usually operates it should not take long to find someone to accommodate you. Good Luck

 

 

The $300 fee is a US Gov't penalty.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
crzndeb

crzndeb

Posted
Posted

Please report back to the thread. Although this is not Carnival's call, hopefully you will be able to board.

 

This is up to the CBP (US Custom and Border Protection). They could be lenient or they could deny boarding. It's up to them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail on Sun Princess®
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...