Embarkation at a port other than the scheduled first port

[Cruizann]

My DH and I cannot complete our full cruise and would like to embark at a port other than the scheduled first port. We hope that this will be possible and if so, whom do we contact at Holland America? Thank you for your help.

[Shmoo here]

My DH and I cannot complete our full cruise and would like to embark at a port other than the scheduled first port. We hope that this will be possible and if so, whom do we contact at Holland America? Thank you for your help.

 

What cruise are you taking? That makes a difference.

[Shippy]

...on a cruise from Los Angelas to Alaska but had San Francisco as one of the ports.

We live by San Francisco. We were told no because there were no customs people scheduled to be there that day. They also said that applies to people wanting to end their cruise early & get off at a different port.

[Shmoo here]

...on a cruise from Los Angelas to Alaska but had San Francisco as one of the ports.

We live by San Francisco. We were told no because there were no customs people scheduled to be there that day. They also said that applies to people wanting to end their cruise early & get off at a different port.

 

You can't debark a ship doing a cruise that begins in a US port, in a different US port. It's against the PVSA, as there's no distant foreign port visited on such a cruise.

[DaveOKC]

My DH and I cannot complete our full cruise and would like to embark at a port other than the scheduled first port. We hope that this will be possible and if so, whom do we contact at Holland America? Thank you for your help.

 

I would start with my Travel agent. After all, that is what they are getting paid to do. Plus, HAL generally does not like to talk to passengers directly (if they booked through a TA).

[Shmoo here]

My DH and I cannot complete our full cruise and would like to embark at a port other than the scheduled first port. We hope that this will be possible and if so, whom do we contact at Holland America? Thank you for your help.

 

Another question - do you mean "embark" as in get on the ship? Or "debark" as in get off the ship?

[Fouremco]

Another question - do you mean "embark" as in get on the ship? Or "debark" as in get off the ship?

As OP says "other than the scheduled first port", pretty sure he meant embark.

[knittinggirl]

You'll need to start from a foreign port. We chatted w/ some dining mates a while back. They missed a California port, due to late flight and had to fly all the way to Acapulco.

 

With this law in mind, we always plan to pre-nights at any US port.

 

Personally, I'd rather pay their fee, but I hear it's not up to the passenger.

Edited October 10, 2016 by knittinggirl

[Cruizann]

We mean to get on the ship in Funchal Medeira rather than Barcelona.

[Shmoo here]

We mean to get on the ship in Funchal Medeira rather than Barcelona.

 

On the European cruises it's typically not an issue. BUT it depends on whether the port you want to embark in has immigration/port officials to handle such a boarding. Not all do.

 

It does need to be set up ahead of time, also. You can't just show up at the port and expect to board. Even if you've paid for the cruise. And you'll still pay for the full cruise.

 

I'd suggest just calling HAL directly, and telling them what you'd like to do. They transfer you to the correct person/department to work it out (if it's do-able).

Edited October 10, 2016 by Shmoo here

[kazu]

We mean to get on the ship in Funchal Medeira rather than Barcelona.

 

The last time we were in Funchal,I recall seeing Customs agents there.

 

this may be do-able.

 

If you are using a TA,contact them and they should be able to sort it out for you.

 

If you booked directly with HAL, email them (good to have it in writing) or ask to be assigned a Personal Cruise consultant.

 

You do need permission in advance and arrangements made and, of course you will be paying full cost of the cruise whether you board earlier or later.

 

It's definitely worth the enquiry :)

[Cruizann]

We will email HAL. Thank you for the advise.

[3rdGenCunarder]

I'm confused. Why do you need Customs officials to be there in order to board the ship? I know disembarking passengers have to go through Customs and Immigration (or the country's equivalent), which makes early disembarking a problem. But why for embarkation?

[Mary Ellen]

We mean to get on the ship in Funchal Medeira rather than Barcelona.

 

Would it be a problem if the ship can't make it there? In other words, do you have a feasible backup plan? We've missed that port in the past because of weather.

[chengkp75]

I'm confused. Why do you need Customs officials to be there in order to board the ship? I know disembarking passengers have to go through Customs and Immigration (or the country's equivalent), which makes early disembarking a problem. But why for embarkation?

 

Because the passenger manifest will change between the ship's arrival and departure, so a new manifest would require possible additional review by customs and immigration, and depending on the arriving passengers' nationality, there may need to be document verification.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Because the passenger manifest will change between the ship's arrival and departure, so a new manifest would require possible additional review by customs and immigration, and depending on the arriving passengers' nationality, there may need to be document verification.

 

Thanks for the answer. I didn't realize that the country/port of departure checked to see who was sailing.

Edited October 11, 2016 by 3rdGenCunarder

[chengkp75]

Thanks for the answer. I didn't realize that the country/port of departure checked to see who was sailing.

 

Every ship has to submit an arrival manifest and a departure manifest. For cruise ships, whose stays are so short, and typically don't involve a change between the two, both manifests are submitted and approved by the port authorities upon arrival. Saves everyone time and money. The manifests also include estimates of food, beverages, fuel, water, lubricants, and general ship's supplies and spare parts. Any significant changes in these could result in duties or taxes being imposed (most commonly for cargo ships who stay in port several days).

[3rdGenCunarder]

Every ship has to submit an arrival manifest and a departure manifest. For cruise ships, whose stays are so short, and typically don't involve a change between the two, both manifests are submitted and approved by the port authorities upon arrival. Saves everyone time and money. The manifests also include estimates of food, beverages, fuel, water, lubricants, and general ship's supplies and spare parts. Any significant changes in these could result in duties or taxes being imposed (most commonly for cargo ships who stay in port several days).

 

Interesting. I knew manifests were submitted, but never thought about why. What about entertainers, who often get off one ship and move to another, mid-cruise for both ships? Does the line have to pay for a customs/immigration agent to check that person in and out of the country?

[chengkp75]

Interesting. I knew manifests were submitted, but never thought about why. What about entertainers, who often get off one ship and move to another, mid-cruise for both ships? Does the line have to pay for a customs/immigration agent to check that person in and out of the country?

 

Yep.

[clogaltocruise]

Very informative.

 

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[thinfool]

deleted

Edited October 12, 2016 by thinfool

[ChinaShrek]

You can't debark a ship doing a cruise that begins in a US port, in a different US port. It's against the PVSA, as there's no distant foreign port visited on such a cruise.

 

This law should be repealed. Domestic cruises should be allowed and encouraged by our government.

[chengkp75]

This law should be repealed. Domestic cruises should be allowed and encouraged by our government.

 

Domestic cruises are allowed and encouraged by our government, they simply have to be US flag ships.

 

The PVSA has far greater impact than the cruise industry. If the law were to be repealed, then every ferry, commuter boat and water taxi, casino boat, sightseeing and whale watching boat, dinner cruise, and charter fishing boat could switch to foreign flag and bypass US labor, tax, and safety laws.

[ChinaShrek]

Domestic cruises are allowed and encouraged by our government, they simply have to be US flag ships.

 

The PVSA has far greater impact than the cruise industry. If the law were to be repealed, then every ferry, commuter boat and water taxi, casino boat, sightseeing and whale watching boat, dinner cruise, and charter fishing boat could switch to foreign flag and bypass US labor, tax, and safety laws.

 

Oh, that wouldn't be good.:o

[donaldsc]

We will email HAL. Thank you for the advise.

 

Why does everyone start by e-mailing. Call them first and if they say it is OK, ask that they confirm everything in writing. If they say no, bump it up on the phone until you get a definitive answer and still get confirmation in writing.

 

A phone call can be much faster than exchanging a whole bunch of e-mails.

 

That said, if you have a TA have them do it as HAL will probably not even talk to you. That is what you are paying the TA for,

 

DON