Alaskan cruise with a DUI

[HappyCruzer777]

Hope this reaches you in time. From personal experience. A friend got in trouble 2 and a half years ago. Just went on a cruise in June 2018. Went from Seattle up to Alaska and back to Seattle. One stop in Victoria Canada. Had no trouble whatsoever. Just don't get off the boat in Canada. U will get a customs card and just put 0 for number of days planning to spend in Canada. Went on a norwegian cruise. Don't worry, don't stress. He stressed the entire time up till the cruise ended for nothing. Enjoy your cruise and enjoy the whole boat to yourself when in Canada and everything will be fine. :D:D

[sykimball1498]

We recently completed a RT cruise out of Seattle with a stop in Victoria - a member of our party had an old DUI, traveled with his passport and did not encounter any issues. Perhaps we were just lucky.

 

If the DUI is older then they consider you "rehabilitated". I have heard 10 years old and then I just heard 7 years old. Whatever the years, I had one about 20 years ago and had no problem on my Alaskan cruise last summer on the Solstice.

[Z'Loth]

Last May, when I was making the final arrangements with my travel agent (final payment on cruise, travel insurance coverage adjustment), one of the things that I noticed while my agent was on the phone was a notice about travel to Canada and prior DUI/DWI convictions and how there was a no refund policy if you denied entry because of DUI/DWI. The sheet also included contact information and that it was a process taking several months.

 

Considering that I don't drink at all, not to mention never having a DUI/DWI, I just smiled.

[Underwatr]

We are planning to fly to Alaska and take a cruise back to Seattle, Wa.

There are no mass-market Cruise lines with a one-way itinerary from Alaska to Seattle, owing to the Passenger Vessel Services Act and the fact that the major lines are foreign-flagged.

[sail7seas]

I have never heard something like this before. I am taking a New England / Canada cruise in October, I have a Passport, Passport Card and a Birth Certificate. I have no criminal record! Is there anything else needed to enter Canada? Visa? Ship is embarking and returning to New York.

 

With no criminal record, you should be fine. I have sailed Canada NE c ruises from Boston to Montreal to Boston, b-to b- many times and love that itinerary ..........

 

NO Visa necessary for you

[wasabipearl]

Hope this reaches you in time. From personal experience. A friend got in trouble 2 and a half years ago. Just went on a cruise in June 2018. Went from Seattle up to Alaska and back to Seattle. One stop in Victoria Canada. Had no trouble whatsoever. Just don't get off the boat in Canada. U will get a customs card and just put 0 for number of days planning to spend in Canada. Went on a norwegian cruise. Don't worry, don't stress. He stressed the entire time up till the cruise ended for nothing. Enjoy your cruise and enjoy the whole boat to yourself when in Canada and everything will be fine. :D:D

 

Good to know from someone with experience. Mind sharing what your friend got in trouble with 2 years ago?

[Elaine5715]

A border agent can deny entry to a visitor at his descretion if he deems the visiting person is inadmissible under the law or the motive for visiting is dubious or not credible.

Yep, my travel buddy who is my ex-spouse and I were sent to secondary screening at a land border crossing into Canada because we answered "Where are you from" with two different states and "How do you know one another" and we stumbled over the answer. They took our passports and returned them 20 minutes later and sent us on our way. We streamlined our answers after that.

[HappyCruzer777]

Good to know from someone with experience. Mind sharing what your friend got in trouble with 2 years ago?

 

It was also a dui

[Jofah13]

Just got finished with an Alaskan cruise leaving from Seattle. I have a dui on my record from 10 years ago. During embarkation, there did not appear to be any mechanism for turning someone away for any criminal history. I can’t promise that no one would have an issue, but Canada did not seem to have any involvement in the process whatsoever. We were instructed to sign in to the ArriveCAN app before leaving on the cruise, but no one actually even checked that I had. I did and it said to see a Canadian Border Patrol Agent upon my arrival, I would have, but just ended up walking into Canada without even interacting with anyone. I hope this helps, I was nervous reading this thread and ones like it before I left,  it didn’t occur to me that there might be an issue until it was far too late to resolve it if I wanted to.

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, Jofah13 said:

Just got finished with an Alaskan cruise leaving from Seattle. I have a dui on my record from 10 years ago. During embarkation, there did not appear to be any mechanism for turning someone away for any criminal history. I can’t promise that no one would have an issue, but Canada did not seem to have any involvement in the process whatsoever. We were instructed to sign in to the ArriveCAN app before leaving on the cruise, but no one actually even checked that I had. I did and it said to see a Canadian Border Patrol Agent upon my arrival, I would have, but just ended up walking into Canada without even interacting with anyone. I hope this helps, I was nervous reading this thread and ones like it before I left,  it didn’t occur to me that there might be an issue until it was far too late to resolve it if I wanted to.

I think you just slipped thru a COVID loophole.  Maybe @Ferry Watchercan comment?

[DirtyDawg]

On 6/25/2022 at 10:54 PM, Elaine5715 said:

I think you just slipped thru a COVID loophole.  Maybe @Ferry Watchercan comment?

And @Jofah13 was very lucky. @Jofah13, you  should buy a Lotto ticket or hit the casino while your luck is running hot. 

[Elaine5715]

45 minutes ago, DirtyDawg said:

And @Jofah13 was very lucky. @Jofah13, you  should buy a Lotto ticket or hit the casino while your luck is running hot. 

Try again...  @Ferry_Watcher?  

[Ferry_Watcher]

@Elaine5715Carnival is very strict about ArriveCan and passengers must show proof of ArriveCan registration.  Carnival passengers can not enter the Pier 91 terminal building until the ArriveCan QR code is shown at the building entrance.

 

Celebrity and Royal ask passengers to have it completed, but they rely on the honor system.  Although I have heard of delays of passengers trying to walk off the ship in Victoria and being asked to show the ArriveCan QR code.

 

As for the DUI and the Canadians,  no one is denied boarding in Seattle because of these past violations.   If a passenger traveling with such a violation in their past and felt more comfortable staying on the ship in Victoria to be on the safe side, that is understandable.  At some point it might make sense to apply for that rehabilitation status that has been mentioned, especially if more travel to Canada is planned in the future.

[Elaine5715]

50 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

@Elaine5715Carnival is very strict about ArriveCan and passengers must show proof of ArriveCan registration.  Carnival passengers can not enter the Pier 91 terminal building until the ArriveCan QR code is shown at the building entrance.

 

Celebrity and Royal ask passengers to have it completed, but they rely on the honor system.  Although I have heard of delays of passengers trying to walk off the ship in Victoria and being asked to show the ArriveCan QR code.

 

As for the DUI and the Canadians,  no one is denied boarding in Seattle because of these past violations.   If a passenger traveling with such a violation in their past and felt more comfortable staying on the ship in Victoria to be on the safe side, that is understandable.  At some point it might make sense to apply for that rehabilitation status that has been mentioned, especially if more travel to Canada is planned in the future.

ArriveCan is supposed to pick up those folks who are not able to legally enter Canada?

[Ferry_Watcher]

24 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

ArriveCan is supposed to pick up those folks who are not able to legally enter Canada?

No, ArriveCan is only concerned about Covid public health.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

No, ArriveCan is only concerned about Covid public health.

So we have always heard that people with DUIs can't enter Canada via a cruise ship and will be prevented from boarding.  Being that you enter Canada even if you don't get off at Victoria?

[njhorseman]

13 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

So we have always heard that people with DUIs can't enter Canada via a cruise ship and will be prevented from boarding.  Being that you enter Canada even if you don't get off at Victoria?

The part about being denied boarding is incorrect. Nothing prevents someone with a DUI from boarding a cruise that starts in the US because the cruise line has no basis for doing so and Canada doesn't get the passenger manifest until after the ship has departed its homeport. When the ship arrives in its first Canadian port, officials there will only then decide whether they will allow the passenger to disembark or require the passenger to stay on board.

[BruceMuzz]

On 6/29/2022 at 11:32 AM, njhorseman said:

The part about being denied boarding is incorrect. Nothing prevents someone with a DUI from boarding a cruise that starts in the US because the cruise line has no basis for doing so and Canada doesn't get the passenger manifest until after the ship has departed its homeport. When the ship arrives in its first Canadian port, officials there will only then decide whether they will allow the passenger to disembark or require the passenger to stay on board.

That is correct.

I worked big ships sailing to Alaska from Seattle for many years.

As soon as we arrived at Victoria, Canadian Border Agents would board and ask us to set up interviews with several pax before we allowed anyone to disembark. The interviews were normally done in the passengers’ cabins. We were instructed to wait outside. There were 3 possible outcomes from these short interviews:

1. Sometimes we were informed that the passenger was free to go ashore.

2. Sometimes we were instructed to prevent the passenger going ashore in Victoria.

3. Occasionally the passenger was escorted off the ship in handcuffs.

 

The Canadian Border Patrol Agents were very professional and polite, but they would never give us any information as to exactly why these particular passengers were chosen and interrogated. 

[imobannon]

On 7/2/2022 at 8:30 PM, BruceMuzz said:

That is correct.

I worked big ships sailing to Alaska from Seattle for many years.

As soon as we arrived at Victoria, Canadian Border Agents would board and ask us to set up interviews with several pax before we allowed anyone to disembark. The interviews were normally done in the passengers’ cabins. We were instructed to wait outside. There were 3 possible outcomes from these short interviews:

1. Sometimes we were informed that the passenger was free to go ashore.

2. Sometimes we were instructed to prevent the passenger going ashore in Victoria.

3. Occasionally the passenger was escorted off the ship in handcuffs.

 

The Canadian Border Patrol Agents were very professional and polite, but they would never give us any information as to exactly why these particular passengers were chosen and interrogated. 

As to the people who experienced #3 ... They were likely people with active warrants. This is something that happens pretty frequently on and after cruises from all U.S. ports (and likely worldwide).

[ace2542]

On 6/29/2022 at 3:32 AM, njhorseman said:

The part about being denied boarding is incorrect. Nothing prevents someone with a DUI from boarding a cruise that starts in the US because the cruise line has no basis for doing so and Canada doesn't get the passenger manifest until after the ship has departed its homeport. When the ship arrives in its first Canadian port, officials there will only then decide whether they will allow the passenger to disembark or require the passenger to stay on board.

But can't you be thrown off at the first port of call after departure whether that is Canada or not?

[njhorseman]

3 hours ago, ace2542 said:

But can't you be thrown off at the first port of call after departure whether that is Canada or not?

No because the decision on your status will be made by  CBSA officer after interviewing you when the ship arrives in a Canadian port.

[imobannon]

Thousands of U.S. travelers have already sailed this season on Alaska cruises that went through Victoria, and there are no google/youtube personal stories of this happening. There are tons of websites for Canadian law firms, but no personal "I was prevented from boarding" posts or videos. In the age of youtube/facebook/insta/CruiseCritic/etc, there would be hundreds by now. Apx 2% of the U.S. population has had a DUI or other arrest that would be vulnerable to Canadian immigration law. 3000 people per ship. 10 ships per week. 5 month cruise season. ??? No personal stories on social media about getting refused entry.

I think the original poster is gonna be fine.

[Underwatr]

On 6/25/2022 at 6:58 PM, Jofah13 said:

it said to see a Canadian Border Patrol Agent upon my arrival, I would have, but just ended up walking into Canada without even interacting with anyone.

I'm not sure that was wise.

[imobannon]

On 7/15/2022 at 4:48 PM, Underwatr said:

I'm not sure that was wise.

New cruise? Recent?