Los Angeles - Hawaii - Customs/Immigration?

[n_finite]

On a round trip cruise out of Los Angeles that is only going to Hawaii, do you have to go through customs and immigration when you get back to L.A.?

[Nitemare]

Not if there are no port stops out of the USA where you can get on/off.

[Happy ks]

You will probably have a port stop in Ensenada, to fulfill the Jones Act requirement, so you will be considered having left the country. You will have to go through customs and immigration upon your return to Los Angeles. Check with your TA or cruise line, or the govt. agency to be sure.

[n_finite]

What exactly is the Jones Act?

[KreinKrunker]

Go to post #13 in this link.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=260548&highlight=jones+act

[parody]

To advance the story, federal legislation enacted after the 1991 terrorist attacks exempts ships from a rule that prohibits foreign-built ships from operating between U.S. ports. Still, however, a cruise line is required to employ American crews and abide by all U.S. labor laws, including paying overtime. With that, NCL's Pride of America began serving Hawaii without the need for foreign stops in June 2005.

[The date is March 2, 1917, signed by by President Woodrow Wilson.]

[comfixit]

Check the itinerary. If your cruise stops in any non American ports on the voyage (ie. Ensenada, Vancouver, Fanning Island) then your leaving the country and will go through immigration.

 

As far as I know the only Hawaii cruises that don't go out of the country are NCL America's cruises. Those are nice because you only need a government issued ID (Drivers License) and your good to go.

 

A quick rule of thumb, if they are going to be operating a casino on board then your hitting a foreign port.

 

Check out NCL America if you need a domestic cruise vacation