Closed Loop Cruise from NJ with Stop in Canada with Felony Question

[Angela2017]

One of the travelers in our party has a felony conviction on his record from 10 years ago.  We are set to leave out of Bayonne NJ on Tuesday with one stop in Halifax Canada on a 4 day closed loop cruise.  Will he be denied boarding in NJ or will he have a problem when he gets to the port in Canada?  Anyone experience this type of issue when cruising?  Thanks for any info. (Also posted in Canada Cruisers Forum) 

[njhorseman]

28 minutes ago, Angela2017 said:

One of the travelers in our party has a felony conviction on his record from 10 years ago.  We are set to leave out of Bayonne NJ on Tuesday with one stop in Halifax Canada on a 4 day closed loop cruise.  Will he be denied boarding in NJ or will he have a problem when he gets to the port in Canada?  Anyone experience this type of issue when cruising?  Thanks for any info. (Also posted in Canada Cruisers Forum) 

The cruise line doesn't have access to the NCIC database so they won't know about the conviction and can't prevent the person from boarding. 

The passenger manifest will be released to Canadian authorities upon the ship's departure and they will review it against NCIC records. There's a strong possibility that the passenger will be interviewed by authorities upon the ship's arrival in Halifax and they will decide whether the passenger will be allowed off the ship in Halifax or must stay on board . Once in a while a passenger will  be arrested, but that is only if there's an active arrest warrant for the individual.

 

There's a lengthy thread involving discussion about the topic on the Ask A Cruise Question board. The original poster there had a misdemeanor conviction but the process is the same.

 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2842352-alaskan-cruise-with-a-stop-canada-with-10-year-old-misdemeanor-non-dui/

 

You may also want to read this web page published by the Canadian government. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/inadmissibility/overcome-criminal-convictions.html

 

Edited July 23, 2022 by njhorseman

[Charles4515]

15 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

The passenger manifest will be released to Canadian authorities upon the ship's departure and they will review it against NCIC records. There's a strong possibility that

They also have ArriveCan. Don’t know if their customs and immigration check that. 

[njhorseman]

4 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

They also have ArriveCan. Don’t know if their customs and immigration check that. 

I have the impression from other discussions that they don't, but it does have your passport information so it's not totally out of the question. 

Since they might not get the ArriveCAN application until shortly before the cruise departs they may not have the time to run it against NCIC .