pamwigs Posted September 27, 2022 #1 Share Posted September 27, 2022 We want to pick up a cruise in Seward Alaska instead of LA. Is that possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted September 27, 2022 #2 Share Posted September 27, 2022 Well, since that is a matter of both maritime law and corporate policy, your best answer would come from: The cruiseline involved. Especially since you do not mention ports involved, which would impact the question of PVSA applicability. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhD-iva Posted September 27, 2022 #3 Share Posted September 27, 2022 I believe other cruiselines have itins that embark from Seward. Celebrity comes to mind (shudder!). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrcan Posted September 27, 2022 #4 Share Posted September 27, 2022 If you want Seward to LA and they only have LA to LA, you may have to pay for unused LA to Seward part of the cruise but embarkation along the route used to be ok before COVID pandemic started - once upon a time, we missed Miami embarkation due to the weather related flight delay and had to fly to StMaarten to catch the ship, and my brother embarked the ship in Barbados instead of Puerto Rico; COVID changed things; last January, we were told that since everyone had to be tested at embarkation, no further embarkation along the route were allowed. Since testing is being phased out, I expect embarkation along the route to be permitted again but I’d rather check it with the cruise line. Hope this helps. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 27, 2022 #5 Share Posted September 27, 2022 Probably not as it may violate the PVSA Find a cruise that stats in or near Seward It will not be Oceania though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 27, 2022 #6 Share Posted September 27, 2022 26 minutes ago, andrcan said: If you want Seward to LA and they only have LA to LA, you may have to pay for unused LA to Seward part of the cruise but embarkation along the route used to be ok before COVID pandemic started - once upon a time, we missed Miami embarkation due to the weather related flight delay and had to fly to StMaarten to catch the ship, and my brother embarked the ship in Barbados instead of Puerto Rico; A different situation & not always allowed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted September 27, 2022 #7 Share Posted September 27, 2022 (edited) 44 minutes ago, andrcan said: If you want Seward to LA and they only have LA to LA, you may have to pay for unused LA to Seward part of the cruise but embarkation along the route used to be ok before COVID pandemic started - once upon a time, we missed Miami embarkation due to the weather related flight delay and had to fly to StMaarten to catch the ship, and my brother embarked the ship in Barbados instead of Puerto Rico; COVID changed things; last January, we were told that since everyone had to be tested at embarkation, no further embarkation along the route were allowed. Since testing is being phased out, I expect embarkation along the route to be permitted again but I’d rather check it with the cruise line. Hope this helps. No, you can't do a Seward to LA cruise because that would violate the Passenger Vessel Services Act. That type of itinerary from one US port to a different US port requires a port call at what is known as a distant foreign port, but there are no distant foreign ports within thousands of miles of that itinerary. The examples you cited were of a completely different type of itinerary where you and your brother eventually embarked in foreign countries, which eliminated the PVSA issue. Edited September 27, 2022 by njhorseman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted September 27, 2022 #8 Share Posted September 27, 2022 (edited) 27 minutes ago, LHT28 said: A different situation & not always allowed Seward to LA is never allowed. Seward to LA would violate the PVSA, even if you paid for LA to LA. Boarding in a foreign port such as St. Maarten eliminates that problem. (edited to be more specific) Edited September 27, 2022 by njhorseman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrcan Posted September 27, 2022 #9 Share Posted September 27, 2022 9 minutes ago, njhorseman said: No, you can't do a Seward to LA cruise because that would violate the Passenger Vessel Services Act. That type of itinerary from one US port to a different US port requires a port call at what is known as a distant foreign port, but there are no distant foreign ports within thousands of miles of that itinerary. The examples you cited were of a completely different type of itinerary where you and your brother eventually embarked in foreign countries, which eliminated the PVSA issue. My understanding was, there’s a $798 pp fine for PVSC violation that the cruise line would ask the passengers to pay, otherwise it’s ok to travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 27, 2022 #10 Share Posted September 27, 2022 If you want Seward to LA Book a cruise Seward to Vancouver then book a different cruise line Vancouver to LA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted September 27, 2022 #11 Share Posted September 27, 2022 (edited) 14 minutes ago, andrcan said: My understanding was, there’s a $798 pp fine for PVSC violation that the cruise line would ask the passengers to pay, otherwise it’s ok to travel. Yes, there's a fine for PVSA violations but cruise lines do not intentionally permit passengers to violate it as intentional violations can get cruise line in a lot of additional trouble with the US government beyond mere payment of the per passenger fine. Intentional violations potentially could result in something as drastic as revocation of the cruise line's right to dock in US ports. Cruise lines will not even allow unintentional violations of their own making. There was a recent discussion on Cruise Critic about a different cruise line that accidentally let some passengers book a prohibited itinerary on a B2B cruise and they required those passengers to change their plans at the last minute, having them disembark in Victoria, stay overnight in Canada, travel from Victoria to Vancouver and then re board the ship in Vancouver the next day. Edited September 27, 2022 by njhorseman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrcan Posted September 27, 2022 #12 Share Posted September 27, 2022 Wow, I thought this would be some kinda obsolete act that no one really cares about… Thanks, this is good to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted September 27, 2022 #13 Share Posted September 27, 2022 4 minutes ago, andrcan said: Wow, I thought this would be some kinda obsolete act that no one really cares about… Thanks, this is good to know. The US government most definitely cares about it and enforces it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 27, 2022 #14 Share Posted September 27, 2022 6 minutes ago, andrcan said: Wow, I thought this would be some kinda obsolete act that no one really cares about… Thanks, this is good to know. It is an out of date Act but still being enforced 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted September 27, 2022 #15 Share Posted September 27, 2022 2 minutes ago, LHT28 said: It is an out of date Act but still being enforced 😉 Canada has a similar cabotage law, as do other countries. Apparently many countries don't consider them obsolete. Canada has a single maritime cabotage law, the Coasting Trade Act, that governs the transportation of both cargo and passengers, while the US has one law for passengers, the PVSA, and another law for cargo, the Jones Act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamwigs Posted September 27, 2022 Author #16 Share Posted September 27, 2022 Sorry I should have been clearer. Cruise starts in LA and ends in Singapore. 55 days The first 5 ports are here in Alaska. We want to skip them and Board here in Seward Alaska, before going to Asia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted September 27, 2022 #17 Share Posted September 27, 2022 8 minutes ago, pamwigs said: Sorry I should have been clearer. Cruise starts in LA and ends in Singapore. 55 days The first 5 ports are here in Alaska. We want to skip them and Board in Seward Alaska, before going to Asia That's absolutely legal but it's Oceania discretion as to whether to permit it. You'll almost surely be charged for the full itinerary even if Oceania approves the downline embarkation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted September 27, 2022 #18 Share Posted September 27, 2022 Your TA calling Oceania directly is a better plan than asking here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 27, 2022 #19 Share Posted September 27, 2022 15 minutes ago, pamwigs said: Sorry I should have been clearer. Cruise starts in LA and ends in Singapore. 55 days The first 5 ports are here in Alaska. We want to skip them and Board here in Seward Alaska, before going to Asia It is best to include ALL the facts when asking a question instead of the piece meal approach 🤔 Contact Oceania about your wishes & ask for permission in writing It is not just a matter of showing up at the port the cruise line must deal with the authorities in the ports 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamwigs Posted September 27, 2022 Author #20 Share Posted September 27, 2022 2 hours ago, njhorseman said: That's absolutely legal but it's Oceania discretion as to whether to permit it. You'll almost surely be charged for the full itinerary even if Oceania approves the downline embarkation. Which is ok. We just want to eliminate flying to LA when we can just drive to Seward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamwigs Posted September 27, 2022 Author #21 Share Posted September 27, 2022 2 hours ago, LHT28 said: It is best to include ALL the facts when asking a question instead of the piece meal approach 🤔 Contact Oceania about your wishes & ask for permission in writing It is not just a matter of showing up at the port the cruise line must deal with the authorities in the ports Thanks for your expert advice. 🙄 I know we have to ask the cruise line and I did update and explained my situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted September 27, 2022 #22 Share Posted September 27, 2022 4 minutes ago, pamwigs said: Sorry I should have been clearer. Cruise starts in LA and ends in Singapore. 55 days The first 5 ports are here in Alaska. We want to skip them and Board in Seward Alaska, before going to Asia Is this in 2023? Looks like you want to board 10 day later than embarkation day You will probably still pay the full fare so if it is worth the $$ not to fly to LA & miss 10 days of the cruise then best to contact the cruise line before you get too far in your plans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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