Navigator OTS Is it possible to disembark “2 days early”?

[neverbeenhere]

We cruise at times with a couple from St Croix and a number of folks from Vancouver, BC, if they got off early, it would save them a lot of hassle. 

[firefly333]

On 10/23/2022 at 4:37 PM, twoontheisle said:

We would gladly pay a fee/penalty. From a financial standpoint it doesn’t sense for them to NOT allow an early departure. They would NOT incur  the expense to have our room cleaned for two days, feed us for two days, nor give us 10 free cocktails each day! But, I guess their “bottom line”  is not the decision maker here……its “Guest Safety”. Right. 

The fee is imposed on rcl.  ...has  nothing to do with cleaning your cabin. I dont remember but at least $250 back before covid. I havent heard of exceptions on closed loop cruises since covid. You can ask but I'd say I've only seen no and no from usa.

[Coralc]

It was a long time ago, but we were on a Carnival cruise that was supposed to go to Mexico, sailing out of LA. But there was a hurricane, so we instead went to Ensenada (where many passengers disembarked) and then to San Francisco for two and a half days, before sailing back to LA. 

 

Even though we live very near SF, it was clearly stated that you couldn't disembark or there would be a $200 p/p fine. 

 

We watched a couple trying to leave with their luggage in SF, and they (and their bags) were rather forcefully restrained by security and escorted back to somewhere on the ship. 

[PhillyFan33579]

2 hours ago, ATG said:

In our case it was a personal emergency (a death).  Definitely, not intentional.

Assuming/hoping you purchased insurance, they should cover this. If you don’t have insurance, you are likely out of luck, although it can’t hurt to contact RCI and explain your situation. This is a perfect example of why you should always buy insurance for a cruise since the unexpected can happen at any time. 

[cruiseboy89130]

5 hours ago, ATG said:

In our case it was a personal emergency (a death).  Definitely, not intentional.

An intentional death just to leave the ship early - would really be taking it far!

Edited November 3, 2022 by cruiseboy89130

[Coralc]

Here is an article about our ill-fated cruise: https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Big-Storm-Causes-Cruise-Ship-to-Detour-to-S-F-2804726.php

 

😃

Edited November 3, 2022 by Coralc

[Biker19]

7 hours ago, ATG said:

When my son left the cruise early in Boston, RC charged us $873 for violating the Jones Act.  I was surprised at the amount, but was expecting a fine.  Today he got a notice from Customs and Border Patrol that he owed a $5,000 fine!!!  Is this right? Normal?  Can we request a reduction?

The PVSA fine seems to be about $800 (it was $300 not long ago). RCI would have little/nothing to do with anything coming directly from the CBP - you'd have to ask them about it though it doesn't sound right.

[chengkp75]

13 hours ago, ATG said:

Question for anyone.  When my son left the cruise early in Boston, RC charged us $873 for violating the Jones Act.  I was surprised at the amount, but was expecting a fine.  Today he got a notice from Customs and Border Patrol that he owed a $5,000 fine!!!  Is this right? Normal?  Can we request a reduction?  RC didn’t mention this and I’ve never heard about it before.  HELP!

CBP cares nothing about who the passenger was that caused the violation, the fine is levied against the cruise line.  It is only the ticket contract that allows the cruise line to pass the fine to you.  So, this will have nothing to do with the PVSA.  However, when your son left the cruise, did he clear Customs and Immigration at that time?  This could be a fine for illegally entering the country, if he did not.  You need to call CBP to find out what the fine is in regards to, and whether they were notified by RCI that a passenger was leaving the ship at that port.

[vjmatty]

On 10/24/2022 at 9:03 AM, Biker19 said:

Not really - the rules are pretty simple - RCI doesn't allow pre-planned early disembarkation.

 

Yet it was done this past transatlantic on Anthem OTS.... many people disembarked in Boston because that is where they live.  So apparently it is worth asking.

[vjmatty]

14 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

We cruise at times with a couple from St Croix and a number of folks from Vancouver, BC, if they got off early, it would save them a lot of hassle. 

Not to mention cost.... if the travel home costs more than the value of meals/lodging for one or two more days on the ship, then I can understand.  People have a hard time thinking outside the cruising box.

[Biker19]

33 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

 

Yet it was done this past transatlantic on Anthem OTS.... many people disembarked in Boston because that is where they live.  So apparently it is worth asking.

I bet if those folks would have asked very early on (like 1yr out+) they would have been told no. It could be that in very rare cases where it's convenient for RCI (first point where folks need to clear immigration anyway) and there's a lot of demand (and RCI charges for it, making them money), then RCI may allow it.

Edited November 3, 2022 by Biker19

[vjmatty]

28 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

I bet if those folks would have asked very early on (like 1yr out+) they would have been told no. It could be that in very rare cases where it's convenient for RCI (first point where folks need to clear immigration anyway) and there's a lot of demand (and RCI charges for it, making them money), then RCI may allow it.

 

Not sure when they asked or if they were charged, but yes there were over 200 people who disembarked in Boston so a relatively high demand, and yes it was the US immigration port, before the remainder of the ship disembarked two days later in Bayonne.

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, vjmatty said:

Not sure when they asked or if they were charged

Up till about 2016? it used to be free, then they charged $65pp till they stopped allowing it just before COVID.

[vjmatty]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

Up till about 2016? it used to be free, then they charged $65pp till they stopped allowing it just before COVID.

 

We once disembarked one day early in LeHavre off a Cunard ship because we were spending a few days in Paris after the cruise and it didn't make sense to get off in Southampton.  I think it was 2014 and they did not charge then.  Who knows what they would do now.

[ATG]

3 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

CBP cares nothing about who the passenger was that caused the violation, the fine is levied against the cruise line.  It is only the ticket contract that allows the cruise line to pass the fine to you.  So, this will have nothing to do with the PVSA.  However, when your son left the cruise, did he clear Customs and Immigration at that time?  This could be a fine for illegally entering the country, if he did not.  You need to call CBP to find out what the fine is in regards to, and whether they were notified by RCI that a passenger was leaving the ship at that port.

I guess my confusion is that we hadn’t been anywhere except the ship, Boston was the first stop.  Why would you need to clear customs?  If you flew from Bayonne to Boston there would be no customs.  Why is it necessary when you are on a cruise? And everyone who went ashore didn’t go through customs.  It just doesn’t make sense to me.

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

20 hours ago, ATG said:

Today he got a notice from Customs and Border Patrol that he owed a $5,000 fine!!!  Is this right? Normal?  Can we request a reduction? 

That's pretty much their starting fine amount for any violation.  You can request an appeal hearing with CBP.  If not to your satisfaction you can file an appeal with the federal district court.  The notice should tell you how to appeal.  

Edited November 3, 2022 by ATSEAMYLIFE

[Biker19]

2 hours ago, ATG said:

Why would you need to clear customs?

First point of entry into the US from an overseas stop itinerary?

Edited November 3, 2022 by Biker19

[chengkp75]

3 hours ago, ATG said:

I guess my confusion is that we hadn’t been anywhere except the ship, Boston was the first stop.  Why would you need to clear customs?  If you flew from Bayonne to Boston there would be no customs.  Why is it necessary when you are on a cruise? And everyone who went ashore didn’t go through customs.  It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Where did the cruise start?  Obviously at another US port, or there wouldn't be a PVSA fine.  But, CBP clears the "ship" and passengers for a partial "day" clearance, with the assumption that the same passengers would be on the arrival and departure manifests.  Therefore, they don't need to go to through customs and immigration.   However, passengers, once they set foot on a foreign flag cruise ship, and the ship leaves the 12 mile limit, have "left the US" and if leaving the vessel, will need to clear Customs and Immigration when leaving the vessel.

 

First off, your comparison to flying between Bayonne and Boston, you would have flown on a US carrier (as required by law), and if you had booked a cruise between Bayonne and Boston, that would have been on a US flag vessel (as also required by law), so no requirement for Customs or Immigration.  What most folks don't understand is the international nature when sailing on a foreign flag cruise ship, and that the ship is not part of the US.  Because the cruise included a foreign port, a foreign flag ship could do it, but you still leave the US when you board.

[ATG]

1 hour ago, chengkp75 said:

Where did the cruise start?  Obviously at another US port, or there wouldn't be a PVSA fine.  But, CBP clears the "ship" and passengers for a partial "day" clearance, with the assumption that the same passengers would be on the arrival and departure manifests.  Therefore, they don't need to go to through customs and immigration.   However, passengers, once they set foot on a foreign flag cruise ship, and the ship leaves the 12 mile limit, have "left the US" and if leaving the vessel, will need to clear Customs and Immigration when leaving the vessel.

 

First off, your comparison to flying between Bayonne and Boston, you would have flown on a US carrier (as required by law), and if you had booked a cruise between Bayonne and Boston, that would have been on a US flag vessel (as also required by law), so no requirement for Customs or Immigration.  What most folks don't understand is the international nature when sailing on a foreign flag cruise ship, and that the ship is not part of the US.  Because the cruise included a foreign port, a foreign flag ship could do it, but you still leave the US when you board.

Thank you chengkp75, I knew you would be able to explain it.  I appreciate all your knowledge you have shared over the years.

 

 We are writing a response asking for mercy (or at least a reduction).  If it fails, I’ll just cancel a refundable cruise and give the money to the government!

[ONECRUISER]

21 hours ago, Coralc said:

It was a long time ago, but we were on a Carnival cruise that was supposed to go to Mexico, sailing out of LA. But there was a hurricane, so we instead went to Ensenada (where many passengers disembarked) and then to San Francisco for two and a half days, before sailing back to LA. 

 

Even though we live very near SF, it was clearly stated that you couldn't disembark or there would be a $200 p/p fine. 

 

We watched a couple trying to leave with their luggage in SF, and they (and their bags) were rather forcefully restrained by security and escorted back to somewhere on the ship. 

Been a while but several times over the years passengers trying take Baggage off at a stop and were stopped forced back on the Ship. One of them I heard say "I'm leaving and you can't stop me!"...Wrong!

[chengkp75]

11 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

One of them I heard say "I'm leaving and you can't stop me!"...Wrong!

Actually, they are right.  The cruise line can detain them until the proper Immigration officials arrive to clear them, and they can place an "innkeeper's lien" to prevent them taking their baggage ashore, but they cannot stop a passenger who wishes to disembark, from disembarking.