Disembarking early - before the cruise ends

[cwtravel]

I am on a Canada/New England sailing from Baltimore in September and now have a conflict with my schedule. This booking was made after numerous cancellations from what was originally a booking on the Mardi Gras for its first season. Between building delays and Covid there were at least three cancellations and each time additional cruise credit (both onboard credit and future cruise credit) was awarded. I did this booking because at the time (early 2020) this was as far out as I could book plus living near Baltimore I have always wanted to sail from Baltimore and I did not want to lose any of the various credits that had been awarded.

 

Last week (final payment is not due until later this month) I called about changing to a different sailing date and the amount of cabin credit and cruise fare credit that would not transfer would be about $1500. That's not going to work. So, the last few days are a stop in Boston (a stop in Maine is earlier) than a sea day before arriving back into Baltimore. I would like to get off in Boston, which is the last stop of the cruise. Any idea how I could arrange for early disembarkation? Is there a specific department that would handle something like early disembarkation?

 

Thanks!

[Old Fart Cruisers]

It doesn't look like you would be allowed to get off early since the cruise isn't going to a DISTANT foreign port (outside of North America)

 

 

https://www.cruzely.com/can-i-get-off-a-cruise-early-in-another-port/

 

An Old Law Causes Confusion for Disembarkation

You’d be forgiven if you have never heard of the Passenger Vessel Services Act of

1886 (also known as the PVSA). The law was enacted in the 19th century to protect U.S. maritime interests. It is still on the books today, and it essentially says that foreign ships can’t transport passengers between U.S. ports, or they will face a fine.

Today, nearly every cruise ship operates under a foreign flag. That means they can’t pick you up in say, New York, sail to Miami, and let you leave the ship permanently.

The spirit of the law was to keep foreign ships from picking up passengers in one U.S. port and transporting them to another U.S. port, thereby competing with American vessels. Instead, only U.S. flagged ships can make these trips.

Now, there are certain caveats and exceptions. But the major points are relatively clear regarding disembarking passengers in the United States sailing on a foreign vessel:

1. A passenger can’t sail from one U.S. port and get off at another U.S. port (even for the day) without the trip including a foreign port of call in the itinerary.
2. If a ship sails a journey to a “nearby” foreign port, a passenger still can’t leave the ship permanently at a different U.S. port than the embarkation point (nearby foreign ports are those in North America like in the Bahamas or Mexico).
3. If the ship sails a journey to a “distant” foreign port, the passenger can leave the ship permanently in another U.S. port (distant foreign ports are those outside North America).

In most cases, if you sail from a U.S. port and want to get off at another U.S. port on the same trip, it’s going to cost the cruise line a PVSA fine, which is likely to be passed on to you. (The fine is currently almost $800 per passenger.)

[chengkp75]

This is correct, the PVSA precludes you boarding a foreign flag cruise ship in one US port, and disembarking in another US port, unless the cruise visits a "distant" foreign port.  CBP defines a "distant" foreign port as one that is not in North or Central America, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda.  So, your stops in Canadian ports do not qualify as "distant" foreign ports.

[geovet]

Curious, so what happens if you get off and do not return?

[chengkp75]

4 minutes ago, geovet said:

Curious, so what happens if you get off and do not return?

 The cruise line will be fined for your leaving, and the ticket contract allows them to pass this fine on to the passenger, which is about $760/person.  

 

The ship should likely clear immigrations in Maine, so there won't likely be a problem with "improper entry" for leaving the ship without clearing immigration (which could result in 6 months in jail for a first offense). 

[geovet]

So does hold true for the pier runners and the likes who miss the boat?

[Elaine5715]

32 minutes ago, geovet said:

So does hold true for the pier runners and the likes who miss the boat?

Yes

[cwtravel]

Thanks for the answers. Seems kind of silly as the ship would have already been to Canada plus made the stop in Portland. 
 

[FastShip24]

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

This is correct, the PVSA precludes you boarding a foreign flag cruise ship in one US port, and disembarking in another US port, unless the cruise visits a "distant" foreign port.  CBP defines a "distant" foreign port as one that is not in North or Central America, the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Bermuda.  So, your stops in Canadian ports do not qualify as "distant" foreign ports.

So when a person has an emergency, then what

[DANCING GRANDMOMMY]

Following. This is quite educational

[chengkp75]

6 hours ago, FastShip24 said:

So when a person has an emergency, then what

CBP will fine the ship, the cruise line will pass the fine to the passenger, and then it is up to the passenger to appeal the fine to CBP.  I've seen this happen to a deceased passenger.

[chengkp75]

6 hours ago, cwtravel said:

Thanks for the answers. Seems kind of silly as the ship would have already been to Canada plus made the stop in Portland. 
 

But, it would still be transportation between two US ports by a foreign flag ship, which is only allowed for US flag ships.  Many, many people here on CC think of the PVSA only from the viewpoint of the cruise lines, but it also protects the business and jobs of US citizens involved in any "passenger vessel" service (a passenger vessel is defined as any vessel that carries more than 12 people for hire), including ferries, water taxis, casino boats, dinner cruise boats, river boats, sightseeing and whale watching boats, and large charter fishing vessels.  It also, by requiring these services to be performed only by US flag vessels, requires them to meet the stricter safety, inspection, training, and documentation requirements of the USCG, that foreign flag ships do not need to meet.

[ontheweb]

9 hours ago, cwtravel said:

Thanks for the answers. Seems kind of silly as the ship would have already been to Canada plus made the stop in Portland. 
 

It may sound silly to you, but it is the law. If you think it is so ridiculous, lobby to get the law changed. But you might notice the cruise lines are not lobbying to do that (with the temporary exception of one season for Alaska when there was a problem entering Canada with Canada's covid rules.)

 

You might also want to read the post by @chengkp75, and note what positive effects the law has for US businesses.

[serene56]

12 hours ago, geovet said:

So does hold true for the pier runners and the likes who miss the boat?

oh my   YES   comes with huge fines 

[FastShip24]

On 6/13/2023 at 1:25 AM, chengkp75 said:

CBP will fine the ship, the cruise line will pass the fine to the passenger, and then it is up to the passenger to appeal the fine to CBP.  I've seen this happen to a deceased passenger.

So if you need to get off , you get off 

[SmooshSmash]

On 6/12/2023 at 2:41 PM, chengkp75 said:

This is correct, the PVSA precludes you boarding a foreign flag cruise ship in one US port, and disembarking in another US port, 

How about the same port. Can I disembark at the end of the 1st leg of a two-leg cruise, say San Fran-Vancouver-San Fran-LA-San Fran and I get off in San Fran after Vancouver. Would this be a problem?

[chengkp75]

7 hours ago, SmooshSmash said:

How about the same port. Can I disembark at the end of the 1st leg of a two-leg cruise, say San Fran-Vancouver-San Fran-LA-San Fran and I get off in San Fran after Vancouver. Would this be a problem?

Are you asking about permanently disembarking in San Francisco, and not taking the second leg?  Or just getting off to visit the city, and returning for the second leg?

 

Your first leg, SF-Vancouver-SF, is a closed loop cruise, which the PVSA allows as long as it stops at any foreign port (Vancouver).  The second leg, which I assume includes a port call in Mexico as well as SF-LA-SF (as it wouldn't be offered without a foreign port call), is also a closed loop cruise, so any foreign port call is what is required.  But, CBP would look at the two cruises together (assuming they are on the same ship), but this would also be a closed loop SF-SF (regardless of what ports are in between), and only requires one foreign port call.

 

The two types of cruises "closed loop" and "open loop (or jaw)" (open loop means you permanently disembark at a different US port from embarkation), are handled completely differently by CBP, the open loop cruise requiring a "distant" foreign port call, while a closed loop only requires a foreign port call (does not need to be "distant").

[mz-s]

These threads always turn into a never ending stream of whataboutism. Tiring.

[Davechipp74]

I did this in 2004, I boarded in N.Y. got off at Cape Canaveral to refill my rum runners, then I was at a bar and met a local woman, wound up back at her place. She said you can stay for a few days since you're already on vacation, I had no problem with that since I got the cruise real cheap and been on the same itinerary a few times already. I went back to the ship packed up my stuff and walked off without saying a word to anyone. I never heard anything about it from NCL. Fast-forward a year I'm on a different cruise with NCL and only when I got back to N.Y. going through CBP they pulled me aside and asked about my previous cruise and informed me of some law that I violated. I had to pay $370 on the spot, and got a really cool giant red stamp that said PVSA violator (coolest stamp I ever got in my passport) Thats it  the fine and a stern talking to was the only consequence I had. I'd guess the fine would be higher today because this was 20 years ago.  

Edited March 16 by Davechipp74

[geovet]

And it always turns into another learning opportunity.

Love it.

[SmooshSmash]

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Are you asking about permanently disembarking in San Francisco, and not taking the second leg?  Or just getting off to visit the city, and returning for the second leg?

 

Your first leg, SF-Vancouver-SF, is a closed loop cruise, which the PVSA allows as long as it stops at any foreign port (Vancouver).  The second leg, which I assume includes a port call in Mexico as well as SF-LA-SF (as it wouldn't be offered without a foreign port call), is also a closed loop cruise, so any foreign port call is what is required.  But, CBP would look at the two cruises together (assuming they are on the same ship), but this would also be a closed loop SF-SF (regardless of what ports are in between), and only requires one foreign port call.

 

The two types of cruises "closed loop" and "open loop (or jaw)" (open loop means you permanently disembark at a different US port from embarkation), are handled completely differently by CBP, the open loop cruise requiring a "distant" foreign port call, while a closed loop only requires a foreign port call (does not need to be "distant").

 

1-Lets correct the route: SF-Vancouver-SF-Ensenada-SF

2-Permanently disembarking in SF after Vancouver, WITHOUT informing anyone. (Say the captain is a family friend and I don't want him to know that I am disembarking early. Because I suspect he would give my wife a call, who is not with me on the trip, and let her know that I left, when my wife thinks that I'd still be on the ship another 3-4 days. But actually, I preferred to get off and go golfing at Sedgefield Country Club with my buddies for those days.)

 

Q1: Would I be violating any US laws by permanently disembarking in SF?

Q2: I see that you are highly knowledgeable on these matters, and generously sharing your knowledge any I appreciate it. While I don't expect anyone to know much about a cruise line's own bylaws (procedures, guidelines, passenger contracts etc.), in your opinion, would I be violating any of the cruiseline's bylaws by permanently disembarking in SF? Would they get mad at me once they found out I was gone and do mean things to me?

 

[chengkp75]

You would not be violating the law, as you would travel SF-Vancouver-SF, which is a closed loop cruise (SF to SF), and has a foreign port call (Vancouver).  Not sure if you do a CBP "pre-clearance" in Vancouver if ship is going to SF (they generally do when going to Seattle), so getting off at the mid-point SF may be problematic.  Are the cruises sold separately?  If so, then a lot of passengers will be permanently disembarking there, and you would clear entry there, and no problem.  If it is sold only as one cruise, then you would need CBP to clear you into the country at the mid-point, and they typically don't do that for just a port call.  

 

As far as the cruise line is concerned, just leaving will not leave you in good favor with them.  They will likely be making announcements to find you, and may have to search the ship to see if you are onboard, to know whether or not to include you on the departure manifest.  You may also have difficulty leaving with your luggage, unless you put it out for collection the night before, as security will see the luggage, and see that you are booked on the next cruise,  and stop you to see if your account is paid.  While they cannot detain a US citizen from disembarking in a US port, they could place a "innkeeper's lien" on you and not allow you to take your luggage off with you.

[SmooshSmash]

7 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

 Are the cruises sold separately?  If so, then a lot of passengers will be permanently disembarking there, and you would clear entry there, and no problem.  

The cruise is sold in both ways.  As two separate cruises and also as one two-leg cruise. So, I will clear entry in SF with bunch of other passengers. No problem there.

Aside from the luggage, it seems like the only problem would be causing the good people of the cruise line some headache they really don't need. 

Thank you very much for the thorough response Chief.

[salty dingo]

On 3/16/2024 at 1:33 PM, SmooshSmash said:

 

1-Lets correct the route: SF-Vancouver-SF-Ensenada-SF

 

Interesting hypothetical but in the real world Carnival would have structured these as two cruises.