Can you "check out" early?

[ploo]

Hi All

I'm a newbie here and really like all of the information that I've been reading here!

I am booked on a HAL cruise and our last two ports of call are Naples and Rome. Since we have been to Rome (and Tuscany) several times we were wondering if we can "check out" of the cruise at Naples? Do cruise lines allow this?

Thanks!

[elmorejj]

I think I would say no. There are several reasons why you have to stick to the itinerary. The main one is that maybe Naples doesn`t have the facilities for processing you through Immigration. Best to call HAL on this one......jean :cool:

[RuthC]

As long as you're not dealing with the Passenger Services Act and disembarking in the US in violation of those rules I know that it is at least a possibility.
Can't speak to the Rome/Naples ports, but I do know that on my last NE/Canada cruise a tablemate disembarked in Quebec instead of the final port of Montreal.

I agree with Jean---there's no harm in calling HAL to ask. They may be able to make special arrangements for you with advance planning.

[Globaliser]

If there are no immigration or other regulatory issues, the cruise line may well allow this. I have been on a Miami-Miami cruise where one of my group got off in Jamaica and a second one in Mexico, as they had another (overlapping) cruise to get to. With appropriate arrangements through the ship, it can be done. Officers, staff, crew and guest entertainers are getting on and off at all ports so it's normally just a matter of getting clearance.

The exceptions come when there are laws like those of the US that prohibit most cruise ships from carrying passengers from one US port to another, breach of which carries a hefty fine. In cases like that, the ship may well refuse to allow an early disembarkation.

[jhannah]

I agree. It might be an immigration issue. I don't recall seeing itineraries begin or end in Naples. It's the same with airlines. If a flight from overseas arrives in the U.S., it must arrive at an international airport or else the pax will not be allowed off the plane.

[Bill S]

On our SA cruise last year, a bunch of passengers departed ship either in Buenos Aires or Montivideo, instead of staying on for the last port of the cruise, Rio de Janiero. So, it CAN happen, but I imagine it depends on what the laws allow of the country in which one wants to disembark early. Best to check with HAL on this one!

[ploo]

Wow! Thanks for all of the replys. I'll definately call HAL. Do you need to pass immigration within the EU? The itinerary is Venice to Rome (May 29) and all ports are within the EU (Greece, Italy, Croatia) except Kusadasi, Turkey (which is on the soon to be EU list). I was not expecting to have to do immigration at the end of the cruise...

[jhannah]

Yes, the ship will have to clear immigration before cleared for disembarkation.

[ploo]

Hi All

Thanks again for the replys. I called HAL and the short answer is yes you can leave at an earlier port but you are responsible for all of the additional expense for getting the government officials etc to clear customs. As the rep put it, this is "prohibitively expensive, so in effect you can't checkout early."

[jhannah]

And we all know government officials don't come cheap! ;)

[dakrewser]

Hi All

Thanks again for the replys. I called HAL and the short answer is yes you can leave at an earlier port but you are responsible for all of the additional expense for getting the government officials etc to clear customs. As the rep put it, this is "prohibitively expensive, so in effect you can't checkout early."

Call the Italian embassy in Washington, or see your closest Italian consul's office to see what they would require....

-dave

[Globaliser]

As the rep put it, this is "prohibitively expensive, so in effect you can't checkout early."I'd ask for a figure, and ask for it in writing - pretend that you'd be prepared to consider paying it. I don't believe that my group members paid anything to disembark early.

[bdmarine]

A side note - I would not take the chance of disembarking in Naples. You will have to take extra care to watch your belongings there. I can almost guarantee that you will lose something there. This is a town where garaging your car can cost more than your hotel room. If you don't garage the car, you can be sure it will be stripped. You have been warned.