When Did "Bon Voyage " Parties End?

[harryw]

Years ago, cruise lines permitted non-passengers on board for Bon Voyage parties, before the ship sailed off. When did this practice end? Did it happen due to a single terrorist incident? Or phased out among the cruise lines gradually?

[Fredr]

Hello,

I do not know this for sure but I believe that it was the tragic murder of Leon Klingenhoffer (sp) that ended bon voyage parties. The cruise line industry determined that they could not effectively keep persons bent on causing trouble off the ships (if parties were held).

We had two very memorable Bon Voyage parties in the 1970s. Sadly but understandably these wonderful parties are a thing of the past.

[Bonnie J.]

When we started cruising in the mid 80's they didn't take your picture as you got on board and a lot of driver's licenses didn't have your photo. Hence it was easy to sneak a friend on board from any port, stowaways! When you got off you took you cruisemates sign'n sail card and driver's license and gave it to your buddy at the port. Then they just walked on board with you. This may be why only those sailing can get on.
A tablemate once grabbed her boyfriend's sign'n sail and got off. When she got back on his picture came up not hers. It was a hassel for her to finally get security to take her back to their cabin to get her sign'n sail card and go back to to make sure it was her picture on it! I believe if you're getting married on the ship before it leaves port, guests may get on but then must get off.

[PennyAgain]

Visitors of any sort became a big bother as cruise ships grew in size. One more thing that takes time and effort.

I can't remember any bon voyage parties after 1978. Security is an issue, but I think it is mainly a bother.

[MCC retired]

Appox. 1978 seems about right . They were fun and introduced many to cruising (including myself). I recall that there was a $ charge to visitors for those BV parties in the Port of NY in the years before visitors were prohibited.
Since it was before ships got so big , I believe that I remember it was strictly a security issue then, an impossiblility now .

[sail7seas]

In order for anyone to visit a ship, their name and ID must be submitted in advance for security clearance. We have had the opportunity to visit and everyone from Captain on down must be sure any guest is cleared in advance. It is very, very rare for a guest to be permitted to bring a friend or relative to visit the ship. Won't say never but it does not happen often.

It is always about safety first and always most importantly.

[Aunty Pat]

Bon Voyage parties & weddings can still be arranged on some of the small ship luxury lines, but everyone’s passport or driver’s license number needs to be provided days in advance so that they can be screened by homeland security and then their passport/drivers license is surrendered when they board the ship and returned when they disembark.

Aunty Pat


Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81
K&D German Rhine Line ‘84
NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93
RCC - Song of America ‘89
American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98
HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07, Westerdam ‘09
Carnival - Spirit ‘05
Celebrity – Summit ‘05
Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06
Princess - Golden Princess ‘07
A & K - East Queen ‘07
Cunard - QM2 ’08
Pending Cruises:
Crystal – Serenity, December 10, 2009
Oceania – Insignia, June 17, 2010

[Cruzaholic41]

Originally Posted by Aunty Pat

Bon Voyage parties & weddings can still be arranged on some of the small ship luxury lines, but everyone’s passport or driver’s license number needs to be provided days in advance so that they can be screened by homeland security and then their passport/drivers license is surrendered when they board the ship and returned when they disembark.

Actually, most (if not all) major cruise lines allow visitors to board on embarkation day for weddings.

[Cruisin' Chick]

A few years ago I got a chance to be on a TA-sponsored tour of one ship. Each person had to supply drivers license and birthdate info ahead of time and were told to bring their photo ID. Before getting onboard, the ID was taken and not given back until the end of the tour.

[sail7seas]

Originally Posted by Cruisin' Chick

A few years ago I got a chance to be on a TA-sponsored tour of one ship. Each person had to supply drivers license and birthdate info ahead of time and were told to bring their photo ID. Before getting onboard, the ID was taken and not given back until the end of the tour.

That is still the usual procedure when a visit is permitted.

And yes, most cruise lines will permit guests to board for a wedding reception when the ship is in port. The same ID and security clearance applies and all certainly has to be arranged a decent amount of time in advance. HAL definitely permits weddings/receptions on their ships with non-sailing visitors as invitees.

[Quench]

Originally Posted by Aunty Pat

Bon Voyage parties & weddings can still be arranged on some of the small ship luxury lines, but everyone’s passport or driver’s license number needs to be provided days in advance so that they can be screened by homeland security and then their passport/drivers license is surrendered when they board the ship and returned when they disembark.

Aunty Pat


Barefoot Windjammer - Phantom ‘81
K&D German Rhine Line ‘84
NCL - Norway ’85, Pride of America ’05, Southward ’87, Star ’97 & ‘05, Starward ’92, Sun ’02 & Windward ’93
RCC - Song of America ‘89
American Hawaiian - Independence ‘98
HAL - Volendam ’99, Noordam ’06, Oosterdam ’07 & ‘09, Statendam ’02 & ‘08, Prinsendam ’03 & ’06, & Zuiderdam ’04, ’06 & ’07, Westerdam ‘09
Carnival - Spirit ‘05
Celebrity – Summit ‘05
Cruise West - Yorktown Clipper ‘06
Princess - Golden Princess ‘07
A & K - East Queen ‘07
Cunard - QM2 ’08
Pending Cruises:
Crystal – Serenity, December 10, 2009
Oceania – Insignia, June 17, 2010

This is what I did when I toured the Empress of the Seas

[marco]

Because of terorist issues Cunard stopped allowing visitors on "QE2" in the early 70's. The other lines, pretty much 1978 after the "Klinghoffer incident". I remember once upon a time we'd go to the piers and go on the ships even if we didn't know anyone sailing. Bars were open, they (not all lines) would be passing h'ors douvres, and there were usually more than twice as many bon voyagers as there were passengers. The foyer would be filled with floral arrangements and gift boxes for delivery, mostly for transAtlantic sailings more so than for cruises. Folks would bring on picnic hampers, coolers, boxes of goodies from caterers, etc etc. It was a LOT of fun, whether you know someone sailing or not. Once off, visitors would stay on the dock, the band would play on the deck and there were be a barage of streamers and confetti thrown back and forth.

[eandj]

Anything NOT changed earlier, certainly changed drastically after 9/11.

Also the environmentalists would protest if streamers were flying from the ships like in the old days.

[G'ma]

Originally Posted by harryw

Years ago, cruise lines permitted non-passengers on board for Bon Voyage parties, before the ship sailed off. When did this practice end? Did it happen due to a single terrorist incident? Or phased out among the cruise lines gradually?

9/11 pretty much put an end to that, for sure.

Security is way too tight and too cumbersome to allow non-passengers onboard.

[printingchick]

Another "when did it end" question. I recall as a child, my parents went on a cruise and we stood on the dock to see them off. Passengers threw these long streamers to people on the dock, which broke as the ship sailed away. You still see photos of this tradition, but I never see it played out anymore. What happened to that?