being left at the terminal

yesterday (New Years Eve), we were checking out the ships leaving Miami and came across families left at the terminal. two families were left at the terminal, apparently unable to travel. the first family we came across was an Indian family, hoping to board the Norwegian Sky. the woman just sat on the bench and cried, cried, cried! her husband had his arm around her hugging her, the kids just running around. the second family was very calm sitting outside the terminal for the Magic. we don't know what happened, did they not have the proper paperwork to travel, did they arrive too late? all we know is they were outside the terminals watching their ships sail away....

what are some reasons why you could be denied boarding?

You hit the two most obvious reasons - arrived too late and lacked required documents. Another would be arrived hoping to book a cabin, but ship was full.

The major issue has to do with documents. If you have a valid Passport this will not be an issue. But those who take cruises with simply a birth certificate and picture ID do run some risk that either their birth certificate or picture ID will not pass muster. That is just one reason (there are others) why experienced cruisers/travelers recommend that anyone taking a cruise invest in a Passport. Besides being the only document that gives you the ability to travel around the world, it gives you peace of mind on closed loop cruises. We have also seen folks turned away at several ports...because their birth certificates did not meet the strict requirements.

We should add that those non-citizens of the USA who are legal residents may have additional required documents so they need to carefully check the regulations and also check with their cruise line.

Hank

Just a few days ago, 20 people were left behind at the terminal for a HAL cruise.

The ship waited a little while -- they were flying in on the same day.

Mainly visas & passports - including visas & passports to get back into the departure country.

That sounds a likely cause for the Indian family.

Also documents showing that they have permission to take children, esp grand-children & unrelated children out of a country.

And ships' manifests have to be completed & handed to port authorities a given amount of time ( something like 2 hours?) before sailing from a departure port.

Doubtless there's other hurdles too.

JB :)

Mainly visas & passports - including visas & passports to get back into the departure country.

That sounds a likely cause for the Indian family.

 

Also documents showing that they have permission to take children, esp grand-children & unrelated children out of a country.

 

And ships' manifests have to be completed & handed to port authorities a given amount of time ( something like 2 hours?) before sailing from a departure port.

 

Doubtless there's other hurdles too.

 

JB :)

But JB, you missed the other issue. We have long lobbied that ships should not be permitted to depart unless they have a decent supply of Guinness aboard. We once argued this point with the beverage manager on a HAL (where they had no Guinness) and he did manage to buy a few cases at the first port :).:confused:

Hank

Another reason is maybe what they answered on the health form at checkin.

If anyone of them had recently just had diarehea or flu or if they had a cold at time of boarding, the doctor will stop them from boarding the ship.

I have heard that live over the web cam page from the crew on board talking on the radios in Fort Lauderdale , I heard recently them denying someone board and his luggage was off loaded after they made him be inspected by the ships doctor before sail away.

Also depending on what other country's they have just visited that has a health warning out or going to ports, if they were not USA citizens and did not have the right visas for the ports of call.

But JB, you missed the other issue. We have long lobbied that ships should not be permitted to depart unless they have a decent supply of Guinness aboard. We once argued this point with the beverage manager on a HAL (where they had no Guinness) and he did manage to buy a few cases at the first port :).:confused:

 

Hank

No, Hank, stocks of Guinness are the responsibility of the executive chef, not the beverage manager.

Same as all the other soups & broths. :p :p :p

JB :)

Thew primary reasons for denied boarding that have been mentioned - improper paperwork and terminal arrival time - are really the key with this.

Very important to be certain your documentation is not only up to date but the correct type as may be required by your individual situation and type of cruise.

It also is equally important to be at the terminal on time as it is a US customs requirement for all documentation to be in hand by a certain time with denied boarding a very definite potential consequence.

The major issue has to do with documents. If you have a valid Passport this will not be an issue. But those who take cruises with simply a birth certificate and picture ID do run some risk that either their birth certificate or picture ID will not pass muster. That is just one reason (there are others) why experienced cruisers/travelers recommend that anyone taking a cruise invest in a Passport. Besides being the only document that gives you the ability to travel around the world, it gives you peace of mind on closed loop cruises. We have also seen folks turned away at several ports...because their birth certificates did not meet the strict requirements.

 

We should add that those non-citizens of the USA who are legal residents may have additional required documents so they need to carefully check the regulations and also check with their cruise line.

 

Hank

While it still may take some time, the day of passports only approaches (at least for Californians). http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2015-12-30/tsa-to-stop-accepting-drivers-licenses-from-9-us-states?mbid=nl_010116_Daily&CNDID=29512118&spMailingID=8393823&spUserID=MTAyNjE4ODI4Mjc2S0&spJobID=840089893&spReportId=ODQwMDg5ODkzS0

How frustrating for them to miss the boat.

I always check and double check to make sure we have all the documents and we carry a document folder in our carry-on that does not leave our side.

Besides the pass ports being in my purse.

DH holds the drivers licenses.

The document bag has birth certificates.

And a copy of every receipt for the cruise from booking it to excursions to the drink package.

Also, any special offers that we snagged.

Last year there was a promotion if you booked 2 excursions on line and the third on board you got $25 off, we did that. On board they knew nothing about it, and then we showed them the flyer and they said OHHH. We got it.

Anyway it is what we do.

Happy New Year

You hit the two most obvious reasons - arrived too late and lacked required documents. Another would be arrived hoping to book a cabin, but ship was full.

You have it right.

Keith

Last summer a couple we know were going on a B2B cruise starting in Alaska (he's an Alaskan). they got to the cruise terminal and pulled out their driver's licenses and were told that they needed passports. They did not go on the cruise....

No, Hank, stocks of Guinness are the responsibility of the executive chef, not the beverage manager.

Same as all the other soups & broths. :p :p :p

 

JB :)

only the captain (who may in certain circumstances delegate to the hotel manager) is responsible for the nectar of the gods :D

Last summer a couple we know were going on a B2B cruise starting in Alaska (he's an Alaskan). they got to the cruise terminal and pulled out their driver's licenses and were told that they needed passports. They did not go on the cruise....

Isn't an Alaskan an American?:confused:

The major issue has to do with documents. If you have a valid Passport this will not be an issue. But those who take cruises with simply a birth certificate and picture ID do run some risk that either their birth certificate or picture ID will not pass muster. That is just one reason (there are others) why experienced cruisers/travelers recommend that anyone taking a cruise invest in a Passport. Besides being the only document that gives you the ability to travel around the world, it gives you peace of mind on closed loop cruises. We have also seen folks turned away at several ports...because their birth certificates did not meet the strict requirements.

 

We should add that those non-citizens of the USA who are legal residents may have additional required documents so they need to carefully check the regulations and also check with their cruise line.

 

Hank

The only risk with a birth certificate is that someone brings a hospital one instead of a government issued one and with a picture ID the risk is bringing an expired one or one not issued by the government. If one does one's due diligence using a birth certificate and gov't issued photo ID is a perfectly reasonable alternative (as long as one is comfortable with the small risk involved of missing a ship or having to return home early because of an emergency). Millions of people use alternative forms of ID for cruising every year without issue. Yes, a passport is the best, but every traveler has different travel needs and should use the documentation that meets their needs best.

There are definitely more requirements for those that aren't US citizens.

Last summer a couple we know were going on a B2B cruise starting in Alaska (he's an Alaskan). they got to the cruise terminal and pulled out their driver's licenses and were told that they needed passports. They did not go on the cruise....

If the first leg of the B2B terminated in Canada then it wasn't a closed loop cruise and they would have needed passport, passport card, or EDL.

While it still may take some time, the day of passports only approaches (at least for Californians). http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2015-12-30/tsa-to-stop-accepting-drivers-licenses-from-9-us-states?mbid=nl_010116_Daily&CNDID=29512118&spMailingID=8393823&spUserID=MTAyNjE4ODI4Mjc2S0&spJobID=840089893&spReportId=ODQwMDg5ODkzS0

The REAL ID act has been in the news a lot lately but DHS has not formally addressed the issue for non-compliant states. The rest of us are safe (as long as we've obtained a REAL ID Act compliant license from the DMV).

I suppose it's also possible to be denied boarding because of insufficient credit, since the cruise line needs to put a hold on your credit card before departure. If it's maxed out, they could deny you boarding.

The major issue has to do with documents. If you have a valid Passport this will not be an issue. . . .

Hank

This is true for US citizens, but not necessarily for citizens of other countries cruising out of the US, even on closed loop cruises.

I just felt so bad for the families, especially the first family we came across. OMG! the lady just cried her eyeballs out. she couldn't stop, and no telling how long she had been crying before we pulled up. just makes me ensure that we have all our stuff in order!!

Be awful. Why always tripe check the documents and allow a ton of time to get there.

There is a program on the Destination USA cable channel showing turnaround day for the Oasis, and it included 2 cases of denied boarding, one because a passport was out of date, and another for some other kind of incorrect documentation. There were also a newlywed couple where the woman made the reservation in her newly-married name, but her passport was in her maiden name. This program should be required watching for new cruisers

I am absolutely paranoid about having our cruise documentation in place to the point of checking it "one more time" when we get into the car to drive to the cruise port. My wife tells me to be as paranoid as I want

The major issue has to do with documents. If you have a valid Passport this will not be an issue...

 

Hank

Just a note added to this -- your passport must be valid FOR SIX MONTHS beyond the scheduled RETURN date of your cruise.

I just read on CC of someone denied boarding, I think it was a longer cruise, where the passport would have had only four months on end of cruise.

We travel a lot and this is not restricted to cruises but land travel too.

Just a note added to this -- your passport must be valid FOR SIX MONTHS beyond the scheduled RETURN date of your cruise.

I just read on CC of someone denied boarding, I think it was a longer cruise, where the passport would have had only four months on end of cruise.

 

We travel a lot and this is not restricted to cruises but land travel too.

As it was explained to me, the concern with using a passport within 6 months of expiration is not a cruise line "must" as a requirement to board, but a recommendation relative to the ports of call being visited and their requirements regarding passport expiration dates. Boarding can be denied if a given port of call that requires a passport for entry has that expiration date time line requirement.

Bear in mind that US based closed loop cruises do not require a passport for boarding so that concern would be moot in those cases. We always use passports as our preference regardless, but I have cruised on a US closed loop cruise this year where my passport expiration date was within that 6 month timeline.