Boarding after TA returns to US

[luvn2cruzzz]

We have never boarded a ship the same day it returned from Europe and I am wondering if there will be a delay in boarding due to elevated inspections. Anyone have this experience? We did once getting off a very 'sick' TA and heard that the CDC was coming on board and boarding passengers were taken to an auditorium to wait out the ship's cleaning and inspections. We will hope this ship will be healthy!

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

We departed on a ship that just returned from 6 months in Europe. Both a Coast Guard inspection and a health inspection occurred and there was delayed boarding.

 

I suspect you are likely to have both inspections if the ship has been away from the Untied States for a length of time. It got pretty crowded in the Ft. Lauderdale waiting area for this particular cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have boarded ships several times when they returned from their European cruises.

Oh yes -- we were delayed most times as the inspections had to be done.

One time we waited nearly 3 hours before we got on the ship -- got on around 1:30 -- only lunch opportunity was the Lido and at that time the Terrace Grill.

[take us away]

Was on a ship that docked into San Diego after an extended Asian cruise and we were continuing on with the next cruise to FLL. The ship was inspected by health and the CDC due to the norovirus. Everyone had to disembark and HAL provided a free city excursion and lunch at a nice hotel as after the inspections, HAL chose to steam clean the ship and a big crew came on to do this. When we reboarded, we found out that there was a delay in boarding which was allowed about 1:30 when the steam cleaning was finished.

[sail7seas]

We boarrded sveral timesw when Massdam returned to Boston from Amsterdam following VOV and had no delays. If USPH did an Inspection,wewere unaware and not held up in any way.

Edited August 6, 2016 by sail7seas

[kazu]

If there is noro on board and the ship need deep cleaning, it will be delayed no matter what port you are in. We didn't board in Civitavecchia until 2 pm.

 

Other than that, yes, the ship could have a CDC inspection and that will cause a delay. We have boarded when a ship is returning from time in Europe (and going right back). There was a bit of a delay but not serious. I would aim to be there not so early and not be stuck with waiting ;)

 

Of course, no one can predict deep cleaning - unless someone reports here on the boards.

[RuthC]

If the ship has never been to the US (such as the Koningsdam when she arrives this November), or has been out of the US for an entire season, you can bet good money that the ship will be inspected by several agencies. Boarding will most likely be delayed.

A ship having been away for a single cruise, such as the Voyage of the Vikings, does not generate the same number of inspections, or delays.

[Essiesmom]

Not only CDC and maybe Coast Guard, but full immigration inspection of the crew. We were on Oosterdam Collectors Cruise San Diego to Rome and were delayed re-boarding in FLL because of all the inspections. EM

[chengkp75]

Typically, even if a ship hasn't been to the US for quite a while, USCG and USPH will not inspect on the same day, as the USCG requires full crew participation in safety drills, and USPH requires that a full meal service be included in their inspection. Could happen, but really unlikely, due to the time frame, and the agencies will work together and delay one or the other to the next US embarkation.

 

But the big delay will be the immigration interview with the full crew (another agency that requires full crew participation, so another reason USCG and USPH won't be on the same day).

Edited August 7, 2016 by chengkp75

[jtl513]

Typically, even if a ship hasn't been to the US for quite a while, USCG and USPH will not inspect on the same day, as the USCG requires full crew participation in safety drills, and USPH requires that a full meal service be included in their inspection. Could happen, but really unlikely, due to the time frame, and the agencies will work together and delay one or the other to the next US embarkation.

 

But the big delay will be the immigration interview with the full crew (another agency that requires full crew participation, so another reason USCG and USPH won't be on the same day).

Maybe this is part of the reason for having just a 4-day as the first cruise out of FL, so these inspections can be done early but not concurrently?

[chengkp75]

Maybe this is part of the reason for having just a 4-day as the first cruise out of FL, so these inspections can be done early but not concurrently?

 

Could be, but there is no legal requirement as to when the inspections are done. Technically, the USCG, as port state control, could board a ship every time it returns to the US, that is their legal right. However, the USCG has budgetary issues just like everyone else, so they don't, unless the ship has a record of SOLAS violations or detentions. Also, the port state control regulations state that the inspections should not place undue financial hardship on the ship owner (i.e. delay the ship from doing its business) unless there is a violation.

 

And USPH inspections are supposed to be random and unannounced, so while a ship returning to the US after a season abroad will expect an inspection at the first port, USPH frequently delays to keep the ship from excessive prepping and showing more adherence to the program than is the day to day policy. USPH agrees in the VSP to only inspect the ships twice a year, so it isn't required to do it immediately.

 

If the cruise line decides to have itineraries that bring the ship back to US ports quickly early in a deployment, that is their decision, but it might not work, as the two agencies will decide when to inspect, not the line.

[0bnxshs]

Maybe this is part of the reason for having just a 4-day as the first cruise out of FL, so these inspections can be done early but not concurrently?

 

My guess on this is it's to be a huge press and TA event 4 day cruise (and one to be avoided!) JMO. :rolleyes:

[luvn2cruzzz]

Thanks, everyone, for your very knowledgable replies! We will be in no rush to get to the ship which is what I anticipated. We will be sailing out of Tampa on the Oosterdam for a 7-day Thanksgiving cruise--just a nice relaxing week with our son. Have never sailed out of Tampa before. It was easier for us to get than FLL because we have a direct flight so thought, why not? We were on the Oosterdam in her maiden year for our first Med. We hear there have been some recent improvements.

[jtl513]

My guess on this is it's to be a huge press and TA event 4 day cruise (and one to be avoided!) JMO. :rolleyes:

We were on the Eurodam's first 3-day out of FL, and yes, there were a lot of TA's, VIP's, and first timers, so it certainly was not a typical HAL cruise ... but we got to see enough of the ship to satisfy our curiosity. It had first done a "cruise-to-nowhere" out of NYC where it got the initial inspections, so that wasn't a problem.

 

We were thinking of doing the K-dam 4-day, then it sold out, then some insides opened up. Right now there are 13 at $599 or $609 per person, and since we don't need plane reservations or pre-cruise hotel rooms we are again thinking about doing it! It doesn't sail until 10:00 pm so maybe much of the hullabaloo will be over by then, and it spends 12 hours at HMC so if we don't get off there we can enjoy it without crowds. :cool:

Edited August 7, 2016 by jtl513

[sail7seas]

My guess on this is it's to be a huge press and TA event 4 day cruise (and one to be avoided!) JMO. :rolleyes:

 

 

tHOSEBIG PreSS AND TA

TA INTRODUCTIONS ARE v ERY COSTLY AND QUESTIONALBE IF HALwill spendd the big 'introdduc tion dollars for The free loader s. in the way they used to . JMO