Can you disembark cruise early from a different port?

[torybruno]

We are thinking of booking a Christmas cruise on the NCL Epic, but my son needs to be at a seminar later in the week. Would they let him disembark in Grand Caymen or Cozumel so he could fly to his seminar?

[Clarea]

We are thinking of booking a Christmas cruise on the NCL Epic, but my son needs to be at a seminar later in the week. Would they let him disembark in Grand Caymen or Cozumel so he could fly to his seminar?

As long as he is disembarking at a non-US port, there's no law against it. However, you would have to arrange in advance with the cruise line any early disembarkation.

[CruiserBruce]

As long as he is disembarking at a non-US port, there's no law against it. However, you would have to arrange in advance with the cruise line any early disembarkation.

 

Plus he will not get any reduction in cruise fare, and of course be responsible for his flights, etc. Get the approval of the cruise line in writing prior to boarding, and bring that document along on the cruise.

[1025cruise]

This needs to be approved in advance. In addition, NCL will need to arrange for proper immigration at the port to process him. They might decline to do this. There is also the fact that since he would be getting off, it changes the ship's manifest so it could cause issues for everyone else when the ship returns. NCL might decline to allow this.

[Lottacruises]

Doesn't hurt to ask

[thinfool]

While this was allowed years ago, most cruise lines have now disallowed it. Primarily because of the extra paperwork required to make it happen.

 

Still, it cannot hurt to ask.

[zqvol]

We are thinking of booking a Christmas cruise on the NCL Epic, but my son needs to be at a seminar later in the week. Would they let him disembark in Grand Caymen or Cozumel so he could fly to his seminar?

 

NCL will not allow it, because it changes the nature of the cruise from the perspective of customs. That being said, they can't keep him from leaving the ship at any port, but he could be held responsible for any extra expenses that are incurred as a result of his actions.

 

When these questions are asked I always assume that the passengers know that they will not get any refund, in fact I am shocked that so many posters bring that up first in these discussions.

[notalandlover]

Plus he will not get any reduction in cruise fare, and of course be responsible for his flights, etc. Get the approval of the cruise line in writing prior to boarding, and bring that document along on the cruise.

 

 

Bruce in these types of cases who should the OP ask?

[Hlitner]

If you want an early disembarkation it should be specifically requested from the cruise line. Some lines, such as Celebrity, actually charge an extra fee if they grant such permission. You should receive any permission in writing and take it on the cruise. Early on your cruise you should pay a visit to Guest Relations, tell them about your early disembarkation, and share a copy of the written permission. Early disembarkations are pretty common on European cruises but rare in the Caribbean.

 

Hank

[taglovestocruise]

Just as a FYI, there are several couples disembarking 1 day early on our Symphony of the seas transatlantic in OCT.. You need permission from Royal as it changes the passenger manifest. RCL charges a $65.00 pp fee because of the paper work they need to supply to customs and emigration.

[1025cruise]

A transatlantic is different than a round trip to/from a US port.

[Hlitner]

Just as a FYI, there are several couples disembarking 1 day early on our Symphony of the seas transatlantic in OCT.. You need permission from Royal as it changes the passenger manifest. RCL charges a $65.00 pp fee because of the paper work they need to supply to customs and emigration.

 

Geez, please do not defend RCI (and Celebrity) for ripping off cruisers by charging a fee for early disembarkation. The paper work is minimal and does not add to the cost of the cruise line. Any additional paperwork (if any) is handled by the onboard Pursers Office. These folks are drawing a salary whether or not they complete an additional form. In fact, the cruise line theoretically saves money because those folks leave early and do not eat any more food on the ship :). But they do not offer a refund for the days missed. As far as we know, it is only RCI owned cruise lines that charge a fee for early disembarkation..although one might suspect it will eventually spread to other lines as one more way to maximize revenue.

 

You might compare the RCI company policies to how its handled by Princess. One simply fills out a form (or their cruise agent does this task) and e-mails it to Princess. In a few days you receive a letter approving (or denying) the disembarkation (or enroute change). There is no fee and no hassle. On Princess ships they even go above and beyond by handling your luggage (you just put it out the night before...just like you would at the normal end of a cruise) and its waiting at a location off the ship.

 

Hank

[CruiserBruce]

Bruce in these types of cases who should the OP ask?

 

I would call a Customer Service number, and start from there.

[George C]

One of our friends did a European cruise on celebrity last port was Rome but they got off in naples

[geoherb]

Even if the cruise line allows it, have a plan as to what your son will do if the ship misses the port. A lot of times ships skip Grand Cayman because it's too rough to tender. I remember the year we took our first cruise to Alaska that there was a large group who were scheduled to attend a wedding in Victoria--the last port of the cruise. Due to heavy winds, the ship did not get to dock there and they missed getting off and had to go all the way back to Seattle.

[Hlitner]

When a passenger disembarks a ship in another country before the end of the cruise, the cruise line must ask the ship's agent to handle the paperwork for a new tourist visa for that passenger. In some countries, the agent must personally transport the passenger to the immigration office to complete the paperwork.

 

The agent will charge the cruise line an extra fee for each service. Sometimes the cruise line eats the fee; sometimes they pass it on to the passenger.

 

You make the assumption that one is in a country where they need a "tourist Visa." We have done multiple early disembarkations in EU/Schengen countries where there were no formalities or Visas involved. And most recently (April of 2018) we did an early disembarkation in Japan where there was no additional paperwork or hassle for the ship. We simply cleared Japanese Immigration along with everyone else getting off the ship for a port day. The OP mentioned Grand Caymen where no visa is required from those with USA, EU countries or Canadian Passports. Cozumel might be more complicated because of the Mexican Tourist Card but even that document is free.

 

Hank

[1025cruise]

It should also be noted that what might be allowed in Europe/Asia or a transatlantic, is going to be different than what is allowed on a closed-loop cruise out of a US port. Just because one could do this in Europe without much headache, doesn't mean they can do this on a Caribbean Cruise out of a US port. The rules are different.

[SRF]

Tourist visa not the necessarily the proper term.

 

Entry stamp is.

 

But when you arrive on a cruise ship, the manifest is sent ahead and once approved, everyone can get off and back on the ship without individually seeing an immigration officer. You mentioned Japan, everyone clearing immigration, so there, they may not grant the cruise ship exemption for immigration.

 

In Schengan states, once you have entered one Schengan country, you have entered all of them, unless you enter a non-Schengan country.

 

If you depart the ship, there is a need for you to appear before an immigration and possibly customs officer. There can be a charge for that service. Plus a charge by the port agent to set this up.

[donaldsc]

Ask the cruise line.

 

DON