Rules on Leaving a Cruise Early

[elkriver64chevy]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone out there knows the rules on leaving a cruise ship halfway thru a cruise (even though I don't want to, it's work related). I'm trying to find out if it's even allowed since I heard that once you checkin you cannot leave unless it's for a medical or personal emergency. Does anyone know? Thanks again!

[lougee1043]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone out there knows the rules on leaving a cruise ship halfway thru a cruise (even though I don't want to, it's work related). I'm trying to find out if it's even allowed since I heard that once you checkin you cannot leave unless it's for a medical or personal emergency. Does anyone know? Thanks again!

 

i would think that anything is possible -- would of course tell the front desk as well in advance as you can -- there will be no refunds and you would have to make your own arrangements to get back home

 

you might want to call the cruiseline direct and ask

[johnql]

It sounds like your scenario might fall under the complicated (almost incomprehensible) umbrella of the Passenger Services Act (sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Jones Act), which sets regulations concerning what is and isn't allowed with regard to passengers on cruise ships.

 

Here's a link to a pretty good article about the Act:

 

http://www.sealetter.com/Oct-99/alancol.html

 

Basically, disembarking the ship early depends entirely on the planned itinerary and the point at which you're intending to get off the ship prematurely. The Passenger Services Act imposes a fine for a cruise ship passenger who breaks the law by disembarking too early. The cruise line is required to collect the fine and has no discretion in waiving the penalty.

[BaumD]

Johnql is correct. The law is so confusing, the cruiselines may not permit it whether it is "legal" or not, as they don't want to deal with the hassle. A good example is a certain back-to-back that people want to take. A ship goes from LA to Vancouver (which is legal). The NEXT cruise (a totally seperate cruise) goes from Vancouver to Anchorage (alos legal). If you book both cruises you are violating the law as you are taking passage on a non-US flagged vessel between TWO US ports.

 

Another example you are taking a cruise from Miami to Key West to Jamaica to Cozumel and back to Miami. If you miss the ship in Miami and hop on a plane to Key West to catch the ship, you are violating the law as you took a non-US flagged ship from Key West to Miami.

[critterchick]

Are you talking about having to leave unexpectedly or planning ahead of time to disembark early? Assuming you're not going to violate the Passenger Services Act, Royal Caribbean will allow you to plan an early departure. If you search the FAQs of the RCCI website you'll get further detail, but you must let them know something like 2 weeks in advance and it costs something like $35pp (assuming no PSA violation). If you booked through a TA it has to come from the TA. The other cruiselines may have similar policies.

 

As for leaving unexpectedly, I have no idea. Good luck!

[elkriver64chevy]

Thanks everyone for all your helpful information. We did book thru a TA and it is an Alaskan Seattle to Seattle cruise so we are having her look into it. The cruise line (Princess) will have plenty of notice so we will see what happens. Thanks again for all your help - very confusing!:)

[wrp96]

Thanks everyone for all your helpful information. We did book thru a TA and it is an Alaskan Seattle to Seattle cruise so we are having her look into it. The cruise line (Princess) will have plenty of notice so we will see what happens. Thanks again for all your help - very confusing!:)

 

Your TA will tell you better, but unless you are planning on getting off at a Canadian port, you probably will not be allowed to do so.

[kitty9]

Unless your Alaska cruise visits a Canadian port before you get off the ship, it won't be permitted. Say your cruise leaves Seattle and your first stops are all in Alaska, with the last stop being in the "foreign port" of Vancouver, you won't be permitted, by law, from leaving the ship in any of the Alaskan ports. But, if one of your first stops is Vancouver or Victoria, and you want to leave the ship after that time, then you're covered and will be allowed to leave.

[wrp96]

Unless your Alaska cruise visits a Canadian port before you get off the ship, it won't be permitted. Say your cruise leaves Seattle and your first stops are all in Alaska, with the last stop being in the "foreign port" of Vancouver, you won't be permitted, by law, from leaving the ship in any of the Alaskan ports. But, if one of your first stops is Vancouver or Victoria, and you want to leave the ship after that time, then you're covered and will be allowed to leave.

 

They can't get off in any of the other US ports, even if they visit Canada first, otherwise they'll violate the PSA because they'll be transported between two US ports without a stop in a distant foreign port. The only stops they could get off in are Canadian ports.