Alaska repositioning cruise question

[Superman of Inaction]

We are thinking about sailing one of the first North bound Princess cruises to Alaska, from Vancouver. Would like to pick up the reposition cruise out of Los Angles to Vancouver. Some of my cruising friends have said they don’t think you can take both cruises because of either US law or Canadian law. If anyone can offer any information about it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

[wrp96]

You could do the LA to Vancouver repo followed by a roundtrip out of Vancouver but you can't do the LA to Vancouver repo followed by a northbound Vancouver to Whittier cruise because that would violate the Passenger Services Act.

[Joy2Day]

This is the Passenger Services Act (sometimes called the Jones Act, although the Jones Act applies to cargo). A foreign-flagged ship cannot transport passengers between two US cities unless the ship stops at a distant foreign port (Canadian ports do not qualify as distant). A foreign-flagged ship may transport passengers round-trip as long as they stop at any foreign port (which covers Canadian ports).

 

So, the Diamond Princess sailed from Whittier, AK to Vancouver, BC on 9/9/06. On 9/16, it sailed from Vancouver to LA. If a passenger had embarked in Whittier, stayed on in Vancouver for the 2nd week, then permanently disembarked in LA, that would violate the PSA because that passenger was transported from Whittier to LA via the Diamond Princess without visiting a distant port.

 

However, if you sailed ship A from Whittier/Seward to Vancouver, then disembarked ship A and boarded ship B down to LA, that is a different story.

 

Confused?

[TCF]

I am not sure...but, I THINK...the key words here being...I THINK! So check this out carefully.:D

If you buy two cruises separately ... one LA to Vancouver... then another separate one..Vancouver to Alaska. When you get to Vancouver you just get off the ship...check in again through customs and your on your way to Alaska.:eek: Getting off and on may be a pain in the butt, but it may be the only way you can do it because of that goofy Passenger whatever Act. :eek:

And of course I may be so far off track that it is silly...but check it out.:p

Tom

[wrp96]

I am not sure...but, I THINK...the key words here being...I THINK! So check this out carefully.:D

 

If you buy two cruises separately ... one LA to Vancouver... then another separate one..Vancouver to Alaska. When you get to Vancouver you just get off the ship...check in again through customs and your on your way to Alaska.:eek: Getting off and on may be a pain in the butt, but it may be the only way you can do it because of that goofy Passenger whatever Act. :eek:

 

And of course I may be so far off track that it is silly...but check it out.:p

 

Tom

 

Nope does not work that way. They'd have to sail on a different ship out of Vancouver to not violate the PSA. Merely buying the cruises separately won't help as they will get caught when they run the ship's manifest.

[chasetf]

I am not sure...but, I THINK...the key words here being...I THINK! So check this out carefully.:D

 

If you buy two cruises separately ... one LA to Vancouver... then another separate one..Vancouver to Alaska. When you get to Vancouver you just get off the ship...check in again through customs and your on your way to Alaska.:eek: Getting off and on may be a pain in the butt, but it may be the only way you can do it because of that goofy Passenger whatever Act. :eek:

 

And of course I may be so far off track that it is silly...but check it out.:p Tom

You have to look at where you start and where you end and what you "visit" inbetween regardless of how many "cruises" it takes to make it up.

 

In your case, as stated your LA to Alaska does not meet the criteria. But if you stayed on back to Vancouver, then you are transported LA to Vancouver (foreign port), so you do not need to visit the distant foreign port.

 

That is why you see RTs from Seattle, but not Seattle to Canada to Alaska. The Alaska one ways always start in Canada and end in Alaska or vice versa.

[abbydancer]

I am not sure...but, I THINK...the key words here being...I THINK! So check this out carefully.:D

 

If you buy two cruises separately ... one LA to Vancouver... then another separate one..Vancouver to Alaska. When you get to Vancouver you just get off the ship...check in again through customs and your on your way to Alaska.:eek: Getting off and on may be a pain in the butt, but it may be the only way you can do it because of that goofy Passenger whatever Act. :eek:

 

And of course I may be so far off track that it is silly...but check it out.:p

 

Tom

 

And my travel agent told me that the cruiseline always catches it, even if you try it by booking through different agencies.

 

And catching it means that they will deny you boarding on the second leg.

 

abby

[spongerob]

I recall some time ago one of the posters here changed from one Princess ship to another in Vancouver. They were informed that they had to stay overnight in Vancouver, then board a different ship to be legal under the PSA.

 

It's a stupid law that severely limits itineraries.

[rebeccalouise]

I had this happen. I booked the three night repo out of LA and then later decided to book the Alaska cruise since we were there and time permitted.

Shortly before the trip, Princess told me that we could not do both. They refunded my Alaska portion and we were able to take another cruise on the same date- Norwegian Wind. It all worked out but there is nothing you can do with Princess as this violates the Jones Act (I think it is called).

[Superman of Inaction]

Looks like I need a new plan! Sailing from LA to Vancouver and then on to Alaska, would have worked out great for us. There must be a reason for that law, but it sure does mess-up trying to extend a one week cruise to Alaska. Thanks again, to all who responded.

[Joy2Day]

Looks like you could disembark the Diamond in Vancouver on May 12 and embark on another ship in the May 12-14 timeframe.

[FredS]

The original act was passed in 1886. It's intent seems to have been to give business to US flagged ships and to make it harder for ships in that day and age to carry US passengers.

 

This might explain it better:

SUMMARY

An 1886 law, The Passenger Service Act (the "Act"), requires that only U.S. built, U.S. owned, U.S. crewed vessels can offer domestic cruises between two or more U.S. destinations (ports) without paying a costly and prohibitive penalty. Currently, there is only one cruise ship that qualifies under this law and it sails only within Hawaii. Additionally, U.S. shipyards have not built an ocean liner since 1951. As a result, no passengers can book cruises between scenic and historic ports in the continental U.S.

 

To comply with the Act the only cruises available to tourists, with the exception of Hawaii, which leave from or return to a U.S. port must make intermediate stops in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands. Tourist dollars that would be spent in the U.S. by cruise passengers, now go elsewhere. The Cruising America Coalition estimates that the average cruise passenger spends more than $200 a day ashore. In the last five years, the worldwide cruise industry has grown by 50 percent, and is expected to continue to grow. Amending the Act could be worth, according to the Coalition, an additional $1 billion a year to the coastal communities of the U.S.

[POLSON]

The cruise line pays a fine for those that do not comply. I had heard of some passengers paying the fine. But who wants that added expense????

[Joy2Day]

My cousin had to leave a Princess ship early (for work-related issues) and violated the PSA. The $300 was charged to his account.

 

Superman -- Thanks to your question, I am now considering taking the Sapphire Princess LA-Vancouver disembarking in 5/19, then the Sun Princess r/t Alaska out of Seattle on 5/20. :D

[TCF]

Sorry...didn't mean to mislead anyone.:o Just seemed to be common sense to me. It is silly to have laws so old they outdate dirt...that are no longer applicable...and in fact work against the economy of dozens of communities that could certainly use the employment opportunities that the cruise industry generates.:D

Tom:)

[chasetf]

The original act was passed in 1886. It's intent seems to have been to give business to US flagged ships and to make it harder for ships in that day and age to carry US passengers.

Sure worked for the American cruise lines didn't it. :eek:

 

The ones who really benefitted were the American airlines. ;)

[jlp20]

Tried this a couple of years ago and found out the same thing. Any T/A worth their salt won't sell the tickets.

 

If you somehow get the tickets, you might sneak through. HOWEVER, if you get on the second ship, ICE find out and tags Princess with the fine ($300 per person) the fine is passed onto your onboard account or credit card.