Hawaii Cruisers be prepared for change!

[C 2 C]

I just read the following article about phantom stops in Ensenada. We were on Summit's roundtrip to Hawaii in September and the courtesy call may be history. We are currently booked on Mercury in October for the same non-stop as mentioned.

 

http://www.modernagent.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=33537

[Blazerboy]

Ah well, looks like passengers will have to go into Ensenada, drink margaritas at Papa's & Beer, and then get sick on their last night on the ship to satisfy the Homeland Security Department! Because giving cruisers Montezuma's Revenge surely will help with national safety!:rolleyes:

 

Ridiculous!

[C 2 C]

Ah well, looks like passengers will have to go into Ensenada, drink margaritas at Papa's & Beer,

 

I sort of remember (lights out at 11) that this was an after-midnight 1 hr stop on Summit in October. Would this mean that an extra day would have to be added to this itinerary?

[wrp96]

Ah well, looks like passengers will have to go into Ensenada, drink margaritas at Papa's & Beer, and then get sick on their last night on the ship to satisfy the Homeland Security Department! Because giving cruisers Montezuma's Revenge surely will help with national safety!:rolleyes:

 

Ridiculous!

 

It's more like they think that forcing the ships to stop in Ensenada will actually help out NCLA!:rolleyes:

[Blazerboy]

I actually think there's enough "slow time" that they could make this a port without adding a day. It might mean that more ships leave from San Diego than LA, but I still think it's easily doable. Why is more the question!

 

Furthermore, it doesn't matter WHAT they do to other lines...I'm NEVER going to sail on NCL ships...especially the Hawaiian ones...I find their commercials appeal to the exact opposite cruiser that I am, and I've seen both the interior and exterior of their ships. "Tacky" is a compliment for those floating blocks of Las Vegas!:eek:

[Texed]

Ah well, looks like passengers will have to go into Ensenada, drink margaritas at Papa's

 

I could do that! :D

[Blazerboy]

Actually, Ed, I've done it myself...:D I just prefer the ice in my drink made with good water so I don't spend the next 48 hours... ahem...indisposed...:eek:

 

Maybe though, you're like other Ed who has a cast-iron 'system' and it never affects him...forget liposuction or a facelift...give me a GI tract transplant any day!!!! (Sorry about the over-share...)

 

Andrew

[remicarlo]

It's not a matter of national security that they are stopping in Ensenada. Only US documented vessels are able to carry passengers from one US port to another. All non-US documented vessels most go to at least one other country before beginning passengers back into the states. That's the law and it was signed as an act many years ago.

 

That is the reason, but margarita's sound good whatever the reason.

 

Remi

[Linda-E]

Cruise lines may be forced to embark/disembark passengers in Ensenada again.

 

When we cruise from Honolulu on Infinity, we had to disembark in Ensenada while the ship traveled up the coast to San Diego with only crew aboard. The Mexico/California border crossing was very problematic on some cruises, with long waits and passengers being forced to get off buses and drag their luggage through customs and then back to the bus.

[goofysmom99]

For our B2B in Sep/Oct 2008 (Alaska & Hawaii), we have to disembark the Millennium in San Diego in the morning, grab a cab to the airport to catch the shuttle, and reboard in Ensenada, sailing at 10 PM. The only good part of this is that we can leave our luggage on board. Anyone know how long it takes the ship to go from San Diego to Ensenada? Just curious.

[Blazerboy]

"NCL America supports the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's interpretation regarding Hawaii coastwise cruises "

This is why I mentioned satisfying Homeland Security...taken directly from the article. U.S. passenger shipping is virtually non-existant, but these archaic laws are being supported because a company (NCL) got a sweatheart deal with the US government. Has nothing to do with protecting U.S. flagged and built ships...some of those ships are foreign hulls anyway!!!! Disgusting the way that the government manipulates these things.

[Karynanne]

For our B2B in Sep/Oct 2008 (Alaska & Hawaii), we have to disembark the Millennium in San Diego in the morning, grab a cab to the airport to catch the shuttle, and reboard in Ensenada, sailing at 10 PM. The only good part of this is that we can leave our luggage on board. Anyone know how long it takes the ship to go from San Diego to Ensenada? Just curious.

 

Ruth, if I remember correctly...it's about 2 hrs., but that was before 9/11. Maybe with immigration, it might be a bit longer.

[kehlx2]

I could do that! :D

drink margaritas at Papa's

 

But..you might be hung over & too late for WAFFLES the next morning!!!:eek:

[shofer]

It's the Jones Act and it is an archaic law passed last century to protect US shipping. Cruise ships are passenger vessels and should be exempt. Of course, some of us come on as passengers and leave as cargo!

[Coco Creek]

It's called the Jones Act, protectionist legislation designed to help the American shipping industry that in effect destroyed the shipping industry. Because Celebrity ships fly under the flags of foreign nations with foreign officers and staff, every ship is required to visit at least one non-American port...thus silly stops in Mexico and Victoria, B.C. on Hawaii and Alaska cruises originating out of U.S. ports.

[smeyer418]

actually its the passenger services act. The Jones Act covers goods..the PSA cruising but its the same thing. The act or its predecessor goes back to the Mid 1800's...

 

basically the rules are as follows. A ship leaving from a US port must return to the same US port or end in a foreign port unless it stops at a distant foreign port(that is how repositioning cruises can start and stop at different US ports). A distant foreign port is not one in Canada or the Carribean or Mexico---they are considered non-distant foreign ports. Europe Africa and South America are distant foreign ports. If the ship leaving from the same US port stops anywhere(cruises to no where - no stops-are ok) it must also stop at least one foreign port(distant or non-distant are ok). a cruise starting in a foreign post may end at any US port, it just can't pick up passengers at one US Port and drop them at another. I think that is pretty much it. Thems the rules. I didn't write them so don't blame them on me.

[chessbriar]

It's so nice seeing the government sticking their nose into free trade.

 

When ships stop sailing back to San Diego and LA and begin and end their cruises in Ensenda, I want to hear the department of customs telling all the port workers why they lost their jobs

[florisdekort]

This might be the reason that for our upcoming 12/21/07 Hawaii circle cruise, the itinerary was changed last week... our one hour mechanical stop in Ensenada suddenly became a 5 hour stop with passengers being allowed to disembark for shopping... We are leaving Honolulu 3 hours early to allow for the extended stop (at 10 pm as opposed to 1 am).

 

Floris

[C 2 C]

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure the enforcement of the PVSA. .....

is proposing that a stop at a foreign port is not ‘a legitimate object of the cruise’ unless the stop lasts at least 48 hours, the amount of time spent at the foreign port is more than 50% of the total time spent at the U.S. ports of call and the passengers are permitted to go ashore in the foreign port.

 

 

Talking about drastic changes required if they're serious....

[shofer]

Nobody is questioning why NCL is losing customers in Hawaii. Could it be they offer a substandard product w/poor service, no casino and combine that with making a very long flight from the mainland? True only 4-5 hrs from California but there is the rest of the country....

 

This is the reason we chose to do the 14 night RT from LA and were very happy to have a midnight stop in Ensenada and not have to get off the ship in that armpit of a port.

 

Someone who backed NCL's banking is getting nervous and pushing buttons to their buddies in Congress to save their investment. Since Carnival is a U.S.-based corporation, let's hope that Micky Arinston has a little more pull and can get this ridiculous idea squashed.

[nhoj]

Could someone please explain to me how the PVSA helps protect the security of the United Sates in this post 911 world??

 

A ship leaves LA, goes straight to Hawaii where security is impressive. It then returns to the West coast but has to stop in Mexico, and if these changes are implemented the passengers get off and eventually back on...is this "more better" ??

 

And its the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, the very one's responsible that are proposing these changes.

 

I don't get it...but I'm a naive Canadian.

 

.

[sasset]

It's not about security. It's about money.

 

Passed in 1886 it was to protect U.S. shipping industry from foreign competition.

 

Regards

[Coco Creek]

Could someone please explain to me how the PVSA helps protect the security of the United Sates in this post 911 world??

 

A ship leaves LA, goes straight to Hawaii where security is impressive. It then returns to the West coast but has to stop in Mexico, and if these changes are implemented the passengers get off and eventually back on...is this "more better" ??

 

And its the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, the very one's responsible that are proposing these changes.

 

I don't get it...but I'm a naive Canadian.

 

.

 

It does not help protect the security of any person or any country. It is all about labor policies and protectionist legislation. And as with most efforts to mess with free markets, its results were opposite of its intent.

[Nancyquilts]

Cruise lines may be forced to embark/disembark passengers in Ensenada again.

 

When we cruise from Honolulu on Infinity, we had to disembark in Ensenada while the ship traveled up the coast to San Diego with only crew aboard. The Mexico/California border crossing was very problematic on some cruises, with long waits and passengers being forced to get off buses and drag their luggage through customs and then back to the bus.

That's the very reason that we didn't travel round trip to Hawaii until we were able to board and disembark in San Diego or Los Angeles. We cruise for a vacation, not an ordeal. Nancy

[dforeigner]

It's so nice seeing the government sticking their nose into free trade.

 

When ships stop sailing back to San Diego and LA and begin and end their cruises in Ensenda, I want to hear the department of customs telling all the port workers why they lost their jobs

 

So true, meanwhile Mexican truckers are allowed to deliver their goods and transport merchandise within US.