Can You Join A Cruise At Any Port?

Cruise ships typically cannot board at a port of call, and passengers can only sail from one US port and get off at another US port for the day. To make the most of your cruise experience, book your flight or train well in advance. Royal Caribbean may not allow you to embark at a different port of call or leave the ship earlier during your cruise.

Ports of call along an itinerary often have limited facilities, such as a simple pier. If you simply want to get off the ship at a port ending your cruise, inquire about immigration status, restrictions, and laws for that country. The only times passengers have been allowed to join a cruise in-progress have been when the person missed the ship.

There are several reasons why passengers may wish to stay on the cruise ship even when the cruise ship is docked in port, and there are several benefits to doing so. When making travel arrangements for your next sailing, be sure to look into cruise port transfer options to find the best way to get to your ship.

Boarding in a foreign port does not violate the PSVA, which regulates boarding in US ports. However, it is not as easy as getting off and going home on your terms when you are ready.

Royal Caribbean no longer allows cruise passengers to pre-plan early debark. Joining the cruise at one of its ports of call or leaving the cruise prior to its scheduled termination point may be prohibited by law. All guests are welcome to go ashore and enjoy all there is to offer at a non-proclaimed port, but they must return to the ship by the All Onboard policy.

If you try to secretly abscond from the cruise, you will typically be in a foreign country with a visa only for a cruise port visit. You can disembark at any port depending on the port you want to disembark at, but you need to arrange it with the cruise line as soon as possible.

Can you join an MSC cruise from any port?

MSC are unlike most cruise lines and operate more like a ferry service. Passengers can join and leave the ship at almost every port. So you never have to wait for previous passengers to disembark or the ship to be cleared before you join the ship.

Is it possible to join a cruise in progress?

For example, at Royal Caribbean, “guests who miss their cruise due to travel delays can contact the Emergency Travel Team (ETT) to discuss their options going forward,” the cruise line’s policy explains. “In specific situations, when the guest has the proper documentation, it is possible to join the cruise at the next port of call, but all options must be discussed with ETT.”

Usually, if you don’t buy your airfare through a cruise line’s travel package, or don’t buy their travel insurance with your cruise fare, you will be responsible for paying to catch up to your voyage. Per NCL’s policy, “if you have bought your own air tickets, independently of Norwegian Cruise Line, you will be responsible for any and all expenses incurred to join the ship.”

This is the case for most major cruise companies, but be sure to check your line’s policy in advance. There are also independent travel insurance policies that can help cover the costs of meeting up with your ship. (More on that below.)

How long are cruise crew contracts?

Contract lengths vary by position but range between four and ten months. After each contract you will receive approximately 60 days of vacation before your next assignment. Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.

Time off during the contract is not permitted. In case of family emergencies, Princess Cruises does understand that additional time at home may be needed and does accommodate these requests on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations vary depending on the ship and position. Those in non-management positions generally share a cabin with one to three other roommates whereas those in most management positions are entitled to a single cabin. Cabins include a storage space, TV, and DVD player.

Can I join a cruise halfway through?

It depends on the specific itinerary of your cruise, your nationality, and various United States and foreign laws. Joining the cruise at one of its ports of call or leaving the cruise prior to its scheduled termination point may be prohibited by law. If you need to join late or leave early, or both, submit your request in advance and we will tell you whether your proposed changes will be permitted. There is a cut-off date for submitting this information, so make you submit your request early. Please note that no refunds, prorated or otherwise, are granted to customers who join their cruise late or leave their cruise early. Certain governments impose fines or other charges when a guest permanently disembarks from a cruise before its final port of call. The guest will be responsible for those charges.Guests who have already booked a flight can book a transfer with Royal Caribbean.

Can you join a cruise part way through in Europe?

The answer is it depends. You should contact the cruise line and if they say yes get it in writing. You will probably be charged the full fare as if you were on the entire itinerary.

What is the shortest cruise ship contract?

Contracts can be as short as three days or as long as six months. The average length is 4 to 6 months. Short contracts come with little notice, sometimes only 24 hours! Short notice means our clients need to fill a position quickly and therefore are prepared to adjust the length of the contract. Normally our cruise line and hospitality clients prefer to hire people for longer periods of time. On a regular contract, you will usually have four to eight weeks notice to prepare for your departure.

What happens if I sign a contract with Proship but then change my mind?

Once you accept a job offer and sign a contract with Proship, your commitment is confirmed and an airline ticket is requested in your name. Should you change your mind prior to departure, you will be penalized. Our contract, which requires your signature, stipulates that you agree to pay Proship a replacement fee if you cancel a contract or do not complete your contract. This replacement fee does not apply if you are unfit for work on a ship as a result of a physical injury or medical condition.

Do I need a passport to get off a cruise ship?

• Make sure you review the latest CDC guidance on cruise ship travel.
• Read ourTraveler’s Checklist.
• Check ourcountry information pagesfor the countries you will be visiting to learn about important health and safety precautions to take. Write down thecontact informationfor the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in case of an emergency.
• Always carry your passport book with you in case of an emergency. You may need your passport in the event of an unexpected medical evacuation or if the ship docks at an alternate port. You should bring your passport even if your cruise says you won’t need it.
• Apply early for yourpassport, or make sure your current onewill be valid at least six months beyond your travel dates and has two or more blank pages. Your cruise company may also require you to have a passport even if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or foreign port of entry does not.
• Have the right foreign visas for all stops on your cruise, if required, even if you do not plan to disembark in those locations.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You will get important safety and security info. Follow us @TravelGov on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for travel and security information.
• Make sure you have medical and emergency evacuation insurance that will cover your trip. Consider buying supplemental insurance. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas.
• You may also need other insurance for unexpected travel expenses when abroad. Check with your cruise line or travel agency to see if they provide such coverage. You can also check with your health or homeowner’s insurance providers and credit card companies, which sometimes provide this coverage overseas. If not, consider buying supplemental insurance.
• Have a contingency plan for returning homeif you must remain in a foreign country longer than expected. Make colorcopiesof your passport photo page, foreign visas, and itinerary. Leave one copy with a trusted family member or friend and carry one separately from your actual documents.Make sure to take a photo of your travel documents with your phone to have electronic copies as well.

• Check with your doctor to make sure that traveling abroad to your destinations ismedically safefor you and whether you need anyvaccinations and/or assistive deviceson your trip.
• Check with the foreign country’s embassy in the United States. They can tell you whether your medications are legal in each country you visit. Also, find out if there are limits or special instructions for bringing them in. For some medications, you may need a letter from your doctor. Carrying it in the prescription bottle might not be enough “proof.”Remember, you are required to follow the local laws of the countries you visit, including with respect to medications, even if those laws differ from the laws of the United States.
• Ensure you have enough of your prescription medications to last beyond your trip dates, in case of possible delays. Some countries may not have equivalents of your prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• Carry a written copy of all your prescriptions with you in case a country requires it, or you need to replace your medications.

• What their procedures are in case of emergency.
• How family members can contact you in an emergency, such as cell or satellite phone coverage and/or an e-mail address for emergencies.
• What types of medical services your ship can provide, such as basic or urgent care, hospitalization, dialysis, etc.
• Check your cruise line’s prohibited items list when considering what to take with you.

Can I stay on a cruise ship while in port?

Alternatively, if the ship docks downtown, guests could choose to leave the ship as soon as it’s cleared for a quick look around, then return to the ship early and still enjoy a few hours of peace and quiet. There are no rules. Ultimately cruise travelers are free to decide their own course of action, whether that means spending every possible moment ashore or treating the ship as the destination.

Can I request to embark the ship at a different port of call or leave the ship earlier during my cruise?

Can I request to embark the ship at a different port of call or leave the ship earlier during my cruise? Guests can request to embark or disembark at a port of call other than the scheduled embarkation/disembarkation port.

Lockers and storage facilities are not available at the pier.

All guests on Consecutive Cruises are asked to meet at the Guest Relations desk, or another designated area onboard. You will be escorted off the ship to a meeting place where you will wait until customs clears the ship for general boarding.

Same Stateroom: Typically, guests on Consecutive Cruises will be booked on the same ship with the same stateroom from one leg to the next. Since you will be occupying the same stateroom number for both legs, you are permitted to leave your belongings…

Can I join a cruise at the next port?

Can You Board a Cruise at A Port of Call? It is usually not possible to board a cruise ship at a port of call. In a few circumstances, the cruise lines may give passengers pre-approved permission but this isn’t common.

If you are considering a cruise you may be wondering if you can board at a port of call rather than the embarkation port.

This depends on a number of factors – and the cruise line, and where the ship is sailing.

It is usually not possible to board a cruise ship at a port of call.

Can I get on a cruise ship at a different port?

The Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) prohibits the transportation of passengers between two different U.S. ports on any vessel other than a U.S.-flag vessel that meets all requirements for U.S. coastwise transportation. U.S. ports include U.S. states and U.S. island territories and possessions, with the exception of American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is also exempt from the PVSA until such time as U.S.-flag vessels service that route.

Foreign-flag vessels like Carnival’s vessels may transport passengers between two different U.S. ports without violating the PVSA if the vessel stops at a distant foreign port and the passenger traveled with the vessel to that distant foreign port.

Guests who miss the ship in the homeport are not allowed to embark the ship in any port of call if it is in violation of the PVSA. Any guest who unexpectedly disembarks the ship ata U.S. port of call, i.e., Alaska, Key West, Hawaii and Catalina, due to an emergency, which results in a violation of the PVSA, will be responsible for the resulting fine ($941.00USD per person – subject to change).

Can I get off a cruise at any port?

So, Can You Get off a Cruise Early?. Outside of emergencies, passengers rarely end their cruises before completion. No matter the reason, the question remains: Can you end your cruise at any port on the itinerary? Technically, the answer is yes. However, it’s not quite as easy as just getting off and going home on your terms when you are ready. There are a few “stumbling blocks” and laws that have to be taken into consideration, and they are, truthfully, quite confusing.

The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (also known as the PVSA) was enacted essentially to protect U.S. maritime interests. This law still exists today. In a nutshell, the PVSA states that foreign ships cannot transport passengers between U.S. ports, or they will face a fine ( currently $778 per passenger!). But what about leaving a U.S. port and getting off at a foreign port? According to U.S. law, you can set sail and then disembark at a foreign port. However, although it is allowed by U.S. law, there are still foreign laws and cruise line policies to contend with. In some countries, laws prohibit cruise passengers from permanently disembarking.

For customers who only want to take part of their cruise, it’s also not a cut-and-dry process. Royal Caribbean lays out its rules on its website: “Royal Caribbean no longer allows cruise passengers to pre-plan early debark or late embarkation for any of our ships.” Not all cruise lines post their rules, so it’s best to contact your cruise provider for specific information.