Cruise ship to Florida

[ajc8699]

We are located on the West Gulf Coast in South Texas and have no cruise experience at all. Do any cruise ships allow someone to disembark for a lengthy period and reboard.

Example:

Cruise to a Florida port near Orlando, disembark for 4 to 5 days, then get back on the ship for the remainder of the cruise.

Probably not possible, but one can dream.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We are located on the West Gulf Coast in South Texas and have no cruise experience at all. Do any cruise ships allow someone to disembark for a lengthy period and reboard.

No. It would be illegal for cruise lines (which all operate foreign-flagged vessels except for one ship in Hawaii) to do so under current U.S. law.

 

[Brer Chump]

Indeed, that would be a violation of the Jones Act, or more specifically Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920.

Basically it says that foreign flagged ships cannot transport people from one US port to another without first visiting a foreign port.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The above two comments are correct but I will also point out that a few years ago Carnival operated a cruise that originated in New Orleans, went to Tampa and then went to Cozumel before returning to New Orleans. Passengers could embark/disembark in either New Orleans or Tampa but wherever they originated was where they had to disembark because otherwise there would be a violation of the Passengers Services Act of 1886. Nearly every cruise ship flies under a foreign flag and thus cannot transport passengers solely between U.S. ports. That would be called cabotage. Interestingly, the same rules apply to airlines but all of our airlines fly a U.S. flag and thus do transport passengers between us airports whereas foreign airlines cannot.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_Services_Act

BobK/Orlando

 

[ajc8699]

Thanks for the feedback. I figured that was the case, but was trying to get around flying. The drive is ~20hrs and plane tickets have been so high (although deals and prices seem to be dropping a bit).

Thanks,

Anthony

 

[kaytieeldr]

But how much are plane tickets compared to cruise fares? Also consider the time involved, even if you could do what you want. Fine, you wouldn't be driving - much of the time - but you're still talking sixteen-plus hours in transit.

And are there any airports within reasonable (even a few hours) driving distance of you, where competition is higher so fares would tend to be lower?

 

[ajc8699]

When I 1st was thinking about this, flights where in the high $300's. The main issue is where traveling with toddlers, so the idea of the circus that is plane travel is not very appealing.

Oh well, just wanted to see what other options might be out there. Would be fun for the trip to WDW to be more than just about getting there.

We'll probably drive when the kids get older.