Back to Back from San Juan

[tigger2002]

Has anyone thought about doing the 7-night Southern cruise from San Juan (Magic) on April 30th 2017, and then hop on the San Juan to Port Canaveral May 7th 2017? That would be a thirteen day cruise with nine ports, but you stop at two places twice. Cost wise it is about the same as the 11-day Southern cruise from Port Canaveral on June 12th 2017 (Fantasy).

 

[dclpluto]

Has anyone thought about doing the 7-night Southern cruise from San Juan (Magic) on April 30th 2017, and then hop on the San Juan to Port Canaveral May 7th 2017? That would be a thirteen day cruise with nine ports, but you stop at two places twice. Cost wise it is about the same as the 11-day Southern cruise from Port Canaveral on June 12th 2017 (Fantasy).

Yep got it booked. But the way things are unexpected expenses. Lack of overtime at work. Probably cancel one of them. Cost wise is a lot cheaper than the fantasy 11 night cruise.

 

[Jess_S]

I'm booked on these two cruises as a B2B as well. It was actually cheaper than some of the 7 day itineraries I looked at. I'm in the same boat as dclpluto though. Our ability to actually go on the cruise is based upon my optimistic belief that I will line up another job after my current contract position ends -- so there's some chance I will cancel.

If you go to the meets thread for either cruise, there are a couple other people booked on these as a B2B. I'm really hoping we get to go. It's an amazing itinerary with lots of variety from port to port.

 

[RedSox68]

That's a terrific itinerary and a great idea for a b2b -- almost all the ports would be new for us. Maybe 2018 since we have the WBTA booked for next year's budget.

 

[MD Dad55]

I'm trying to book a B2B from Galveston to San Juan, then San Juan to Port Canaveral on Jan 20, 2017 and Jan 26, 2017. DCL is saying that I can't book this B2B due to some antiquated law about going to a "foreign port" before returning to a US port. I'm seeing that several of you are booking similar cruises. Any suggestions?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm trying to book a B2B from Galveston to San Juan, then San Juan to Port Canaveral on Jan 20, 2017 and Jan 26, 2017. DCL is saying that I can't book this B2B due to some antiquated law about going to a "foreign port" before returning to a US port. I'm seeing that several of you are booking similar cruises. Any suggestions?

The PVSA is the "antiquated" law you are referring to. It states that a foreign flagged ship may not transport passengers from one US port to a different US port without a stop in a distant foreign port. A distant foreign port is described as any port NOT in North America, Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (including the Bahama Islands, but not including the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao)

The law views back to back cruises as one cruise. The cruises you want to take would transport you from Galveston to Port Canaveral with no distant foreign port visited. So is, therefore, illegal.

Cruises from Puerto Rico are exempt from the law, so a back to back from San Juan to Port Canaveral doesn't have the distant foreign port requirement. And the B2B San Juan round trip with San Juan/Port Canaveral is legal.

 

[adamki]

I'm trying to book a B2B from Galveston to San Juan, then San Juan to Port Canaveral on Jan 20, 2017 and Jan 26, 2017. DCL is saying that I can't book this B2B due to some antiquated law about going to a "foreign port" before returning to a US port. I'm seeing that several of you are booking similar cruises. Any suggestions?

DCL may not transport you between two different U.S. ports without a stop in a "distant" foreign port. They do not have a right of cabotage between Galveston to Port Canaveral, even though there are two separate cruises involved. This is because DCLs ships are are not a US Flagged vessels. San Juan is a special case and is not considered a U.S. Port under the laws.

The laws in question are The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (a.k.a. The Jones Act) and the older Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

DCL may not transport you between two different U.S. ports without a stop in a "distant" foreign port. They do not have a right of cabotage between Galveston to Port Canaveral, even though there are two separate cruises involved. This is because DCLs ships are are not a US Flagged vessels. San Juan is a special case and is not considered a U.S. Port under the laws.

The laws in question are The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (a.k.a. The Jones Act) and the older Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886.

The Jones Act actually refers to cargo. The PVSA relates to carriage of passengers.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sounds like an amazing trip. Do it.

PrincessShmoo that was an amazing explanation!

 

[lorimay]

We are doing this!!!! Celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary (3 months late ) We decided to wait till after our sons wedding to take a vacation and this perfect cruise situation showed up and worked out perfectly for us. They are getting married on the 28th and we fly out on the 29th.

I love we only have to fly to San Juan and then drive home 3 hours from Port Canaveral at the end, no planes again YAY!
Plus a lot of new ports, we are all about new ports on our Disney cruises.
We are platinum, so tomorrow at midnight I can book our Palo brunch and our excursions for the April 30th cruise, I am more worried about Palo brunch since there is only one sea day on each cruise.

 

[SnowWhite2]

We did this cruise in Jan/Feb 2016 and it was fantastic. It is tied with the Alaska cruise as the best DCL cruise we've taken. Lots of B2B people and the switch was seamless. We did have to get off the ship but we ended up getting right back on. Not much was open but the officers opened up the Cove Cafe for a free coffee for everyone. I don't drink coffee but it was a nice gesture from the officers.

 

[Flossbolna]

The PVSA is the "antiquated" law you are referring to. It states that a foreign flagged ship may not transport passengers from one US port to a different US port without a stop in a distant foreign port. A distant foreign port is described as any port NOT in North America, Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (including the Bahama Islands, but not including the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao)

The law views back to back cruises as one cruise. The cruises you want to take would transport you from Galveston to Port Canaveral with no distant foreign port visited. So is, therefore, illegal.

Cruises from Puerto Rico are exempt from the law, so a back to back from San Juan to Port Canaveral doesn't have the distant foreign port requirement. And the B2B San Juan round trip with San Juan/Port Canaveral is legal.

I just realised that when the Wonder does the Southern Caribbean itineraries in January 2018, you could actually do all of those and the two transitioning cruises from Galveston to San Juan and the back to Miami as those cruises go to the Netherlands Antilles. That would be a month on the Wonder to get from Galveston to Miami. Walking might be quicker... ;-)

 

[RedSox68]

That's a terrific itinerary and a great idea for a b2b -- almost all the ports would be new for us. Maybe 2018 since we have the WBTA booked for next year's budget.

Yeah, we put in for price quotes when the 2018 prices came out, but could not justify the costs. It was just two expensive, but loved the thought of it