Leaving a cruise early?

[Figee17]

Does anyone have any experience with a member of your party having to leave a cruise early? We leave on the Wonder on March 1 and my husband just found out that he needs to be in Seattle on March 6 to give a presentation for his company. The only port on our cruise he can possible "leave" from is Cozumel - the only other stop is Castaway Cay. Cozumel is day 3 of our cruise. We're bummed (understatement), but its necessary Not sure how that works though.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does anyone have any experience with a member of your party having to leave a cruise early? We leave on the Wonder on March 1 and my husband just found out that he needs to be in Seattle on March 6 to give a presentation for his company. The only port on our cruise he can possible "leave" from is Cozumel - the only other stop is Castaway Cay. Cozumel is day 3 of our cruise. We're bummed (understatement), but its necessary Not sure how that works though.

Legally, it's possible to do this. You need to contact DCL directly and find out how/if they will permit it.

It used to be real easy to do this. But, recently, many cruiselines are not allowing it. The issue is when the cruiseline prepares the ship's roster of passengers for pre-clearance processing prior to returning to the US. A closed loop cruise has a much easier (quicker) process than a "foreign itinerary" cruise. If even only one passenger debarks a ship at a foreign port when they embarked in a US port it's now considered a "foreign itinerary" cruise and not a "closed loop", and the process is much more involved and many cruiselines are opting not to do it any longer.

So, ask DCL, but be prepared for the answer to possibly be "no".

 

[Figee17]

Yikes! I was afraid of that.

 

[closetmickey]

Someone on my upcoming DCL European Cruise is leaving early- from a country different from that which we will embark/debark. Good luck!
Though I do not have any personal experience with this, it seems that if they can leave a passenger in port for not making it back to the ship on time (though the assumption would be that they would rejoin eventually) that one would be able to plan to debark early??
Good luck.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Someone on my upcoming DCL European Cruise is leaving early- from a country different from that which we will embark/debark. Good luck!
Though I do not have any personal experience with this, it seems that if they can leave a passenger in port for not making it back to the ship on time (though the assumption would be that they would rejoin eventually) that one would be able to plan to debark early??
Good luck.

On the European cruises it's a different process. Ships in the Med often will embark/debark passengers at ports other than the actual embarkation/debarkation ports. OP is asking about a cruise that begins and ends in a US port basically being changed to a US-foreign port itinerary.

 

[SillyInventor]

European border control is much lighter than US border control. Certainly since most European cruises sail between countries within the European Union, which will ease up any border control due to the free traffic of people within the EU. Only exception will be St. Petersburgh, but I don't think Russian government will allow you to stay there an a cruise visa...
US border control is monstrous for any traveler coming from outside the USA compared to that. So I don't think you can compare the two.

 

[mhconley]

If my company needed me back to make a presentation after I had paid out of pocket for a non-refundable cruise my company would need to cough up the money to move the cruise to another date. Just saying... We work so that we can support our families and have a life outside of work, not vice versa.

Martin

 

[perditax]

Just curious, not argumentative: how would they stop you if you had the appropriate identification at the airport?

Or do you need to be able to prove how you got into a country (e.g., Mexico) before you can leave it again?

(Needless to say I am not very traveled.)

 

[Figee17]

Guess I chose the wrong itinerary - that stinks (I'm restraining myself and using mild language)
I guess we'll have a definitive answer soon (he's currently in Seattle on business and is supposed to be making the call to DCL soon).
And since we're just over 2 weeks out there's not much to do in terms of canceling a person, transferring my parents from their room to our suite (that my *husband* insisted we have). So bummed!
I'll let you know definitively how it turns out...

 

[SillyInventor]

Just curious, not argumentative: how would they stop you if you had the appropriate identification at the airport?

Or do you need to be able to prove how you got into a country (e.g., Mexico) before you can leave it again?

(Needless to say I am not very traveled.)

Visa requirements are usually waived for cruise travelers for the day a ship docks in the country. You will not be able to pass border control at an airport if you require a (even tourist) visa to visit the country and you don't have it.
I honestly don't think DCL can stop you from leaving the ship and not returning, but taking your luggage with you on a port adventure will raise some questions at the gangway...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just curious, not argumentative: how would they stop you if you had the appropriate identification at the airport?

Or do you need to be able to prove how you got into a country (e.g., Mexico) before you can leave it again?

(Needless to say I am not very traveled.)

Yes, because, coming ashore from a cruise ship, you don't clear immigration/customs as you would if you entered the country through the airport or crossing the border by vehicle. When you show up at the airport, you could have problems because you haven't properly entered the country.

Figee17 - I know DCL has somewhat recently allowed early departure from the ship, so you really need to call and ask them. I'll just recommend asking for a supervisor to make that determination - and get it in writing. The CMs on the phone most likely will not have to proper answer, so push it up the chain of command.

 

[SillyInventor]

Guess I chose the wrong itinerary - that stinks (I'm restraining myself and using mild language)
I guess we'll have a definitive answer soon (he's currently in Seattle on business and is supposed to be making the call to DCL soon).
And since we're just over 2 weeks out there's not much to do in terms of canceling a person, transferring my parents from their room to our suite (that my *husband* insisted we have). So bummed!
I'll let you know definitively how it turns out...

Well if the company requires this on such short notice the company should compensate him for that as this must be an expensive trip (just the two of you in a suite!!)
He will be bummed for not being in that suite with you.

 

[Figee17]

Well if the company requires this on such short notice the company should compensate him for that as this must be an expensive trip (just the two of you in a suite!!)
He will be bummed for not being in that suite with you.

Its a whole 3 of us in a 1 bedroom, we have a 4.5 year old. Yup, bummed, mad, there are so many words I could use...

 

[SirDuff]

Legally, it's possible to do this. You need to contact DCL directly and find out how/if they will permit it.

It used to be real easy to do this. But, recently, many cruiselines are not allowing it. The issue is when the cruiseline prepares the ship's roster of passengers for pre-clearance processing prior to returning to the US. A closed loop cruise has a much easier (quicker) process than a "foreign itinerary" cruise. If even only one passenger debarks a ship at a foreign port when they embarked in a US port it's now considered a "foreign itinerary" cruise and not a "closed loop", and the process is much more involved and many cruiselines are opting not to do it any longer.

So, ask DCL, but be prepared for the answer to possibly be "no".

What could they actually do if someone did just leave? In the OP's situation, I guess that they could take it out on her family (the ones still on board), but otherwise? I guess that they could stop someone if they tried to get off the ship with all their luggage.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What could they actually do if someone did just leave? In the OP's situation, I guess that they could take it out on her family (the ones still on board), but otherwise? I guess that they could stop someone if they tried to get off the ship with all their luggage.

It's not so much the cruiseline that would do something, although I suppose they could assess a fine against them for any additional costs involved with the different paperwork processing necessary when the cruise changed from a "closed-loop" to a "foreign itinerary" cruise (if there are any).

Plus, it's more likely the country that the person trying to leave early is now trying to get out of could have questions for them as to how they got into the country without the proper documents.

 

[Figee17]

He travels very light, so that probably wouldn't be an issue, lol. But, if leaving the country is going to be an issue or when they realize that one person didn't get back on the ship - I'm sure the protocol is not just to say "oh well, and we're off!" Like I said, I haven't heard anything official yet, still waiting on him to call in between meetings today.

 

[lbgraves]

...
And since we're just over 2 weeks out there's not much to do in terms of canceling a person, transferring my parents from their room to our suite (that my *husband* insisted we have). So bummed!
I'll let you know definitively how it turns out...

The one thing you can do is do a name change with someone new for your DH's place in the room. There is a $50 name change fee at this point, but your DH would not be able to go at all. This would be less expensive than dealing with airfare from Cozumel to Seattle. Is there anyone else in the family you can switch, a close friend who can help you out with the child as well maybe?

 

[MunFam]

Doesn't your travel insurance cover work related emergencies? I know our does. We would be able to cancel or rebook without penalties.

 

[Figee17]

We did get travel insurance, so I'll check into that once we get "official" word. We are traveling with my parents too though (in a different cabin), so that complicated things like rebooking, etc.

 

[SillyInventor]

That and getting a new cruise in a suite is not always easy as there are not so many suites to choose from and they rapidly sell out. So even if you should be able to cancel and get reimbursed you are looking at quite a while before you have a new opportunity.
All so sad.