PSA: B2B Alaska cruisers

[PrincessShmoo]

But wouldn't it be considered a different cruise as now those passangers have been off the ship for 24 hrs.

The law states "no foreign-flagged ship may transport passengers from one US city to a different US city without a stop at a distant foreign port". So, as long as it's the same ship, it's a "no". Just getting off one day and back on the next is no different than if the ship overnights at a port.

I will point out that many cruiselines have tried to figure out a way around this for many years. The PVSA always wins.

 

[cyclenut]

DCL's Alaska itineraries will be roundtrip from Vancouver in 2013, so that will eliminate the legal problem with b2b cruises at the beginning and end of the season.

Yes it will ... But I am speculating about 2014. This issue is just one more problem with the west coast itineraries that they don't have to deal with on a regular basis elsewhere. I think it makes these itineraries less profitable. That does not sit well with Disney. How patient are they going to be.

 

[jlwhitney]

Yes it will ... But I am speculating about 2014. This issue is just one more problem with the west coast itineraries that they don't have to deal with on a regular basis elsewhere. I think it makes these itineraries less profitable. That does not sit well with Disney. How patient are they going to be.

Actually the Alaska itineraries are very popular. Mexican Riveria is the ones that lost popularity, but that was across all the lines.

Disney learned this year that going out of vancouver was the smarter ideea then seattle. Less issues, better port times and route and such.

This issues is pretty isolated in all reality, in the end the percentage of DCL cruises it effects is pretty low.

 

[Imagineer2Be]

Warning: Sad post

My fiancee and I are in the process of figuring out what to do. We would just cancel, but we used Disney gift cards to pay for the cruise (getting free gas ). Now if we cancel we don't get our money back, but the gift cards just get reloaded (I specifically asked today).

So, word to the wise... even though it saves a ton of money on gas it is not worth the risk.

Monday Sept 3 works because we get married on the 2nd so we can't just switch to the Caribbean.

We think we might just reschedule both. The first one was going to be hectic and have to do something everyday. If we took this one: leaving and coming back and then driving back to DC from Cincy would eat into the next week so we would miss almost another full week of work.

The second one, i was going to the spa and relaxing. But then we would have to go back to work while we wait for the boat.

So I think we will take a "minimoon" somewhere between Cincinnati and DC for 2 nights and then go back to work :'( Anyone have any ideas on how to salvage our honeymoon?

 

[cyclenut]

Warning: Sad post

My fiancee and I are in the process of figuring out what to do. We would just cancel, but we used Disney gift cards to pay for the cruise (getting free gas ). Now if we cancel we don't get our money back, but the gift cards just get reloaded (I specifically asked today).

So, word to the wise... even though it saves a ton of money on gas it is not worth the risk.

Monday Sept 3 works because we get married on the 2nd so we can't just switch to the Caribbean.

We think we might just reschedule both. The first one was going to be hectic and have to do something everyday. If we took this one: leaving and coming back and then driving back to DC from Cincy would eat into the next week so we would miss almost another full week of work.

The second one, i was going to the spa and relaxing. But then we would have to go back to work while we wait for the boat.

So I think we will take a "minimoon" somewhere between Cincinnati and DC for 2 nights and then go back to work :'( Anyone have any ideas on how to salvage our honeymoon?

I don't mean to sound like a broken record here ... But isn't possible to book on Princess to Alaska and keep the same repo cruise on Disney? The dates are exactly the same, but you are on a different line. Does that not work for you guys? Really trying to help here.

 

[mkmommy]

Warning: Sad post

My fiancee and I are in the process of figuring out what to do. We would just cancel, but we used Disney gift cards to pay for the cruise (getting free gas ). Now if we cancel we don't get our money back, but the gift cards just get reloaded (I specifically asked today).

So, word to the wise... even though it saves a ton of money on gas it is not worth the risk.

Monday Sept 3 works because we get married on the 2nd so we can't just switch to the Caribbean.

We think we might just reschedule both. The first one was going to be hectic and have to do something everyday. If we took this one: leaving and coming back and then driving back to DC from Cincy would eat into the next week so we would miss almost another full week of work.

The second one, i was going to the spa and relaxing. But then we would have to go back to work while we wait for the boat.

So I think we will take a "minimoon" somewhere between Cincinnati and DC for 2 nights and then go back to work :'( Anyone have any ideas on how to salvage our honeymoon?

I am so sorry for the stress, don't cancel both. Do the Alaska cruise and then rent a car and go out to Whistler for a few days, I am sure there are some great spas there and the Fly to LA, for your return flight home, or rent a car and drive down the Oregon Coast to LA, it is a beautiful drive.

Regarding the credit to the gift cards, can you not ask DCL to make an exception to the rule, and ask them to refund to your credit card.

 

[Imagineer2Be]

I don't mean to sound like a broken record here ... But isn't possible to book on Princess to Alaska and keep the same repo cruise on Disney? The dates are exactly the same, but you are on a different line. Does that not work for you guys? Really trying to help here.

No, because our cruise money is now tied up in Disney gift cards that we used to pay our cruise off. And I don't see which one you are talking about with a 7 night version with the same dates.

 

[jlwhitney]

No, because our cruise money is now tied up in Disney gift cards that we used to pay our cruise off. And I don't see which one you are talking about with a 7 night version with the same dates.

Why don't you go to disneyland for the other week, you could use the gift cards there for hotel, tickets and most food, and then do one of the cruises (which ever one you want more).

-or-

Could you do the oct 14 night hawain crusie, still two weeks stil disney....make sure disney pays any changed flight fees and then you would be good to go.

There are so many options out there: DL, WDW, different cruises, disney's hilton head or vero beach, adventures by disney.

Look past the disapointment and at the possiblity of something different that may end up even better.

 

[Imagineer2Be]

We are seriously considering Hawaii. We are thinking of rebooking the second on for the new years cruise in 2013 when our family is going. Timing is everything...

 

[jlwhitney]

We are seriously considering Hawaii. We are thinking of rebooking the second on for the new years cruise in 2013 when our family is going. Timing is everything...

Hawaii would make a great honeymoon cruise, even if a few weeks late..with all the sea days it would be super relaxing. PLus you would get 14 different menus, more shows. No repeats like doing a b2b.

 

[jenf22]

I am so sorry for the stress, don't cancel both. Do the Alaska cruise and then rent a car and go out to Whistler for a few days, I am sure there are some great spas there and the Fly to LA, for your return flight home, or rent a car and drive down the Oregon Coast to LA, it is a beautiful drive.

Regarding the credit to the gift cards, can you not ask DCL to make an exception to the rule, and ask them to refund to your credit card.

OOooh! I second the Oregon coast idea! My husband and I did that when we were newlyweds. It was beautiful!

I'm sure I would be freaking out if this were happening to me. But I would honestly keep the Alaska cruise (you sail with us!) and then figure something out. Vancouver, the Oregon coast, Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, DisneyLand. There are almost too many choices. You can also scale back the 7 night cruise to not be so hectic. You can try to work something out where you can get from Vancouver to LA and keep your original flights while still having a blast. Think of the stories you'll have for your children!

With the Disney cards.... I'm not sure the return rate, but you can sell them to gift card exchange places. I know they get sold in seconds of showing up - literally, I check! I typically buy, but I know you can get a better rate if you sell them for Amazon credit.

I, too, am sorry. I'm a high-stress person, so I know I'd be having a hard time too. When we were flying from Seattle to Colorado to get married our connecting flight in St. Louis was cancelled. We had to spend the night there. I remember crying in the airport. But we still made it for the wedding on time and everything was great.

Best of luck to you, whatever you guys decide. And congrats on getting married!

 

[BEAV]

A few comments based on our personal experience with this issue.

Back in 2002 we had booked a B2B on Holland America. LA-Vancouver, Vancouver-Seattle on the same ship and same day "turnaround" in Vancouver.

10 days before departure HAL notified our TA the itinerary was illegal due to PSVA (Passenger Service Vessel Act). HAL had been contacted by US Customs and Border Protection Agency after reviewing the manifests of both sailings and our names popped up on each!

Two points here:

1. HAL offered to pay the $300 per person fine on our behalf, but it was refused by US Customs & Border Protection agency.

2. We were told the itinerary would be legal if we were to stay a minimum 24 hours in Vancouver. This of course was not possible as the ship arrived in the morning and departed later that afternoon.

By our experience, I have to assume the U.S. Gov't won't simply accept the cruise line's offer to pay the $300 per person fine for violating the PSVA and "look the other way".

It would be interesting to know the intricate details of how Disney pulled off the May B2B arrangements with the U.S. Gov't. But, obviously, it was a one time circumstance since they're not allowing it for the reverse Sept B2B.

 

[NancyIL]

A few comments based on our personal experience with this issue.

Back in 2002 we had booked a B2B on Holland America. LA-Vancouver, Vancouver-Seattle on the same ship and same day "turnaround" in Vancouver.

10 days before departure HAL notified our TA the itinerary was illegal due to PSVA (Passenger Service Vessel Act).

Two points here:

1. HAL offered to pay the $300 per person fine on our behalf, but it was refused by US Customs & Border Protection agency.

2. We were told the itinerary would be legal if we were to stay a minimum 24 hours in Vancouver. This of course was not possible as the ship arrived in the morning and departed later that afternoon.

By our experience, I have to assume the U.S. Gov't won't simply accept the cruise line's offer to pay the $300 per person fine for violating the PSVA and "look the other way".

It would be interesting to know the intricate details of how Disney pulled off the May B2B arrangements with the U.S. Gov't. But, obviously, it was a one time circumstance since they're not allowing it for the reverse Sept B2B.

So - what did you do?

 

[BEAV]

So - what did you do?

Cancelled both segments! With only 10 days notice, it was a logistical nightmare to try and salvage either voyage, make alternate arrangements, etc.

Poof!

 

[NancyIL]

Cancelled both segments! With only 10 days notice, it was a logistical nightmare to try and salvage either voyage, make alternate arrangements, etc.

Poof!

How disappointing that must've been! Did you try again another year - without the b2b?

 

[jlwhitney]

A few comments based on our personal experience with this issue.

Back in 2002 we had booked a B2B on Holland America. LA-Vancouver, Vancouver-Seattle on the same ship and same day "turnaround" in Vancouver.

10 days before departure HAL notified our TA the itinerary was illegal due to PSVA (Passenger Service Vessel Act).

Two points here:

1. HAL offered to pay the $300 per person fine on our behalf, but it was refused by US Customs & Border Protection agency.

2. We were told the itinerary would be legal if we were to stay a minimum 24 hours in Vancouver. This of course was not possible as the ship arrived in the morning and departed later that afternoon.

By our experience, I have to assume the U.S. Gov't won't simply accept the cruise line's offer to pay the $300 per person fine for violating the PSVA and "look the other way".

It would be interesting to know the intricate details of how Disney pulled off the May B2B arrangements with the U.S. Gov't. But, obviously, it was a one time circumstance since they're not allowing it for the reverse Sept B2B.

I am sure Disney would have paid the $300 dollar fine if allowed to , because in the end that would have been cheaper and easier.

See, Disney is not the only one to make the mistake.

 

[BEAV]

How disappointing that must've been! Did you try again another year - without the b2b?

We live in the SF Bay Area and have done our fair share of cruises up/down the West Coast.

I am sure Disney would have paid the $300 dollar fine if allowed to , because in the end that would have been cheaper and easier.

I'm sure Disney would have, too. My point in posting that HAL offered to pay the $300 fine was meant to convey the message that, at least in our experience, the U.S Gov't refused to accept. There are no doubt some who think that the cruise line's offer to pay the fine solves the problem straight and simple, however in our case it didn't.