San Juan and Passenger Vessel Service act - help needed

[jwalk03]

Thanks for all your input. I do have an email inquiry still open with DCL and will wait for this answer. Based on the outcome I might indeed try to escalate it with all your helpful input.
I will let you know if things change.

Yes- please do. Its a very interesting scenario and would love to know the outcome!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi all,

looking at the new itineraries for 2026/2027 there is one potential trip which got our attention.
However I'm not 100% sure if this can be done with the Passenger Vessel Service Act in Place...

The idea would be:
4 Night Eastern Caribbean from FLL ending in San Juan April 12-16 2027
B2B with
7 Night Southern Caribbean from San Juan April 16-23 2027
B2B with
4 Night Eastern Caribbean from San Juan ending in Port Canaveral April 23-27 th

I know I can't do Only Cruise 1 and Cruise 3 because of PVSA since there is no foreign port in between. But when I add the 7 night then I will be visiting foreign ports and it is my understanding that this should be allowed.

I hope that some of you are more expirienced in reading the PVSA as I am and I would like to know if it makes sense in trying to book this or if this is not allowed.

Thanks a lot!!

The deal is you must visit a DISTANT foreign port during the cruise.

Let's step back a bit. In the eyes of the PVSA the entire cruise is where one person embarks on a ship and where the same person disembarks from the ship. In your proposal, the cruise is from Ft Laudderdale to Port Canaveral. You must visit a DISTANT foreign port for the cruise to be legal.

A distant foreign port is described as any port that is NOT in North or Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (except the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao).

If your proposed cruise does not stop at a DISTANT foreign port, it's not legal.

 

[jwalk03]

The deal is you must visit a DISTANT foreign port during the cruise.

Let's step back a bit. In the eyes of the PVSA the entire cruise is where one person embarks on a ship and where the same person disembarks from the ship. In your proposal, the cruise is from Ft Laudderdale to Port Canaveral. You must visit a DISTANT foreign port for the cruise to be legal.

A distant foreign port is described as any port that is NOT in North or Central America, the Bermuda Islands, or the West Indies (except the Leeward Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, i.e., Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao).

If your proposed cruise does not stop at a DISTANT foreign port, it's not legal.

But this cruise does visit a distant foreign port- 2 actually. Aruba & Curacao.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But this cruise does visit a distant foreign port- 2 actually. Aruba & Curacao.

Then is is legal. Now, the question remains if DCL is willing to let you book it. I know that someone had difficulty convincing DCL that their B2B2B was legal and DCL told them they had to cancel one of the legs. They, however, didn't pursue it and changed out the whole cruise for a different trip.

THEN DCL notified them that their original plans were OK.

I do know, if you're having issues with the PVSA requirements, you need to be talking to the Compliance Department.

 

[jwalk03]

Then is is legal. Now, the question remains if DCL is willing to let you book it. I know that someone had difficulty convincing DCL that their B2B2B was legal and DCL told them they had to cancel one of the legs. They, however, didn't pursue it and changed out the whole cruise for a different trip.

THEN DCL notified them that their original plans were OK.

I do know, if you're having issues with the PVSA requirements, you need to be talking to the Compliance Department.

Agreed. It is legal regardless of what the cast member said.

 

[European]

Then is is legal. Now, the question remains if DCL is willing to let you book it. I know that someone had difficulty convincing DCL that their B2B2B was legal and DCL told them they had to cancel one of the legs. They, however, didn't pursue it and changed out the whole cruise for a different trip.

THEN DCL notified them that their original plans were OK.

I do know, if you're having issues with the PVSA requirements, you need to be talking to the Compliance Department.

Yes, that person wanted to book Sydney-Honolulu + Honolulu-Vancouver + Vancouver-San Diego. DCL first told them they couldn’t book the 3rd leg, but then changed their minds.

 

[mcd2745]

Yes, that person wanted to book Sydney-Honolulu + Honolulu-Vancouver + Vancouver-San Diego. DCL first told them they couldn’t book the 3rd leg, but then changed their minds.

Jeez....they would have been on the ship for over month, no?

(totally not jealous, btw......




...yeah, right)

 

[Thorb73]

Hi ,
Received an email answer from DCL -

There are no new sail dates that violate the Passenger Vessel Services Act for 2027.


Thank you for choosing to sail with Disney Cruise Line. Happy Booking!

So this is the direct opposite from what the rep on the phone told me but perhaps it is correct.
Will see if I can book it Tuesday and if they will ask to cancel later …

Thanks again for all your input !

 

[NuclearDad]

I glad to hear this answer because we are looking at this also. My concern is the way DCL answered this could be interpreted as there are no single cruises that would violate the PVSA. But I'm assuming you specifically asked about the B2B2B scenario that some of us are considering.

 

[otten]

Hi ,
Received an email answer from DCL -

There are no new sail dates that violate the Passenger Vessel Services Act for 2027.


Thank you for choosing to sail with Disney Cruise Line. Happy Booking!

So this is the direct opposite from what the rep on the phone told me but perhaps it is correct.
Will see if I can book it Tuesday and if they will ask to cancel later …

Thanks again for all your input !

I’m not sure the ‘person’ who answered that email actually understood your question and it reads like a bot answered. My interpretation of that answer is that Disney does not have any currently scheduled individual sailings which would violate the pvsa (well yea of course not) but it does NOT confirm that your proposed back to back to back plans would be allowed. I think you need to continue to push for an answer from the compliance team.

 

[Thorb73]

I’m not sure the ‘person’ who answered that email actually understood your question and it reads like a bot answered. My interpretation of that answer is that Disney does not have any currently scheduled individual sailings which would violate the pvsa (well yea of course not) but it does NOT confirm that your proposed back to back to back plans would be allowed. I think you need to continue to push for an answer from the compliance team.

I actually do have the same impression. I did sent the exact same wording as in my original post here.

I will try to get this forwarded to the compliance team.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[iona]

I’m interested to see how this turns out. Just to check though, even if B2B2B isn’t doable we think it’s possible to do either:
4 Night Eastern Caribbean from FLL ending in San Juan April B2B with 7 Night Southern Caribbean from San Juan April
or
7 Night Southern Caribbean from San Juan April B2B with 4 Night Eastern Caribbean from San Juan ending in Port Canaveral?