San Juan and Passenger Vessel Service act - help needed

[Thorb73]

Hmm. First reply on my email where I asked to escalate to Compliance.

This time it came from a ‚cruise vacation consultant ‚.
He wrote :
I spoke with one of our Shoreside Guest Service Supervisors and they advised that because this trip starts in Fort Lauderdale, but returns to Port Canaveral this would violate the Passenger Vessel Services Act. You ideally could do cruise #1 and #2 or cruise #2 and cruise #3, but not all three.

I again replied and explained why I think this is wrong and asked again to escalate to Compliance …

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It should be perfectly fine. Even though you are technically doing a B2B2B. In the eyes of the law you are not. You are being disembarked at each port. That is why you need to leave the ship. The ship is then cleared and you are brought back on board. There is no actual B2B crushing being involved. Each leg is legal and is considered a separate cruise.
Have fun cruising!!

Nope. In the eyes of the PVSA, they look at where a passenger first embarks on a specific ship and where the same passenger disembarks from the same ship. Back to back cruises are viewed a one cruise.

A FL/SJ followed by the next SJ/SJ round trip followed by the next SJ/PC cruise would show the passenger boarding in Ft Lauderdale and getting off the ship in Port Canaveral. That's not allowed by the PVSA. UNLESS ONE OF THOSE CRUISES INCLUDES A STOP AT A DISTANT FOREIGN PORT.

A FL/SJ B2B with SJ/PC does not include a DISTANT foreign port stop (usually), so is not allowed by the PVSA.

 

[Thorb73]

Just spoke to a shoreside guest services supervisor and she got in contact with the compliance team and finally confirmed that I would be correct and that I‘m not violating the PVSA as long as I do all three cruises together.

I just hope this is finally true… good luck everyone next week with all your bookings and thanks again for your support!

 

[xiphoid76]

Nope. In the eyes of the PVSA, they look at where a passenger first embarks on a specific ship and where the same passenger disembarks from the same ship. Back to back cruises are viewed a one cruise.

A FL/SJ followed by the next SJ/SJ round trip followed by the next SJ/PC cruise would show the passenger boarding in Ft Lauderdale and getting off the ship in Port Canaveral. That's not allowed by the PVSA. UNLESS ONE OF THOSE CRUISES INCLUDES A STOP AT A DISTANT FOREIGN PORT.

A FL/SJ B2B with SJ/PC does not include a DISTANT foreign port stop (usually),

 

[xiphoid76]

That’s not how the PVSA works. PVSA looks at the initial embarkation and final debarkation and everything in between is considered a port stop.

 

[jwalk03]

It should be perfectly fine. Even though you are technically doing a B2B2B. In the eyes of the law you are not. You are being disembarked at each port. That is why you need to leave the ship. The ship is then cleared and you are brought back on board. There is no actual B2B crushing being involved. Each leg is legal and is considered a separate cruise.
Have fun cruising!!

Nope not how it works at all. If you are doing a back to back that violates the PVSA simply debarking and re-embarking does not make the trip compliant. You will not be allowed to do it. Compliance will catch it and you will be forced to cancel one leg of the the cruise.

Or in the very unlikely scenario you were allowed to do it you would be be responsible for paying the fine for violating the PVSA.

 

[NuclearDad]

So I sent the question in and got a similar answer to what THorb73 got. I called the name on the email and talked with them to fully explain what I was concerned about. They went away for a while (40 minutes), talked with member services and "leadership" and came back with the answer that this combination of B2B2B will be allowed. I planning to try and book it on Wednesday when our booking window opens.

 

[Thorb73]

Well, I’ve just asked my TA to book this B2B2B for me on Monday. I’ll let you know if I get shot down or if they let me do it. My last DCL cruise was a B2B2B from NY/Bermuda/NY, NY/Bermuda/SJ, SJ/SJ with Aruba. Cross your fingers that it will go through!

May I ask if your TA has been successful ?

 

[Debbru]

I booked this b2b2b this morning online. Had no problems.

 

[Thorb73]

Bibbidi, bobbidi, booked!

Thanks again all !! And see some of you on the ship!

 

[SnowWhite2]

I was able to book. Sorry for the late response. Having family health issues.

 

[NuclearDad]

Got booked on the B2B2B yesterday. Now only (checks the navigator app) 591 days to wait. Gonna have to book some trips between now and then.

At some point I'd like some input from people who have done B2B cruises before. This will be our first. We would like to get off the ship and walk around San Juan when we dock there. Just curious if anyone else has done that when doing a B2B. I realize that's not really an option at Port Canaveral, but do you think we'll have time to something in San Juan?

 

[Lewisc]

DCL concern might be if a change in itinerary, schedule change not weather related, dropped ABC islands.

 

[lanejudy]

At some point I'd like some input from people who have done B2B cruises before. This will be our first. We would like to get off the ship and walk around San Juan when we dock there. Just curious if anyone else has done that when doing a B2B. I realize that's not really an option at Port Canaveral, but do you think we'll have time to something in San Juan?

If you get off and leave the terminal, you will need to go back through security/check-in like others who are embarking. Be aware of the all aboard time.

 

[gatordoc]

Got booked on the B2B2B yesterday. Now only (checks the navigator app) 591 days to wait. Gonna have to book some trips between now and then.

At some point I'd like some input from people who have done B2B cruises before. This will be our first. We would like to get off the ship and walk around San Juan when we dock there. Just curious if anyone else has done that when doing a B2B. I realize that's not really an option at Port Canaveral, but do you think we'll have time to something in San Juan?

We’ve done that in San Juan. We booked a tour of the old city with Viator. Took an Uber to the meeting location, saw a lot of the major sites over a few hours, had lunch, then took an Uber back to the ship with plenty of time to spare. They had given us a “ticket” to reboard, but make sure you have your passport, etc. to check back in.

 

[Calantha]

Glad this worked out. I wish I had that much time to do it!

 

[happycamper47]

Got booked on the B2B2B yesterday. Now only (checks the navigator app) 591 days to wait. Gonna have to book some trips between now and then.

At some point I'd like some input from people who have done B2B cruises before. This will be our first. We would like to get off the ship and walk around San Juan when we dock there. Just curious if anyone else has done that when doing a B2B. I realize that's not really an option at Port Canaveral, but do you think we'll have time to something in San Juan?

Unless things have changed you will not be docking downtown at the Old San Juan Pier, DCL only uses that dock when stopping for the day. The Pan American Pier is where they home port for new cruises. You will need to take a cab since it is about a 10 minute ride.

 

[NuclearDad]

Unless things have changed you will not be docking downtown at the Old San Juan Pier, DCL only uses that dock when stopping for the day. The Pan American Pier is where they home port for new cruises. You will need to take a cab since it is about a 10 minute ride.

Good to know. It might change our plans a little, but nothing we can't prepare for.