Disembarking cruise prior to final port

We are considering a cruise to the Baltics next year. Rather than start and finish in Copenhagen (Princess Regal) I wonder if we could take a Celebrity cruise to/from Amsterdam and disembark in Copenhagen and forego the last day at sea?

you have to ask the cruise line. it is not as simple as just walking off the pier that day with your luggage in hand. you need advance permission and there must be available pier side personnel to process the disembarkation. and you may be charged a fee if it is permitted.

In Europe, you need only clear it with the cruise line. No immigration because it is going from one EU country to another. No customs as you will be in transit. Just a matter of no help with luggage. People do it all the time in Europe. EM

Just get it in writing from the cruise line it is not a problem in Europe

It is pretty much up to the cruise line -and not limited to EU . It is also possible to debark a T/A in the first or second US port rather than completing itinerary.

The advice you received is good.

You do need to confirm this with the cruise line and in writing.

Assuming it is a go bring the confirmation with you and when you board stop by the reception desk to go over it with them.

Keith

I have been with others who have done this in European ports, so it is doable. But as previous posters have noted, they all pre arranged it with the cruise line and did not just walk off on their own.

I have been with others who have done this in European ports, so it is doable. But as previous posters have noted, they all pre arranged it with the cruise line and did not just walk off on their own.

Many years ago, we got on a Princess ship in Venice... got off in La havre France... a day early instead of going to Southampton England. We arranged it in advance, had an approval in writing from the cruise line... the night before we went to customer service, paid our on line bill... and then got off the following morning with no problem at all.

..........got off in La havre France... a day early instead of going to Southampton England..

That's a pretty frequent arrangement for Southampton to Southampton cruises. It means folk can fly into London pre-cruise for a few days, then spend a few days post-cruise in Paris before flying home from there :)

Jumping ship in Amsterdam rather than returning to Copenhagen makes the same sense. :)

No problem with immigration. but you do need the cruise line's OK - and best to get it by e-mail rather than just verbal.

Book open-jaw (aka multi-city) return flights from one airline or airline alliance - waaaaay cheaper than a one-way to Copenhagen and a one-way from Amsterdam.

JB :)

We have disembarked a day early on a few European cruises. Each cruise line has their own formalized procedure so you need to contact whichever cruise line you will be taking and ask for their procedure. We know of one cruise line that has recently started charging a small fee for early disembarkation...but most do it gratis. Sometimes you will have to complete a form....and other times it is just a matter of sending an e-mail and making the request. You want pre cruise approval in writing (usually via an e-mail). Once aboard the cruise ship we usually stop at Guest Relations the 2nd or 3rd day (to avoid the initial lines at embarkation) and remind them of our intent to disembark early. Sometimes they will be aware of our request (and approval) and other times the onboard staff will have no clue :). Having a written copy of the history (request, approval, etc) can be really helpful to the onboard staff. Some of the cruise lines are very supportive...even having you leave your luggage outside your cabin on your last night...so they can have it waiting for you when you disembark.

Hank

you have to ask the cruise line. it is not as simple as just walking off the pier that day with your luggage in hand. you need advance permission and there must be available pier side personnel to process the disembarkation. and you may be charged a fee if it is permitted.

Much easier to do in the Europe, than on cruises that touch the US.

My friend does this all the time. Her and her husband will take a Med cruise from Southampton and get off on the way back at either Malaga or Gibraltar. She has a holiday home between these two cities and takes advantage of the no luggage weight restrictions on a cruise by taking loads of stuff on the cruise that's needed for the Spanish house. She just goes to Guest Relations the day before the port stop and informs them that she won't be coming back on. She's never had a problem and what can they do anyway to stop her? If she's not back on by the time of sailing, the ship will just go without them.

Apparently some say they have a 'personal/family matter' to attend to and then leave.

My friend does this all the time. Her and her husband will take a Med cruise from Southampton and get off on the way back at either Malaga or Gibraltar. She has a holiday home between these two cities and takes advantage of the no luggage weight restrictions on a cruise by taking loads of stuff on the cruise that's needed for the Spanish house. She just goes to Guest Relations the day before the port stop and informs them that she won't be coming back on. She's never had a problem and what can they do anyway to stop her? If she's not back on by the time of sailing, the ship will just go without them.

Well, that wouldn't fly if the cruise were from/to two different US ports. Yes, it's not likely that they would physically make you stay onboard, but if you get off, making the cruise illegal, you'd be fined $300 (per person). But, I suppose that's still cheaper than shipping household goods from one location to another. But, if you did it more than once, you'd probably be banned from the cruise line involved. Since the fine is assessed against the cruise line and they will pass it along via your onboard account.

Well, that wouldn't fly if the cruise were from/to two different US ports. Yes, it's not likely that they would physically make you stay onboard, but if you get off, making the cruise illegal, you'd be fined $300 (per person). But, I suppose that's still cheaper than shipping household goods from one location to another. But, if you did it more than once, you'd probably be banned from the cruise line involved. Since the fine is assessed against the cruise line and they will pass it along via your onboard account.

This is totally irrelevant, as the OP specifically about Europe. EM

This is totally irrelevant, as the OP specifically about Europe. EM

I was responding to that poster's post. It was written like it's a totally normal thing to do.

"She just goes to Guest Relations the day before the port stop and informs them that she won't be coming back on. She's never had a problem and what can they do anyway to stop her? If she's not back on by the time of sailing, the ship will just go without them."

I get that we're talking about getting off early on a European cruise.