Guests on board at ports of call?

Any-one know if you can have guests on board at ports of call?

I have an upcoming round trip of Australia - Sydney to Sydney. When our cruise visits Brisbane for the day, would I be able to get my daughter (who lives in Bris) on for a few hours - similar to like the BVE (actually not sure if BVE's are even available here in Aus) ?

The only cruise line I know of that allows guests on board during port stops is Crystal, and it has to be arranged in advance, I believe.

This is with Princess - couple months away yet.

The Brisbane port of call is actually a embarkation day for some (though not for us of course), so was hoping they might let guests on as a BVE.

No, Princess doesn't allow that. And as far as I know there are no BVEs at Aussie ports.

Generally the answer would be "No". However, I was really surprised on a New Zealand cruise (Princess) a year or so ago when one couple from Australia organised for their grandson (around 10 years old) to come on board during one of the ports of call in NZ. I do not know who they spoke to to organise this.

The other exceptions are crew who sometimes have their family come on board for a few hours and travel agents who organise a group tour of the ship.

Any-one know if you can have guests on board at ports of call?

 

I have an upcoming round trip of Australia - Sydney to Sydney. When our cruise visits Brisbane for the day, would I be able to get my daughter (who lives in Bris) on for a few hours - similar to like the BVE (actually not sure if BVE's are even available here in Aus) ?

you will have to spend the day ashore with your daughter, no ones allowed to have visitors onboard except maybe a few officers and friends

The only cruise line I know of that allows guests on board during port stops is Crystal, and it has to be arranged in advance, I believe.

One of the other luxury lines also allows it - can't remember which one at the moment

Crystal do allow it but guests have to be requested and approved in advance and there is a charge to cover drinks and snacks onboard and a further charge if they dine in the restaurants or have the formal afternoon tea

Send the cruise line an email...the worst they can say is no.

Princess does do it for high status passengers. We were invited on board when one of the Princess ships was in Wellington NZ. The passenger was a high status lady ( She has undertaken a lot of cruises on Princess) and she had to personally write to the Captain for permission.

Princess does do it for high status passengers. We were invited on board when one of the Princess ships was in Wellington NZ. The passenger was a high status lady ( She has undertaken a lot of cruises on Princess) and she had to personally write to the Captain for permission.

I am pretty sure that the woman who brought her grandson onto the ship in NZ said she wrote to the captain when she got on board. :) I don't know how many cruises she has done with Princess.

Send the cruise line an email...the worst they can say is no.

I doubt anyone on shore would give permission .

As Bb41 has said , it can only be done once on board , and even then ,only with prior approval from the Captain. Ships security need at least 2 days prior to the port to assemble the list of any visitors for security clearance

I am pretty sure that the woman who brought her grandson onto the ship in NZ said she wrote to the captain when she got on board. :) I don't know how many cruises she has done with Princess.

Its funny you should say this as "our" lady had her grandson with her on this occasion.

On a round Australia cruise on the Celebrity Solstice we made informal requests about bring guests on board in Perth. We were told by Guest relations that it "was" possible but not on this occasion as it was the end of one cruise and start of another.

I have to take from this whilst the rules say no it is possible given the right circumstances. If the cruise lines can bring travel agents on board for a looksee and lunch anything is "possible".

It is not allowed for a very good reason. Could you imagine what the ship would be like if all 2,000+ passengers decided to bring a guest(s) on board for a visit. It would not be a holiday would it? It would exhaust all the services to the neglect of paying passengers. Princess cruises makes it clear in their announcements for the safety and comfort of passengers guests are not allowed on the ship.

I personally hope it stays that way as no one should be bringing friends, family, colleagues on a cruise ship for a visit that has not paid to be there.

Even travel agents are escorted around the ship so they do not get in the way of passengers.

It is not allowed for a very good reason. Could you imagine what the ship would be like if all 2,000+ passengers decided to bring a guest(s) on board for a visit. It would not be a holiday would it? It would exhaust all the services to the neglect of paying passengers. Princess cruises makes it clear in their announcements for the safety and comfort of passengers guests are not allowed on the ship.

 

I personally hope it stays that way as no one should be bringing friends, family, colleagues on a cruise ship for a visit that has not paid to be there.

 

Even travel agents are escorted around the ship so they do not get in the way of passengers.

This is what would have been ideal, but looks like Princess don't do the BVE in Australia (though I found this http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2379220&highlight=bve Interesting). I will ring them Monday.

Quite a few of people on our Island Princess cruise from LA are doing the BVE bit, according to the Roll Call, bringing their relos and buddies on board pre sailing for look around, luncheon etc. If they can do it at LA, they can do it here. Another thing we get dudded on...like the free ice cream in Scoops, lack of Elite Lounge on Sea/Dawn/Sun Princesses and god knows what else.

Bve ?

Bve ?

BVE is bon voyage experience which is done by princess US but not for us aussies & kiwis....they can pay a fee and spend a few hours onboard but it has to be booked with princess

BVE is bon voyage experience which is done by princess US but not for us aussies & kiwis....they can pay a fee and spend a few hours onboard but it has to be booked with princess

Thank you. Back in the day when international travel was via ships visitors on board was a common occurrence. I remember as a youngster on the Mariposa in Auckland ending up on the quarterdeck with crew who were cooking up their evening meal when a crew member in white suit came , gave me a clip under the ear and told me I was out of bounds. Perhaps I was a reason why visitors are no longer allowed lol.

Quite a few of people on our Island Princess cruise from LA are doing the BVE bit, according to the Roll Call, bringing their relos and buddies on board pre sailing for look around, luncheon etc. If they can do it at LA, they can do it here. Another thing we get dudded on...like the free ice cream in Scoops, lack of Elite Lounge on Sea/Dawn/Sun Princesses and god knows what else.

What the Hell,i thought we had snuck into the Elite lounge, on the Dawn, last cruise. But now I'm feeling slightly ripped.:eek:

Should I say walked in, not snuck in.

I suggest you send an letter/email to Princess and to the captain and ask if it can happen.

I suggest you send an letter/email to Princess and to the captain and ask if it can happen.

I would not do what MicCanberra suggests but actually wait until you get onboard. I am assuming that your cruise is counter clockwise as is the case with most cruiselines. If this is the case urgency is not an issue. I would go down to Guest relations the day after boarding allowing all the niggles and moans and groans to be dealt with and make an appointment to speak with the Guest Relations Manager and plead your case. If you speak with one of the staff it is too easy for them to say No, not possible and move along to the next passenger. The GRM has more clout and make appropriate suggestions to pave the way to success.

If you write a letter or send an email pre cruise it will be read by a staff member probably ashore and more than likely you will get a stock No answer. Having received this answer and you raise it again on board you are likely to get someone's back up and the wall will come up again with a NO response.

I have found that where one wants something out of the ordinary it is best handled by someone as far up the decision making tree as possible. The Captain's letter will be a formality. If you have done your preparation and told to write a letter you should be on the right side of the ledger.

Best of luck

BVE is bon voyage experience which is done by princess US but not for us aussies & kiwis....they can pay a fee and spend a few hours onboard but it has to be booked with princess

G'day Bob, US$29 for the BVE but only in the land of the free.

What the Hell,i thought we had snuck into the Elite lounge, on the Dawn, last cruise. But now I'm feeling slightly ripped.:eek:

 

Should I say walked in, not snuck in.

You might have walked in on Dr Bob and Bill W's meeting...work that one out. They were non alcoholic cocktails you had.

Then again it could have been the GLBT meet up.

All part of the Princess adventure - Escape Completely and Come Back New.

I would not do what MicCanberra suggests but actually wait until you get onboard. I am assuming that your cruise is counter clockwise as is the case with most cruiselines. If this is the case urgency is not an issue. I would go down to Guest relations the day after boarding allowing all the niggles and moans and groans to be dealt with and make an appointment to speak with the Guest Relations Manager and plead your case. If you speak with one of the staff it is too easy for them to say No, not possible and move along to the next passenger. The GRM has more clout and make appropriate suggestions to pave the way to success.

If you write a letter or send an email pre cruise it will be read by a staff member probably ashore and more than likely you will get a stock No answer. Having received this answer and you raise it again on board you are likely to get someone's back up and the wall will come up again with a NO response.

I have found that where one wants something out of the ordinary it is best handled by someone as far up the decision making tree as possible. The Captain's letter will be a formality. If you have done your preparation and told to write a letter you should be on the right side of the ledger.

Best of luck

I think you have made a good suggestion. :)

I would not do what MicCanberra suggests but actually wait until you get onboard. I am assuming that your cruise is counter clockwise as is the case with most cruiselines. If this is the case urgency is not an issue. I would go down to Guest relations the day after boarding allowing all the niggles and moans and groans to be dealt with and make an appointment to speak with the Guest Relations Manager and plead your case. If you speak with one of the staff it is too easy for them to say No, not possible and move along to the next passenger. The GRM has more clout and make appropriate suggestions to pave the way to success.

If you write a letter or send an email pre cruise it will be read by a staff member probably ashore and more than likely you will get a stock No answer. Having received this answer and you raise it again on board you are likely to get someone's back up and the wall will come up again with a NO response.

I have found that where one wants something out of the ordinary it is best handled by someone as far up the decision making tree as possible. The Captain's letter will be a formality. If you have done your preparation and told to write a letter you should be on the right side of the ledger.

Best of luck

i agree with post # 13 as it would be too much trouble if a lot of people wanted to bring friends/family onboard, if one person got the ok everyone would want to do it so unless it was an authorised BVE princess would maybe say no