Anyone ever joined the cruise late?

[Dare2Believe]

We may (MAY!) be delayed/cancelled for our flight out on Sunday for our Monday cruise due to the weather/backlog from this past storm...We have the trip insurance that covers trip delay and getting to the next port (Key West). Hoping this DOESN'T happen, though.

 

Just curious...have any of you ever joined a cruise late?

[yoursurfer]

The last I heard was that unless it was airlines fault and you have documentation of such only with Carnivals prior approval is it possible. I would call them ASAP! I personally would start driving or finding another flight.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We may (MAY!) be delayed/cancelled for our flight out on Sunday for our Monday cruise due to the weather/backlog from this past storm...We have the trip insurance that covers trip delay and getting to the next port (Key West). Hoping this DOESN'T happen, though.

 

Just curious...have any of you ever joined a cruise late?

 

Boarding in Key West would probably not be allowed as that is a violation of the PVSA.

 

Good Luck and hope you make it put on time and don't have to worry about this.:)

 

Bill

[Dare2Believe]

I spoke with both Carnival and the travel protection company today..they said as long as we confirm within 24 hours of the ship's departure (i.e. as soon as we find out our flight is delayed/cancelled due to weather) it would be fine. Due to the Jones Act we have to pay $300p/p to switch embarkation ports, but that's covered by the $500 trip delay protection.

 

Sucks! I hope we don't have to worry about this..

[mymirabella]

How far is the drive? You could rent a car for one way so you would still be able to fly home.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I'm quite surprised they are willing to let you pay the $300 pp as that is very rare.

 

There was a poor guy a couple weeks ago on here that forgot his birth certificate and his wife and daughter had to board without him. he got his passport the next day and they refused to let him join up with the cruise in Nassau.

 

Maybe because of the weather they are making exceptions.

 

Again let's hope you just make your original flight.:)

 

Bill

[Biffer1997]

Do they charge a fee if you have to leave the cruise early to fly home? Always hear about embarking late, but have never read if there were any consequences for debarking early.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Do they charge a fee if you have to leave the cruise early to fly home? Always hear about embarking late, but have never read if there were any consequences for debarking early.

 

If you left the ship early it would have to be in a non US port.

 

There is no fee but you would lose the rest of your cruise and not get a refund unless it was for an illness and you had travel insurance.

 

Bill

[luckynumber6]

About 5 years ago, we arrived in Miami late due to weather delays with flights. We had been in touch with cruise line along the way…we did not get travel insurance as it was a 4 day cruise and got it for a great price and just at the time didn't seem worth it. We thought the ship was leaving as we landed in Miami. We later found out the ship was delayed from leaving for some reason and we could have made the ship!!! But, the cruise line was telling us that the ship was actually leaving port. The cruise line then advised us to meet them in Nassau. We always travel with passports…so we jumped on a one way same day flight from Miami to Nassau. The ticket was not very expensive, but the security we had to go through was lengthy in both Miami and Nassau as it was a same day, one way flight. Everything was searched including us, we had to present our cruise documents in Nassau showing that we were "chasing" the ship….We stayed in a terrible hotel in Nassau as we beat the ship there….once we went to the port when the ship was in dock in Nassau…we could only go so far as someone had to "claim" us from the ship. We were in this holding pen type thing…we had to call cruise line again, they had to get in touch with ship, send someone out form ship with documents that proved to Nassau authority we really belonged on the ship. In the end it cost about an extra $400 when we missed the ship…My husband and I still look back at this and laugh all the time. I am not saying it was easy or cheap or would want to do it again. But, it was such a comedy of errors that you had to laugh at it. We never ever fly in the day of the cruise now - no matter what. Lesson learned. By the way….when you missed a day (at least 5 years ago) they took he tips and fees off for a day…so we would laugh about that too how our 24 hour adventure - we got like $28 back from cruise.

[billie5]

Boarding in Key West would probably not be allowed as that is a violation of the PVSA.

Bill

 

Sometimes approved, sometimes not. From what I read on CC, for clear weather related causes, especially the well-advertised ones like recent days, approval is MORE likely than denial.

Edited March 5, 2014 by billie5

[Biffer1997]

If you left the ship early it would have to be in a non US port.

 

There is no fee but you would lose the rest of your cruise and not get a refund unless it was for an illness and you had travel insurance.

 

Bill

 

What could they do to you if you left at a US port? Say you had to get off in Key West and had not visited any foreign ports? Couldn't you just walk off the ship with all your things and go to the airport? Or would the authorities track you down?

[okgirl]

I'm quite surprised they are willing to let you pay the $300 pp as that is very rare.

 

There was a poor guy a couple weeks ago on here that forgot his birth certificate and his wife and daughter had to board without him. he got his passport the next day and they refused to let him join up with the cruise in Nassau.

 

Maybe because of the weather they are making exceptions.

 

Again let's hope you just make your original flight.:)

 

Bill

 

The man was refused because it was his fault that he didn't have the correct travel documentation.

 

Carnival recently said that due to the abuse of this situation they will no longer allow guests to catch up to the ship unless it is a documented failure of a common carrier.

 

Even if your car breaks down on the way they won't allow you to catch up.

[Elaine5715]

Also whenever there is this type of passenger "catching" up to the ship in another port, missing the ship from a port or any time the manifests don't match up exactly, it takes additional time with Customs when the ship returns for the ship to get clearance.

So, when they do allow a passenger to join later, this can impact those with tight return flight times.

[Sparky2]

Also whenever there is this type of passenger "catching" up to the ship in another port, missing the ship from a port or any time the manifests don't match up exactly, it takes additional time with Customs when the ship returns for the ship to get clearance.

So, when they do allow a passenger to join later, this can impact those with tight return flight times.

 

Very good point, Elaine. It could cause problems for a lot of pax.

[RD64]

Although things may have changed over the years...

 

In 2008 there was a massive storm in Ontario, Quebec, and the Eastern seabord - we were allowed to catch up with the ship in San Juan - mind you we were not the only ones. I think there were approximately 200 passengers that boarded in san Juan - the first port of call.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

What could they do to you if you left at a US port? Say you had to get off in Key West and had not visited any foreign ports? Couldn't you just walk off the ship with all your things and go to the airport? Or would the authorities track you down?

 

They would probably fine you $300pp.

 

Bill