Norveilex Posted February 18, 2014 #1 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Are there any companies that provide boat rides from the USA to Jamaica? I don't mean cruises, but using a boat as a mode of transportation. I want to do some traveling this year and I'm really afraid of flying. So, I'm trying to learn as much about boat travel as I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted February 18, 2014 #2 Share Posted February 18, 2014 1) Plan cruise with cruiseline that includes a stop in Jamaica 2) Pack lightly 3) Get off the boat in Jamaica with all your stuff 4) Done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedl Posted February 18, 2014 #3 Share Posted February 18, 2014 1) Plan cruise with cruiseline that includes a stop in Jamaica2) Pack lightly 3) Get off the boat in Jamaica with all your stuff 4) Done! Only one problem with this. How does the OP get back home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted February 18, 2014 #4 Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) 1) Plan cruise with cruiseline that includes a stop in Jamaica2) Pack lightly 3) Get off the boat in Jamaica with all your stuff 4) Done! It's not that simple: a) You must give advance notice the cruise line in order to disembark in a port of call as they will have to arrange with local immigration and customs authorities to clear you, just as the authorities would if you entered the country by airplane. b) You will pay the full cruise fare despite taking only part of the cruise. c) You will have to find a cruise (for which you will again pay full fare...so now you've paid double fare) that is willing to allow you to embark in Jamaica to return to the US. Cruise lines are increasingly refusing to allow passengers bound for the US on what would normally be a closed loop cruise originating in a US port to embark in a foreign country. The reason is that US CBP is requiring that all passengers have to be cleared upon arrival in the US as if the cruise originated in a foreign country. This means individual passport or documentation checks by CBP for all passengers prior to the ship being cleared for disembarkation. This can casuse hours of delay in the disembarkation process. The real answer to the OP's question is a simple "no". They are looking for a ferry, not a cruise, and there is none. Edited February 18, 2014 by njhorseman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted February 18, 2014 #5 Share Posted February 18, 2014 No ferry service. Perhaps only alternative to flying is to charter a yacht. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted February 18, 2014 #6 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Only one problem with this. How does the OP get back home? don't think I saw that he wanted to go home. Someone else will have to help with that! :) It's not that simple: a) You must give advance notice the cruise line in order to disembark in a port of call as they will have to arrange with local immigration and customs authorities to clear you, just as the authorities would if you entered the country by airplane. b) You will pay the full cruise fare despite taking only part of the cruise. c) You will have to find a cruise (for which you will again pay full fare...so now you've paid double fare) that is willing to allow you to embark in Jamaica to return to the US. Cruise lines are increasingly refusing to allow passengers bound for the US on what would normally be a closed loop cruise originating in a US port to embark in a foreign country. The reason is that US CBP is requiring that all passengers have to be cleared upon arrival in the US as if the cruise originated in a foreign country. This means individual passport or documentation checks by CBP for all passengers prior to the ship being cleared for disembarkation. This can casuse hours of delay in the disembarkation process. The real answer to the OP's question is a simple "no". They are looking for a ferry, not a cruise, and there is none. I expect he'd have to pay the full fare. But what IF he got off in Jamaica and never got back onboard (like I proposed)? They aren't going to send the crew after him, so voila, I got him there by boat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted February 18, 2014 #7 Share Posted February 18, 2014 don't think I saw that he wanted to go home. Someone else will have to help with that! :) I expect he'd have to pay the full fare. But what IF he got off in Jamaica and never got back onboard (like I proposed)? They aren't going to send the crew after him, so voila, I got him there by boat! Voila, you've advised him to illegally enter the country. His being allowed to enter Jamaica for a few hours on a day visit as the result of his being a cruise ship passenger does not allow him to stay in the country indefinitely. Once he misses the ship he's in violation of the law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packedandready Posted February 18, 2014 #8 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Could someone start a cruise that stops in Jamaica, get prior permission to debark in Jamaica and then (with permission) reboard another ship a week or 2 later back to the original port? That would be a great way to travel :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted February 18, 2014 #9 Share Posted February 18, 2014 You might have to do a lot of research on this but you might be able to find a private boat or maybe a yacht delivery service that needs a short term crew member. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted February 18, 2014 #10 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Could someone start a cruise that stops in Jamaica, get prior permission to debark in Jamaica and then (with permission) reboard another ship a week or 2 later back to the original port? That would be a great way to travel :D Please read my answer in post #4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted February 18, 2014 #11 Share Posted February 18, 2014 If you could, you would pay for two full cruises - plus probably have to pay the expenses of putting immigration officials on duty - not a bright idea even if it could be done. It would make more sense to invest the time and money in a therapy program to cure what is a pretty irrational fear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kartgv Posted February 19, 2014 #12 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Could someone start a cruise that stops in Jamaica, get prior permission to debark in Jamaica and then (with permission) reboard another ship a week or 2 later back to the original port? That would be a great way to travel :D It WAS a great way to travel, but unfortunately is no longer available. Our first cruise together was in 1981 on the Starward, and that's exactly what we did. Boarded in Florida - when we stopped in Jamaica (Ocho Rios) a group of about 40 of us got off the ship and spent a week in villas at a great small resort on the most beautiful perfect little beach we've ever seen. A week later, the ship came back around and we got back on and finished the cruise. Everyone who did it absolutely loved it, but we haven't seen anything similar offered since the mid-80's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehfl Posted February 19, 2014 #13 Share Posted February 19, 2014 You can probably book on a freighter. Check out the CruiseCritic forum for that type of travel. There are lots of freighters between the US and Jamaica, and many freighters accept passengers. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=485 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted February 19, 2014 #14 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Voila, you've advised him to illegally enter the country. His being allowed to enter Jamaica for a few hours on a day visit as the result of his being a cruise ship passenger does not allow him to stay in the country indefinitely. Once he misses the ship he's in violation of the law. Oh. I didn't notice that the OP required this to be legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted February 19, 2014 #15 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Oh. I didn't notice that the OP required this to be legal. Oh, I forgot. This is the Internet, so we should assume there's a chance that someone who asks a question is looking to do something illegal, and it's our inalienable right to recommend all means, both legal and illegal, that can be used to accomplish the goal. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted February 19, 2014 #16 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Oh, I forgot. This is the Internet, so we should assume there's a chance that someone who asks a question is looking to do something illegal, and it's our inalienable right to recommend all means, both legal and illegal, that can be used to accomplish the goal. :rolleyes: Look. if the OP has the proper papers, why can't he do this the way I suggested? Cruiseline gets paid, immigration is satisfied, OP gets to go to Jamaica until he is ready to leave. Of course my original reply was tongue in cheek, but darn if some folks don't want to show how smart they are and rip things to pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corby114 Posted February 19, 2014 #17 Share Posted February 19, 2014 During a cruise on the Carnival Liberty Eastern Caribbean cruise in March 2011 I met an elderly woman who lived in St Thomas who joined our cruise midweek. She was assigned to sit at our table of ten as the eleventh person for the last three nights of our seven day cruise. She explained that she was afraid of flying and had made special arrangements with Carnival to travel back to Miami where she was visiting relatives. She told me that this wasn't the first time that she had traveled this way and that she also traveled from Miami to St Thomas numerous times. She was responsible to pay the full seven day cruise fare and also explained that the ship had to have a spare cabin available to be able to do this special voyage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted February 19, 2014 #18 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Another way to do this: Miami to Havana Havana to Jamaica You still have the cruise ship issue for the second half, but you get to see Havana! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted February 19, 2014 #19 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Look. if the OP has the proper papers, why can't he do this the way I suggested? Cruiseline gets paid, immigration is satisfied, OP gets to go to Jamaica until he is ready to leave. Of course my original reply was tongue in cheek, but darn if some folks don't want to show how smart they are and rip things to pieces. How is someone supposed to know if your reply was serious or tongue in cheek? I don't know who you are. I'm not a mind reader. I can't see the expression on your face. I can't hear your tone of voice. That's why emoticons like :D , ;) and :p were created. Try using them if you want to be cute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted February 19, 2014 #20 Share Posted February 19, 2014 During a cruise on the Carnival Liberty Eastern Caribbean cruise in March 2011 I met an elderly woman who lived in St Thomas who joined our cruise midweek. She was assigned to sit at our table of ten as the eleventh person for the last three nights of our seven day cruise. She explained that she was afraid of flying and had made special arrangements with Carnival to travel back to Miami where she was visiting relatives. She told me that this wasn't the first time that she had traveled this way and that she also traveled from Miami to St Thomas numerous times. She was responsible to pay the full seven day cruise fare and also explained that the ship had to have a spare cabin available to be able to do this special voyage. Unusual - to go from one US port to another, on a non-US flagged ship, without stopping at a distant foreign port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted February 20, 2014 #21 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Unusual - to go from one US port to another, on a non-US flagged ship, without stopping at a distant foreign port. The PVSA does not apply to the Virgin Islands so it's not necessary to stop at a distant foreign port : http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/legal/informed_compliance_pubs/pvsa_icp.ctt/pvsa_icp.pdf Application of the PVSA 1. Where Does the PVSA Apply? The PVSA applies to the United States, including the island territories and possessions of the United States, e.g., Puerto Rico. See 46 U.S.C. § 55101(a). However, the coastwise laws generally do not apply to the following: 1) American Samoa; 2) the Northern Mariana Islands; 3) Canton Island; or 4) the Virgin Islands. See 46 U.S.C. § 55101(b). BTW, although by law the PVSA does apply to Puerto Rico there is an exemption granted due to lack of US-flagged vessels to serve the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted February 20, 2014 #22 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Another way to do this: Miami to Havana Havana to Jamaica You still have the cruise ship issue for the second half, but you get to see Havana! No and no. The Miami to Havana ferry doesn't actually exist. It's a proposed service that would require changes to US law to operate. The federal government has so far refused to change the embargo to allow ferry service between the US and Cuba. The Cuba/Jamaica cruise (per their FAQs) only permits disembarkation in the passenger's country of embarkation, so someone boarding in Cuba must disembark in Cuba and someone boarding in Jamaica must disembark in Jamaica. You can't board in Cuba and disembark in Jamaica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted February 20, 2014 #23 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Are there still tramp steamers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted February 20, 2014 #24 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Tag along with Diane Nyad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwjoe Posted February 20, 2014 #25 Share Posted February 20, 2014 There aren't many options to travel by ship/ferry to the Caribbean. The only one I know of is a ferry from Florida to the Bahamas. www.ferryexpress.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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