any problem leaving cruise early in St. Thomas?

[the admiral12]

We are on the Royal Princess, from Fort Lauderdale. We are all US citizens.

 

We need to get back early for school. Should we ask in advance or just wait until we get there?

[Steelers36]

Visit the PSD (Passenger Services Desk) on board early in the cruise and notify them of your plan to depart the ship.

 

IDk what happens, but don't be surprised to be billed the auto-tip for the full cruise. Seems logical they would do that.

 

How many days are you skipping? Must be 2 minimum even if ship sailed non-stop to Port Everglades.

[fishywood]

It does not matter that you plan to leave early at a 'domestic' port (though the USVI is construed as outside the US for PVSA purposes--so technically no violation). US CBP makes it a massive headache for the cruiselines to allow any change of manifest midway through a round-trip cruise, even from a US turnaround port.

 

So unless you plan on fabricating a medical or other family emergency you absolutely need to secure permission before you board. The ship has to arrange for immigration officials to process your disembarkation and re-entry into the US (as your previous port would have been outside the US). If you simply try to walk down the gangway with your luggage you will be spotted and likely held on the ship unless you convince them to arrange for your disembarkation to be processed with no advance warning. And if you try leaving your luggage with the rest of your party onboard, when you have not returned to the ship by sailaway time (which will be delayed while repeated announcements are made to confirm you never reboarded) you will be reported to both the local police and US immigration. You would have to convince the rest of your party (if any onboard) to lie and say they had no idea you planned to disembark early. Either way you will have some serious explaining to do with the authorities when you plane lands at home.

[VibeGuy]

I would work with the deviations desk before departure. I've done this before.

[Steelers36]

Visit the PSD (Passenger Services Desk) on board early in the cruise and notify them of your plan to depart the ship.

 

IDk what happens, but don't be surprised to be billed the auto-tip for the full cruise. Seems logical they would do that.

 

How many days are you skipping? Must be 2 minimum even if ship sailed non-stop to Port Everglades.

 

Yes, I agree with previous poster and left that out. Contact Princess first, but I would also follow up on board to make sure they got the info from HQ.

[Pam in CA]

Nothing will be prorated... you'll pay the full cruise fare plus port fees and gratuities.

 

Make sure you have approval before leaving home and bring all documentation with you. Early disembarkation has to be pre-approved with US CBP as you'll need to go through Customs in addition to Immigration.

[antsp]

We had pre approval to leave the Emerald 4 day sealy in Dublin last year, you pay the exact same price for the cruise, you only get credits for days sailed. You DONT get charged gratuities for the missed days and why should you.

[1025cruise]

As was said previously, you will need permission ahead of time to do this.

 

With that being said, don't expect to get it. You planning to leave in St. Thomas changes the dynamic of the whole cruise from a round trip to a one way, which could force a full immigration check when the ship returns. Due to this, many lines are not allowing this.

[paul929207]

You should get permission BEFORE making any non-refundable air reservations.

[Keith1010]

You need to get approval and should get it in writing.

 

Keith