Ship arriving empty

[hammermw]

I apologize if this has been asked before, but I was having trouble finding any info. We are cruising the Breakaway over Thanksgiving. The cruise before ours ends on a Friday in Miami. Ours begins the next day in Port Canaveral. The ship will supposedly be arriving without any passengers. Does anyone know if this means we will get to board early, if our rooms will be ready earlier, etc? Any info would be much appreciated.

[jahtmk]

deleted.

Edited August 15, 2019 by jahtmk

[fiftyguy]

Hi

I can only speak for our situation. We sailed the Gem, out of Boston, back in the spring of this year. The Gem finished a cruise in NY and then sailed up empty to Boston. In our case we boarded the ship around noon (normal time for cruises out of Boston). Since we were in a suite we were taken directly to Cagneys for lunch and then we could go to our cabin after lunch (around 1). We thought, since the ship was empty, we could go directly to our cabin but that wasn't the case. Your experience may differ.

[smplybcause]

You won't board any earlier, but your cabin will likely be ready once you get on board. At least, that was what happened on Bliss on her first cruise out of Seattle this year. Walked on just after 12pm and was able to drop my stuff off in my cabin. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

How did you find out it was traveling empty to your port?  Not challenging the information, just wondering how you knew.  Thanks!

[hammermw]

I guess that was my assumption since the previous cruise ends the day before in another city. I looked up Breakaway cruises and there isn't anything listed in between. 

Edited August 15, 2019 by hammermw

[palpieha]

The Jones Act wouldn't allow it to transport passengers solely between Miami and Port Canaveral. If there's no cruise starting the day before in Miami, and then going on to international ports, then it'll be empty.

[fiftyguy]

3 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

How did you find out it was traveling empty to your port?  Not challenging the information, just wondering how you knew.  Thanks!

Same as hammermw the Gem was ending its winter run in NY and was repositioning for its summer in Boston. The Gem did one Carribean run (our cruise) before it started its weekly Bermuda run through the summer. The Gem finished a NY cruise on a Thursday and then sailed up to Boston on Friday to start our cruise. 

[smplybcause]

1 minute ago, palpieha said:

The Jones Act wouldn't allow it to transport passengers solely between Miami and Port Canaveral. If there's no cruise starting the day before in Miami, and then going on to international ports, then it'll be empty.

 

It's PVSA. Jones Act is similar, but in regards to cargo only. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

4 minutes ago, hammermw said:

I guess that was my assumption since the previous cruise ends the day before in another city. I looked up Breakaway cruises and there isn't anything listed in between. 

Ok got it.  Thought maybe you knew about some website that told those kinds of things.  I'm always very amazed by the knowledge some people have as it relates to cruise ships/itineraries.  To answer your question, if I knew the ship was empty, I'd get there at 10:15 to ensure the earliest boarding possible.  Have a great time.  We were on Breakaway last Thanksgiving and had the best time!

[Georgia_Peaches]

4 minutes ago, palpieha said:

The Jones Act wouldn't allow it to transport passengers solely between Miami and Port Canaveral. If there's no cruise starting the day before in Miami, and then going on to international ports, then it'll be empty.

Ahh, the Jones Act.  I should have known it was something like that.

Edited August 15, 2019 by Georgia_Peaches

[mking8288]

We're on the Dawn this May, first sailing out of NYC - after a 2 days repo from Miami - just crews onboard when it arrived very early in the pre-dawn hours.  No passengers to disembark so it was definitely smooth.  

 

We've learned subsequently that the crew worked to do maintenance, cleaning & replaced wear & tear items that they normally cannot do on a typica 10 hours turnaround day.  As noted above, cabins were ready for us when we early boarded about 11 a.m. - dropped off our carry-on bags, put away our passports & leisurely made our way to the MDR for sit-down lunch.

 

They still have to run thru their checklists, possible inspections (Coast Guard, Public Health, etc.) and load provisionings, etc.  The crews were apparently rested, relaxed and cheerful, etc. and even the pier was not hectic.  As a matter of fact, things ran very smoothly inside the terminal including check-in.  Those that're in Haven (full suite & higher) obviously got very early escorted-boarding, ahead of us.  

 

[FranknBeans]

The US Gov't put a stop to cruises to nowhere or one night cruises. This was done a few years ago because   when we sailed out of new york and our cruise on the Breakaway became 14 days not 12 as booked.

[ColeThornton]

6 minutes ago, FranknBeans said:

The US Gov't put a stop to cruises to nowhere or one night cruises. This was done a few years ago because   when we sailed out of new york and our cruise on the Breakaway became 14 days not 12 as booked.

 

 

Frank, this isn't a cruise to nowhere.  It's a cruise between two U.S ports.

Edited August 15, 2019 by ColeThornton

[Outerdog]

26 minutes ago, palpieha said:

The Jones Act wouldn't allow it to transport passengers solely between Miami and Port Canaveral. If there's no cruise starting the day before in Miami, and then going on to international ports, then it'll be empty.

 

It's the PVSA -- not the Jones Act -- which prevents this sort of thing.

 

Edited August 15, 2019 by Outerdog

[adam_s_allen]

I sailed on the Escape once and the week priors cruise was cancelled due to a hurricane. I was able to board by 10am and cabin was ready immediately. This situation might be different. Maybe they don’t keep all the crew on, contracts ending etc. 

[GA Dave]

29 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

 

It's PVSA. Jones Act is similar, but in regards to cargo only. 

I know some cruisers who could be considered cargo.  Mostly alcohol. 

[Outerdog]

12 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

I know some cruisers who could be considered cargo.  Mostly alcohol. 

 

I bet that sounded better in your head.

[hallux]

54 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Ahh, the Jones Act.  I should have known it was something like that.

Except that's not the right citation.  Many people cite the Jones act but it's the PVSA.  As noted by others - Jones Act is cargo, PVSA is passengers...

[esm54687]

33 minutes ago, Outerdog said:

 

It's the PVSA -- not the Jones Act -- which prevents this sort of thing.

 

Sounds oddly like post #9 ☺ 😁 

[Outerdog]

Just now, esm54687 said:

Sounds oddly like post #9 ☺ 😁 

 

I didn't;'t read down that far before replying. I suppose the poster in #11 didn't either.

 

[BirdTravels]

We were recently on a PC cruise after a reposition from Miami. After some light clean-up, the ship threw a crew party at night. We boarded around the normal time. Rooms were ready as soon as we boarded.  

 

When the Escape reposiitoned from Miami to New York, there were multiple "crew enrichment" activities including a crew party and performances of the broadway shows for the crew memebers. 

Edited August 15, 2019 by BirdTravels