dcruisers Posted March 6, 2020 #1 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Our friends were on RCL cruise this week and the husband fell. He is in his 80s and wanted to go home to recover. RCL requested their passports “ to process their exit from ship” and refused to give them back unless they paid $750 pp because they were leaving early . They never left the country- this was in Orlando/Port Canaveral. Personally, I think this is highway robbery and another money maker. There was another incident on FB that had the same exact scenario. Why charge if they already paid for a cruise? We have been in over 30 cruises on various cruise lines and never heard of such a thing. I can’t believe they are the same company as Celebrity who gave us $400 credit towards another cruise because we had a minor issue with our bill. We are suppose to go on RCL 3/29. Sure has given me a negative view of RCL and their customer service/care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted March 6, 2020 #2 Share Posted March 6, 2020 (edited) It is exactly because they never left US. Maritime laws prohibit foreign vessels to transport passengers in US unless they visit foreign port. If Orlando stop was after Bahamas or any other outside port fee wouldn't be collected. Sorry. 😞 It is not RCI rule. Edited March 6, 2020 by Tatka 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time4u2go Posted March 6, 2020 #3 Share Posted March 6, 2020 (edited) It's not RC's choice. It's required by law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_Vessel_Services_Act_of_1886 Edited March 6, 2020 by time4u2go 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klfrodo Posted March 6, 2020 #4 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Its called the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act) A foreign flagged passenger vessel cannot embark a passenger in one US port and debark that passenger in another US port without a stop at distant foreign port. If they do, they have violated US law and will be fined accordingly. Royal just passed the fine on to the passengers. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crewsweeper Posted March 6, 2020 #5 Share Posted March 6, 2020 6 minutes ago, Tatka said: It is exactly because they never left US. Maritime laws prohibit foreign vessels to transport passengers in US unless they visit foreign port. If Orlando stop was after Bahamas or any other outside port fee wouldn't be collected. Sorry. 😞 It is not RCI rule. Then the couple would only have to pay $800+ in airfare home from the foreign port Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted March 6, 2020 #6 Share Posted March 6, 2020 2 minutes ago, crewsweeper said: Then the couple would only have to pay $800+ in airfare home from the foreign port If they were in Orlando after Bahamas (Baltimore - Nassau, Bahamas - Orlando) they wouldn't have to. Main point is it cannot be just a cruise between 2 US ports. Must include at least 1 foreign port. This is why all cruises from Hawaii to California (or back) include Ensenada (Mexico) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted March 6, 2020 #7 Share Posted March 6, 2020 RCI was fined because they got off of the ship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobydobe7 Posted March 6, 2020 #8 Share Posted March 6, 2020 First.. welcome to cruise critic after your 30 plus cruises Second.. has you negative view of Royal Caribbean changed after you have been notified that it is because of US Federal law??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixCruiser Posted March 6, 2020 #9 Share Posted March 6, 2020 2 minutes ago, Scoobydobe7 said: First.. welcome to cruise critic after your 30 plus cruises Second.. has you negative view of Royal Caribbean changed after you have been notified that it is because of US Federal law??? The OP has been a member of CC since 2001 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted March 6, 2020 #10 Share Posted March 6, 2020 2 minutes ago, Scoobydobe7 said: First.. welcome to cruise critic after your 30 plus cruises Second.. has you negative view of Royal Caribbean changed after you have been notified that it is because of US Federal law??? We will never hear back from OP, typical drive by posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixCruiser Posted March 6, 2020 #11 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Just now, not-enough-cruising said: We will never hear back from OP, typical drive by posting It was just posted 32 minutes ago 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAmome Posted March 6, 2020 #12 Share Posted March 6, 2020 How do theses laws allow for a cruise to nowhere? I'm sure I did one of those in college on RCCL. Also, say a 3 night sailing to Nassau with an at sea day for some reason can't get to Nassau (weather, local authorities closing port, whatever), is there going to be some big fee for RCCL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted March 6, 2020 #13 Share Posted March 6, 2020 (edited) Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 "In accordance with this law, cruise lines that operate foreign-flagged vessels are fined $778 for each passenger who boarded such a vessel in one U.S. port and left the vessel at another port. The cruise lines typically pass this cost on the passengers who "jump the ship". Exemptions are available in the case of family emergencies etc." Edited March 6, 2020 by Another_Critic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted March 6, 2020 #14 Share Posted March 6, 2020 6 minutes ago, SAmome said: How do theses laws allow for a cruise to nowhere? I'm sure I did one of those in college on RCCL. Also, say a 3 night sailing to Nassau with an at sea day for some reason can't get to Nassau (weather, local authorities closing port, whatever), is there going to be some big fee for RCCL? In your examples the ship returns to the same port from whence it embarked, and no one left the ship in the interim- therefore compliant with PSVA. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted March 6, 2020 #15 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Do they still do CTN’s? They’ve been gone from the NYC area for a while now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONECRUISER Posted March 6, 2020 #16 Share Posted March 6, 2020 (edited) 49 minutes ago, PhoenixCruiser said: It was just posted 32 minutes ago But that's like 32yrs in internet response time Edited March 6, 2020 by ONECRUISER 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crewsweeper Posted March 6, 2020 #17 Share Posted March 6, 2020 1 hour ago, Tatka said: If they were in Orlando after Bahamas (Baltimore - Nassau, Bahamas - Orlando) they wouldn't have to. Main point is it cannot be just a cruise between 2 US ports. Must include at least 1 foreign port. This is why all cruises from Hawaii to California (or back) include Ensenada (Mexico) Understand the foreign port point. My snarky remark was that if the gentleman fell on the ship and wished to get off to recuperate at home and the first port was Nassau, they couple would be out airfare home. Sorry he had a fall which at his age can be devastating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted March 6, 2020 #18 Share Posted March 6, 2020 39 minutes ago, SAmome said: How do theses laws allow for a cruise to nowhere? I'm sure I did one of those in college on RCCL. Also, say a 3 night sailing to Nassau with an at sea day for some reason can't get to Nassau (weather, local authorities closing port, whatever), is there going to be some big fee for RCCL? Cruises to nowhere are illegal now. They were discontinued some time ago due to this law. Not sure how second scenarios works out. I do not think short cruises to Bahamas now can include only 1 port... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted March 6, 2020 #19 Share Posted March 6, 2020 1 hour ago, Tatka said: If they were in Orlando after Bahamas (Baltimore - Nassau, Bahamas - Orlando) they wouldn't have to. Main point is it cannot be just a cruise between 2 US ports. Must include at least 1 foreign port. This is why all cruises from Hawaii to California (or back) include Ensenada (Mexico) And it has to be a FAR foreign port (Aruba is the closest). Bahamas isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ano Posted March 6, 2020 #20 Share Posted March 6, 2020 52 minutes ago, Another_Critic said: Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 "In accordance with this law, cruise lines that operate foreign-flagged vessels are fined $778 for each passenger who boarded such a vessel in one U.S. port and left the vessel at another port. The cruise lines typically pass this cost on the passengers who "jump the ship". Exemptions are available in the case of family emergencies etc." And how about cruises like the Grand Princess, San Francisco, Hawaii, than San Francisco. Don't see any foreign ports there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCL2RCI Posted March 6, 2020 #21 Share Posted March 6, 2020 22 minutes ago, Tatka said: Cruises to nowhere are illegal now. They were discontinued some time ago due to this law. Not sure how second scenarios works out. I do not think short cruises to Bahamas now can include only 1 port... They're not illegal per se, they just have to be done on a ship that is flagged in the US - like the Pride of America from NCL that circles around Hawaii. 6 minutes ago, ano said: And how about cruises like the Grand Princess, San Francisco, Hawaii, than San Francisco. Don't see any foreign ports there. That stops in Ensenada, Mexico. https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Grand-Princess-697 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not-enough-cruising Posted March 6, 2020 #22 Share Posted March 6, 2020 29 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said: But that's like 32yrs in internet response time Hmm, I made a response similar to this, and it was immediately removed................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ano Posted March 6, 2020 #23 Share Posted March 6, 2020 (edited) 3 minutes ago, DCL2RCI said: They're not illegal per se, they just have to be done on a ship that is flagged in the US - like the Pride of America from NCL that circles around Hawaii. That stops in Ensenada, Mexico. https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Grand-Princess-697 It did not. Grand Princess Voyage Edited March 6, 2020 by ano Addition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCL2RCI Posted March 6, 2020 #24 Share Posted March 6, 2020 1 minute ago, ano said: It did not. When? I took a look at a dozen or so of the itineraries and they all included Ensenada unless it was one of the Canadian loops. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wl2cruise Posted March 6, 2020 #25 Share Posted March 6, 2020 (edited) 7 minutes ago, DCL2RCI said: When? I took a look at a dozen or so of the itineraries and they all included Ensenada unless it was one of the Canadian loops. Current sailing 13 minutes ago, ano said: It did not. Then the ship has violated the PVSA. Do to the circumstance the ship is under its very possible the fine will be waived. Edited March 6, 2020 by wl2cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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