New Maritime Law??

[jade_crusiser_5_17_08]

Hi everyone,

 

Has anyone heard of a new (within the last couple of months) maritime law that has been passed that requires passengers who do their own thing at port (i.e., do not take an cruise sponsored excursion)) to be back on board 2 hours prior to sailing from a port? I spoke to an NCL representative this weekend, and she informed me of this (she said it applies to all cruise lines, not NCL). Of course, if you take a ship tour, they can get you back closer to sailing time.

 

Anyone have experience with this? Do you really have to be back two full hours ahead? Will they deny you boarding? How much does this typically limit your time in port vs. going on a a ship tour? Thanks!

[smeyer418]

Its a new reg that has been in force since late March. In US ports of embarkation(starting port), NCL and all cruise lines have to transmit a full list of passengers(manifest) 1 hour before the ship sails. So NCL wants you there two hours before so they have time to complete the list. Its not from each intermediary ports. So far there are NO reports that anyone has been denied late boarding. Note that all it means is that the ship has to wait one hour after the list is transmitted. So when a large group is delayed the Captain can decie to wait, wait til they have completed check in and then transmit the list and wait one hour more....and then leave.....

[cmdchiefthom]

I believe you've got the new policy of being aboard two hours prior to your initial port of embarkation aboard ship confused with ports of call. As of last week, at least aboard the Pearl, all passengers had to be aboard thirty minutes prior to sailing in all ports, regardless of if they participated in shore excursions or not. In fact, last Tuesday, a couple showed up on the dock in Antigua at 5:00 PM as the ship was pulling out. They ran down the pier yelling up towards the bridge that their kids were on board. :eek: The ship just kept backing out of the dock. The couple gave up, but luckily, the Harbor Pilot boat observed what was going on, and went back to the dock, picked them up (for a price), and put them aboard when the Pilot disembarked.

[CruisnGram]

This rule applies to when you originally board the ship at embarkation. It has no effect on ports that you stop at. There will be a sign posted at the gangway when you get off at ports as to the time you need to be back on board. It is usually 1/2 to 1 hour prior to sailing time. You can take private tours, or do whatever you want during your time at port and the required times to return have nothing to do with who you use for your excursion. It is the same for everyone.

[jade_crusiser_5_17_08]

Oh wow, that would be great. The NCL representative was very clear that this applied to ALL ports, so I'd be very relieved to hear that this is not the case (this is a European cruise, btw). Can anyone else who has cruised recently confirm this as well? Thanks so much!

[isles1]

Sort of on point:

 

When you get back on board at each port, what type of identification, if any, are you required to present?

[Toyz711]

the times, that you are required to be back on board by, will be posted in the newsletter each night and on signs around the gangway.

for tender ports, last tender is (usually) an hour before the ship leaves.

when docked, usually, a 1/2 before the ship is due to pull out.

always read the signs!!

we left the passports in the safe...for our ports we had to have an official photo ID (driver's lic) and the ship's sign/sail card. in a most of our ports, we had to show them to the port authorities getting back into the secure area around the docks, then to the NCL official at the gangway. plus they swipe the card on the ship (to know you have returned), then run the bags/purses through the x-ray machines.

[salty dingo]

What sort of authority could pass a new "maritime law"? The sea is international, so "sea laws" can't just be passed like they can here, whenever our government wants to.

 

The "2 hour" embarkation rule was intended to make sure everyone has time to pass through check-in, because by law the ship has to end the boarding 1 hour prior to sailing. Actually, they have to transmit a final manifest at least 1 hour before sailing, so if you make it to check-in at least 1 hour ahead, you will remain on the manifest. Otherwise they will take you off, and you do not sail.