Any options to join a cruise mid-way?

>>Just wondering whether any cruise lines permit embarking on a cruise
>>from one of the port's of call, rather than the listed starting point
>>and then disembarking form that mid-cruise point the following week.
>>
>>I'm specifically interested in joing an NCL Hawaiian cruise in Kauai
>>instead of Hilo.
>>
>>Probably not, but thought I'd ask for fellow-traveller's experiences!

> Not in that route but it is common to see an origination point in San
> Juan, for instance, when out of Miami doing a long Eastern Carib.

You can probably do it if you are willing to pay
for two week's bookings. Otherwise the cabins
would be "dead" for the unsellable segments.

Cheers,
John in LaLaLand(On the Left Coast looking at HI)

On Sep 29, 9:06 am, <u...@private-mail-domain.invalid> wrote:
> Just wondering whether any cruise lines permit embarking on a cruise
> from one of the port's of call, rather than the listed starting point
> and then disembarking form that mid-cruise point the following week.
>
As others have posted, NCL would be the one with the answers.

In general, there are a couple of cautions about joining midway....

1) Because of the PSA, you would most often be prevented from joining
a cruise midway (and/or leaving early) if the result would be in
violation of the act. Specifically, if it resulted in starting and
ending in different US ports on a foreign-flagged ship without calling
at a "far foreign port" or roundtrip from the US without stopping in a
foreign port. I suppose it's possible that a top travel agent
theoretically might be able to talk the line into doing it and adding
the penalty to your fare (I seem to remember that it was $200-300) --
but I believe most lines' computers won't accept a booking that
violates the PSA.

In your case, if you're cruising NCL America (deepest sympathies) --
this would NOT be a factor, since the NCLA ships are US-flagged.

2) I would expect that you would be required to pay for the entire
cruise(s) -- including time when you are not aboard. We did this when
we joined a ship mid-cruise in Italy, this past spring. Whether you
are charged tips for the entire trip is an open question

In your case, you'd be paying for 2 full cruises!

....additionally, for security concerns, the line may require that all
pax join and disembark at the scheduled ports. (Not that there's
necessarily anything less secure about alternative boarding - assuming
there are adequate security protections at the alternate port -- but
it might be a convenient excuse for them)

But, this is all guesswork until your TA gives them a call and asks!

Mark

>       Since they do that all the time when people's planes don't get
> them there on time and they have to meet the ship elsewhere, I would
> think it would be an excuse.

(I assume you meant "wouldn't")

Perhaps. In my experience, if a company doesn't want to go through
extra hoops and wants an EXCUSE, the fact that it has acted similarly
in other situations isn't really a factor. There's a difference
between taking actions to fix a problem and ticketing an alternative
itinerary. However, since I'm NOT a travel professional, all these
opinions are as insignificant as the pixels that are temporarily
forming these letters on your screen.

Considering the many attractions in Hawaii and the opportunities for
vacation extensions there, I'd guess that requests to NCLA for
alternate boarding are not unheard of. What's been your experience,
TAs and cruisers? (Considering the division's desperate position and
the fact that PSA is not an issue, I'd think they'd be crazy to forbid
it)

Mark

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:10:19 -0400, "LVTravel" <none@noone.com> wrote:

>The option of paying for back to back won't work in this situation since the
>cruise line will not have the ability to board a person in a different port
>even though the PSA doesn't apply. It is a matter of logistics, personnel,
>etc.

All under the control of the cruise line. They could do it if they
chose.

>He wouldn't have a boarding card and therefore would not be allowed
>onto the pier to board the ship unless the cruise line made pre-arrangements
>with the port security personnel.

OK, so they make pre-arrangements with the port, just as they do with
a regular embarcation.

>And unless this is a frequently done
>item, it probably would be denied. Same goes for just picking up the cruise
>in mid-cruise and staying on until later.

Exactly. It's just a choice the cruise line makes, to offer such a
service or not. It's physically and legally possible, at least with
NCLA.

On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 07:53:13 -0500, <user@private-mail-domain.invalid>
wrote:

>Thank you everyone for the great response. We will certainly talk to
>our TA about the possibility.
>
>I have some concern regarding the commiserations on sailing with NCLA.
>I have sailed with NCL several times albeit not for some years now, and
>was previously happy with the experience. I am a little wary of their
>new(ish) freestyle cruising atmosphere. For my wife and me, the more
>dressy evenings were a very positive part of the deal as life in general
>is rather "freestyle". We like that for work, but it's kind of nice to
>be treated like VIPs when we're on holiday!

You are not in NCLA's target audience. You might want to consider
another cruise line if you want a formal experience. NCL says "Save
the Tie for the Boardroom".

You're free to dress up any time you want, of course, but if you
expect other people to dress up you're likely to be disappointed. The
dress code calls for collared shirts and pants for men at dinner, but
that can be polo shirts and jeans. Supposedly one of the dining rooms
is more formal than the others; I didn't notice a difference, but I
don't pay that much attention to how strangers dress, unless it's
entertaining. The french restaurant would be the best bet for you. I
recommend something washable for the teppanyaki restaurant.

I'm saying this based on my trips on the Pride of Hawaii. It is
possible that the Pride of America is more formal, but I would be
surprised.