Getting off a Cruise???

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

I have a certificate for a free cruise (you pay port charges =$283 for 2 people). I was wondering if you took the first half & got off? It would be a 4 day to Cozumel from galvestion and the cruise plus a one way ticket home would be about $100-200 less than the round trip for the 2 of us. I already have a week booked at Royal Haciendas and this would time perfectly - Leave Galveston on Thrusday get into Cozumel on Saturday and the week at the royal haciendas starts on Saturday.

Would there be any obvious issues doing this?

The only hassle I can see would be leaving from Galveston and flying back into Houston.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I have a certificate for a free cruise (you pay port charges =$283 for 2 people). I was wondering if you took the first half & got off? It would be a 4 day to Cozumel from Galveston and the cruise plus a one way ticket home would be about $100-200 less than the round trip for the 2 of us. I already have a week booked at Royal Haciendas and this would time perfectly - Leave Galveston on Thursday get into Cozumel on Saturday and the week at the royal haciendas starts on Saturday.

Would there be any obvious issues doing this?

The only hassle I can see would be leaving from Galveston and flying back into Houston.

Yes, there could be issues with the cruise line - but u would have to call and ask them.
I can't imagine u r the only one who has done this....and post your answer, I am curious!

Most wouldn't want to do it because you 'lose' half the cruise - but since this is practically a freebie - why not!

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I have a certificate for a free cruise (you pay port charges =$283 for 2 people). I was wondering if you took the first half & got off? It would be a 4 day to Cozumel from galvestion and the cruise plus a one way ticket home would be about $100-200 less than the round trip for the 2 of us. I already have a week booked at Royal Haciendas and this would time perfectly - Leave Galveston on Thrusday get into Cozumel on Saturday and the week at the royal haciendas starts on Saturday.

Would there be any obvious issues doing this?

The only hassle I can see would be leaving from Galveston and flying back into Houston.

Try Kayak to search for the best 'open jaw' ticket.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Since cruise lines will leave passengers on shore who don't make it back to the pier on time I don't see a lot of problems with getting off. However you may have issues getting your luggage off the ship without permission. Thanks to our friends the terrorist I'm sure they'll be a few issues with you just leaving the cruise ship. I'm not sure if immigration will give you a hard time or not.

Probably the safe thing to do is check with the cruise line to see what their policy is for teminating a cruise early.

[Icc5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icc5]

Let them know

We haven't cruised in years but I don't think this should be a problem.
Talk to the cruise line in advance so you can set it up. They might even be picking up people where you get off. The only problem might be the cruise line having restrictions since this was a give-me. Sometimes you have to follow everything exactly as they have on paperwork. I would call them today and start working on it.
Bart

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

I have done a part of a cruise before ( pre 9-11 ) and had no problem in HI

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

You definitely need to see if it is acceptable to the cruiseline. And if it is, you need to state your plan, in writing, to them before you board.

That said, it might well be acceptable to them since you won't be violating the Passenger Services Act, and you will be disembarking in a foreign country, thus not needing US Immigration and Customs.

Let us know what they say, even though each circumstance is different.

Fern

[BILL_B Member Find all posts View Profile Close BILL_B]

I don't think this would be possible as you don't clear immigration or customs when you visit a port for a day on a cruise. If you stay overnite you would be in Mexico illegally and without the entry stamp on your passport and the visitors form you get from immigration I would think you would have trouble leaving Mexico and re-entering the US.

Bill

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

That's something to think about. You definitely need a Mexican-issued Visitor's Card, and you don't get one on a ship visit for some reason (because you don't stay overnight, perhaps). And you need to get it validated by Mexican Immigration.

Perhaps you should ask your closest Mexican Consulate and see what they say about that issue. You can't ignore it, because you must have a card to return before you can get on the plane. If you don't have one, they will make you go through many hoops.

Fern

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

Thanks For all the info. I will call them & see but it is sounding like it would be more hassle than it's worth.

[m61376 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close m61376]

When cruise ships stop in ports don't the local customs people come on board? Isn't that why you can't simply get off as soon as the ship docks but have to wait , sometimes for an extended period? I would think that if you arranged beforehand they would clear you through customs when they dock before anyone is allowed to disembark.

Again, pre- 9-11, but we did a lot of cruising in the nineties and frequently saw people both leaving and joining the cruise in various ports.