It's true what they say you know. You're never too old to learn something new.
At least that's the conclusion I've come to this morning after speaking to a client and then the cruise line about booking a back to back cruise for him.
I'm posting what I found out here for you as it's possible it could ruin your holiday; so if you're planning a back to back cruise it's worth double checking with your travel agent/cruise line.
First of all - what's a back to back cruise?
Quite simply it's when two cruises are booked and taken one after the other. There are several pros and cons involved, (which I'll go through another time), but the main thing you need to consider is the Passenger Vessel Services act of 1886!
It's strange to think that a law put into force back in 1886 could have any relevance today to modern cruising but the internet is littered with horror stories regarding this.
In a nutshell the act states that any ship not registered and flagged in America can't start a cruise in one American port and finish it in a different American port unless it also calls somewhere along the way in a non American port.
Sound confusing? Well it is.
What it's basically saying is that if you are sailing say from, Seattle to Seattle and then do a back to back option that will finish up in a different American port you may be refused boarding.
It's OK if the cruise starts and finishes in the same American port or if it takes in a foreign port outside the US, (don't ask me why), but if it's a pure American sailing you'll be in trouble.
Now the cruise lines obviously know this and take it into account when planning your itinerarys but if you change things by booking back to back and your travel agent doesn't warn you then the cruise line might not notice until it's too late. - You have been warned!
Hopefully that all makes sense to you but if you have any questions regarding this feel free to post them below. The upshot is just be extra careful when booking a back to back cruise in America.
Happy cruising.
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