Australians are flocking to American cruises despite border crackdown

Despite entry confusion, cruising in the US remains popular - and you only have to look at the line-up of glamorous new ships and intriguing itineraries to see the attraction.

Reports about ordinary tourists, including Australians, being scrutinised or even denied entry into the United States may have you rethinking dreams of a cruise that leaves from one of the country’s ports. 

It may be sailing the wilds of Alaska, voyaging out of Florida for a Caribbean sojourn or perhaps a discovery of the Hawaiian Islands.

I recently returned from a cruise out of Miami and had no trouble at my point of entry in Dallas, but others have not been so lucky. For example, it’s been reported that one cruiser was subject to enhanced vetting simply because they flew via Hong Kong, which immigration officials in the US deemed an “unusual route”. The result? They missed their cruise.

But MyCruises’ Michael Middleton says the cruise specialist is seeing no major shift in booking patterns to the US; they remain consistent.

“Customers are clearly resonating with our itineraries. There’s a real buzz around the Caribbean right now, especially with all the exciting new ships in those regions, such as Norwegian Aqua and Star of the Seas,” he says.

“We are also noticing strong interest in the longer Alaskan voyages, which allow guests to explore the region in greater depth.”

Norwegian Aqua is one of the latest ships to cruise the Caribbean from Florida.

This comes at a time when cruise brands are upping the choice of cruises in Alaska. Princess, for example, has seven ships sailing there this season, with an expanded array of national park cruisetours to choose from. A flotilla of new ships, from MSC’s World America to Virgin Voyages’ new Brilliant Lady, are also sailing, or set to sail, out of US ports.

So, what can we do to be prepared for a journey to the USA? Joel Katz, managing director of Cruise Lines International Association Australasia, encourages cruise guests to familiarise themselves with visa requirements and border security processes before they travel, and to monitor the Australian government’s Smartraveller advisories.

Royal Princess is among Princess Cruises' seven-strong fleet sailing in Alaska.

Right now Smartraveller’s travel advice for the US is level green, that is “exercise normal safety precautions”, but they do write that entry requirements are strict.

“An approved ESTA or valid visa doesn’t guarantee entry to the United States. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port of entry will determine your eligibility. If CBP denies your entry, you may be held at the port of entry or a nearby detention facility while US authorities arrange your return to Australia (or the last country you visited),” they write.

New cruise ship MSC World America at Ocean Cay in the Bahamas.

Katz recommends booking your trip through a travel agent.

“A CLIA cruise-specialist travel agent can often advise on requirements, and travellers should also refer to government websites or contact the relevant embassy or consulate for any clarification,” he says.

Another good idea if you are planning to cruise anywhere internationally is to incorporate a buffer zone. That is, plan to arriveat your port city at least a day before the sailing in case of any delays.

Originally published as Australians are flocking to American cruises despite border crackdown