What are cruises to nowhere, and can you take one?
Would you take a cruise that didn’t actually go anywhere?
It might sound odd, but cruises to nowhere — voyages with no ports of call — used to be popular for North American travelers.
Cruises to nowhere from the U.S. were fairly common until U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it would begin cracking down on the enforcement of a longstanding law called the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which has certain limitations that affect cruises to nowhere.
So, what are cruises to nowhere, how does the PVSA affect them and are they still offered? Here’s everything you need to know.
What are cruises to nowhere?
Cruises to nowhere are voyages that sail out to sea for a day or two without stopping anywhere before returning to the same port from which they departed.
You might wonder why anyone would want to travel on a cruise without port stops, but some people simply enjoy being on a ship where they can relax, sleep in, have a spa treatment, take in a show, lounge by the pool and have someone cook for them for a couple of days.
Cruises to nowhere also offer a way for first-timers to see whether or not a cruise might be for them. They’re great options for people who don’t have a ton of time or money to spend on a getaway.
What happened to cruises to nowhere?
Until 2016, cruise lines offered cruises to nowhere on a fairly regular basis. That changed in 2015 when CBP announced it would begin more strictly enforcing the particulars of the Passenger Vessel Services Act the following year.
Under the act, cruises to nowhere themselves are legal, but because the type of visa many crew members use when working on ships doesn’t meet the requirements of the PVSA for cruises to nowhere, cruise lines largely stopped offering them.
What is the PVSA?
At its core, the PVSA — an offshoot of the more well-known Jones Act, which deals with ships that carry cargo instead of passengers — states that foreign-flagged cruise ships sailing from U.S. ports must call on at least one foreign port before returning to the U.S. at the conclusion of a voyage.
However, a lesser-known portion of the act addresses crew visas and what they permit in terms of how long visa holders can remain in the U.S. Many crew members work on ships using D-1 visas, which allow them only to stay in the U.S. for brief periods of time with the intention that they leave again almost immediately.
On cruises to nowhere, because there are no foreign port stops between a ship’s departure from a U.S. port and its return to a U.S. port, crew members on those types of voyages essentially remain in the U.S. and don’t leave. In those instances, crew members with D-1 visas would be out of compliance — something that cruise lines no longer want to risk due to steep penalties.
Are there exceptions?
Yes. In the event of an emergency, such as a hurricane or other weather-related issue that prevents a ship from calling on the necessary foreign port before returning to the U.S., the U.S. government can issue exemptions. However, that type of situation is rare, and those types of cruises to nowhere are not originally planned to be cruises to nowhere.
Bottom line
Although cruises to nowhere offered inexpensive, short options for cruisers, they are a thing of the past when departing from the U.S. Their extinction is due to conflicts between the requirements outlined in the PVSA and the type of visa crew members often use to work on board cruise ships.
Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:
- Packing for a cruise? These items aren't allowed on board
- Man overboard: Cruise ship overboards and how they happen
- What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
- What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
- What is the Jones Act and how does it impact cruise ships?
- What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
- What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
- What's the difference between a cruise ship concierge and a butler?
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.