U.S. Direct Program in Vancouver

aaron · #1 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2006, 05:58 PM

Does anyone know if one could do the U.S Direct Program at the Vancouver Airport if you're not sailing northbound to Alaska/Canada? It lets you bypass customs! We're sailing out of Vancouver to Hawaii on 9/20/06. Carnival's website says that the U.S. Direct Program is applicable for Northbound sailings only. http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Ala...t_Program.aspx

Is this information correct? Has anyone used U.S. Direct sailing the Carnival Spirit from Vancouver to Hawaii?

UConn1 · #2 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2006, 08:49 PM

I did the Vancouver-Honolulu route last September and we were required to go through customs. We were not, for whatever reason, eligible for the US Direct program.

Jodi

aaron · #3 (**permalink**) August 12th, 2006, 09:32 PM

Thanks for your reply. But I don't get why there should be a difference between eligibility of Carnival Alaskan cruisers and Carnival Hawaiian cruisers. Same airport, same dock for embarkation, even the same ship (Carnival Spirit). Why should the ship's destination matter when it's just going directly to the United States in both circumstances?

UConn1 · #4 (**permalink**) August 13th, 2006, 02:38 PM

My best guess would be because the Vancouver-Honolulu route does not return to Vancouver, whereas the Aslaska cruises do.

Jodi

ParrotRob · #5 (**permalink**) August 13th, 2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron

Thanks for your reply. But I don't get why there should be a difference between eligibility of Carnival Alaskan cruisers and Carnival Hawaiian cruisers. Same airport, same dock for embarkation, even the same ship (Carnival Spirit). Why should the ship's destination matter when it's just going directly to the United States in both circumstances?

Not sure why, but it has nothing to do with Carnival - it's the policy of Vancouver International (YVR) and Canadian customs.