Carnival Cruise Line in reference to the Jones Act

Here is some information from Carnival Cruise Line in reference to the Jones Act. Please make note of the last paragraph. It is now in writing that Carnival will take full responsibility for a passenger who misses the ship during embarkation when they purchased air fare thru Carnival. The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ships of Non-U.S registry from embarking and debarking guests at two different U.S ports. Such travel would constitute point-to-point transportation between two U.S ports, which is prohibited on foreign flagged ships. Note: Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands (St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John) are not in the category of U.S ports under this act.

Any guest who insists on embarking or debarking in this situation (which violates the Jones Act) will accept responsibility for any resulting penalties ($300 per person).
Violations of the Jones Act are noted under each ship itinerary.

Original Carnival Policy
We are not to suggest or encourage guests who miss the ship at a home port to fly to a U.S port to embark the ship nor should they be given the option of paying the fine in order to board the ship. Joining the ship in a U.S port-of-call is in direct violation of the Jones Act.

New Policy
While in the past, we have discouraged guests from meeting at a U.S port due to the Jones Act, we may now advise guests that they can meet the ship!

Cruise Only Guests
Guests who do not purchase our Fly Aweigh program will be responsible for any and all travel expenses incurred, including the $300 per person Jones Act fee that Carnival may incur for violating this act. Guests will be charged the fee upon boarding the ship and can pay with a credit card, cash or on their Sail & Sign card.

Guest Solutions or Guest Services Sailing Support must be contacted. Before meeting the ship, the guest must sign an acknowledgment letter that they would like to meet the ship at the next U.S port and are willing to pay the fine. The signed letter will be scanned and sent to the on board Guest Services Manager along with any pertinent flight information.

Fly Aweigh Guests
As part of our Fly Aweigh program, Travel Services will cover the expense of the Jones Act fee of $300 per person for our Fly Aweigh guests.

When guests book Carnival's Fly Aweigh(r) program, they have the guarantee that should they experience a flight problem or delay along the way, Carnival will be responsible for getting them to their next destination (ship, next port of call or home) by securing flights, hotels and meals, when applicable, at no cost to them.