Why does my Hawaii cruise stop in Mexico?

Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (PVSA)

Ever wonder why a 15-night Hawaiian cruise from California makes a stop in Mexico?  Your Alaska cruise from Seattle makes a seemingly random stop at Victoria BC, Canada? 

​It is because of the PVSA of 1886.  This law was passed with the intention of protecting US ship builders and passenger operations from foreign competition.

Princess 15-Night Hawaii Roundtrip from San Francisco with foreign stop in Mexico

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PVSA Basics
​Any passenger vessel whose itinerary starts and ends at a US port without visiting a foreign port must be USA-made and have a USA crew​.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America is the only cruise ship with an all USA crew as it is stationed full-time in Hawaii and does not have any way to visit a foreign port on its Hawaii-exclusive itineraries

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The Exceptions and Workarounds
A passenger vessel visiting a US port may be foreign-made and/or have a foreign crew when...

Itinerary is roundtrip to/from the same US port

• Must stop at any foreign port
• From the West Coast - Typically it's Victoria BC for Alaska and Ensenada, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta or other nearby Mexican port for Hawaii

Itinerary starts and ends at different US ports

• Must stop at a distant foreign port outside of North America
• The North America definition includes Central America, Bermuda, the Bahamas and all of the Caribbean (except for Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao)

Princess Panama Canal LA to Ft Lauderdale with distant foreign stop in Colombia

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Penalties

Coastwise penalty is $778/passenger

• If a passenger disembarks at any port other than the final destination for any reason including medical emergencies (cost is usually passed on to the passenger(s) who disembarked early)
  
• If a ship disembarks at a different US port when supposed to be a roundtrip itinerary

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Source:  US Customs and Border Protection
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pvsa_icp_3.pdf