Clearing Immigration in St. Thomas?

[Werner Weiss]

In the thread Hello from aboard the Magic - UPDATED 1/22 (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=147525), Pete Werner wrote:
When we go to St. Thomas, we are returning to US soil, therefore, everyone on the ship must clear customs before being allowed off. That means we all have to schlep down to the theatre at 6:30, ID's in hand.
Does everyone really have to go there at 6:30 a.m.? How about 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m.? I'm sure my wife has no intention of getting up at 5:30 a.m. while on vacation in order to be in the theater at 6:30 a.m. When do the US Immigration folks close up shop, so that one can no longer get off the ship in St. Thomas?

How long does the process take?

Thanks,

[Lisa F]

Everyone, infants included, needs to report to clear immigration before anyone will be allowed off the ship. Because some excursions meet rather early (it looks like the earliest meets around 7:40) I would guess everyone needs to be cleared by 7:30.

The process is fairly painless. We basically got up at 6:15, stumbled down to the walt disney theater in our pajamas with passports in hand and were directed to sit in order of arrival. We waited maybe around 10 minutes before we were asked to get up and file down front to present our ID to the immigration officer. We got a handstamp and went back to our room.

We were doing an excursion this morning so we took a shower and had breakfast, but I could've just as easily gone right back to sleep.

Immigration closes up shop when everyone has been cleared, regardless of whether (or when) you are planning to go ashore. After everyone is cleared, you just go ashore as you would normally with photo ID and KTTW card for identity verification upon returning to the ship.

Lisa

[castawayfan]

It took about 15 minutes. We were on deck 6. The note in our cabin said that if you had an early excursion you had to be there at 6:30, if not then by 7:00Am. NO ONE can get off the boat until EVERYONE clears customs. They made several announcements asking everyone to please come to customs so those who were going on excursions could get off the boat. We were able to leave by 8:15. Let your wife know they have coffee and danish and that this is the one time they are asking for help to get up early so everyone can get on with their trip.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

You can thank Osama for this, Werner. Prior to 9/11, only non-U.S. citizens were required to participate in this exercise.

[callahanjulie10]

So if you are not getting off in St Thomas- do you have to go to customs?

[Poohbr618]

EVERYONE has to do it. ........really it's not that bad.....

[crazy for mic]

During our January cruise, we weren't going to leave the ship in St. Thomas. When I asked Guest Services if we still had to go through immigration, they said YES!!!! My husband really had I problem with this, but we were there. So the answer to your question is that it doesn't matter. Everyone has to go.

[smjj]

I don't mind checks for security reasons but this is just goverment red tape that has surfaced after Sept. Its an ovcerraction pure and simple and provides no real benefit but gives a alluision of safety no more..smjj

[Dave_from_Marietta]

smjj, I agree that this seems like "window dressing"... but even if it doesn't provide any tangible additional benefit, at least some of the passengers are comforted by the allusion of additional security.

[WIcruizer]

I'm sure my wife has no intention of getting up at 5:30 a.m. while on vacation in order to be in the theater at 6:30 a.m.

I can assure you that we had no intention of getting up at 6:00 to make it by our scheduled time of 7:00. The process also did not go as smoothly for us as the other posters have indicated. It took us almost an hour to get into the theatre, get moved around the theatre, then finally get cleared. (Interesting...the actual immigration check itself took 5 seconds!) This was very frustrating, but why worry about things you can't control? We didn't let it ruin our day or our cruise.

So if you are not getting off in St Thomas- do you have to go to customs

The answer is YES. Even if you're not going ashore EVERYONE from infant to adult must clear immigration. This includes the ship's crew.

[Werner Weiss]

I suppose there's a good, logical reason why everybody has to clear immigration before anybody can get off in St. Thomas -- but I can't figure out the reason.

Any ideas?

[Cruise]

I'm sure it has to do with knowing that anyone can leave the ship without fear that they haven't gone through the red tape.

Also, I believe the immigration officer has to have complete documents to be able to file before they will allow the cruiseline to offload any passengers.

Julie

[smjj]

My point is that as another person mentioned it is a hassle that takes an hour or so and for what? Disney checks you when you get off and on the ship. They have a complete list of just who is on the ship at any given time. Unless that is someone is using a transporter bean and beaming on/off the ship while it is at sea. If it has no useful purpose, then why inconvience folks on their vacation(especially those with small children)..??..smjj

[natsmom125]

I agree that this was a waste of time. We too had to drag a child in pj's to the theater...with
all of our paper work....no one checked any paper work...just stamped our hands...which
NO ONE checked as we re-boarded in St. Thomas.

I know things are different since 9-11...but this seems a little much.

I realize it's not a Disney thing...but there has to be another way..............

Phyllis
:cool:

[slindamood]

In December, we arrived at our scheduled time, about 7:30, walked in the back of the theatre, walked quickly down the aisle (no one in front of us), got our hand stamped at the front, and were out. 30 seconds tops. And there is no dress code.

And yes, everyone on board has to clear.

[smjj]

Lets say it never takes more than 30 seconds once you enter the theatre. What if I was not getting off the ship at St. Thomas and wanted to sleep in until 09:00. That means even though I had no plans but to sleep in, I still have to get up and dressed and get down to "check in" 3 hours early just so everyone else can go on an excursion. Now that is a "BIG INCONVIENCE" in my book...smjj