Arrival Time and Passport Question

[roscodog]

We will be doing the 3 day land and 4 day sea package in late January and will staying at the AKL during our land portion. Looking really forward to staying there as I have read how wonderful it is. Our group will be using the DCL bus transfers to get to the ship. I have read that the bus does not pick us up from AK until about 12:30 pm thus arriving at the port at 1:30 to 2 pm. Does this give us enough time to make ressies for Palo or will all the ressies be taken by then?

Also we are travelling with an foreign passport. When we did the 7-day Western a couple of years back, our passports were submitted when we checked into the boat. Since on the land/sea there is no real check-in procedure at the port, does anyone know where they will be taking our passports.

Thanks

 

[momsgoofy]

roscodog,

I'm sorry I am unable to answer your question about the 4 day cruise, but your post brought a question to my mind...

Why does the cruise line hold your passport just because it is foreign? It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I never had any country I visited outside of the US hold my passport, but then I never was on a cruise.

I hope I didn't open up a can of worms by asking, I'm just curious why the cruise line would hold a foreign visitor's passport and not my own American issued passport.

Thanks!
Laura ºoº

 

[disneymusical135]

Roscodog,

You should have no problems making reservations, just let it be one of the first things you do. Also, you should check into what time the transportation comes because last year we did the same thing and the buses were picking up from like 10:30 am until like 1pm. Check to see if that has changed. Give DCL a call. But even if you get on the boat late you still will be able to make reservations. Last year we made our brunch reservation a few days into the cruise.

 

[roscodog]

Momsgoofy,

I believe that the reason that foreign passports are taken is because you would be entering a foreign country (other than the United States) such as the Bahamas, without a visa. Leaving your passport on the boat in the safe hands of immigration officials would perhaps deter people from skipping of into the Bahamas and never coming back. However I am sure that this thought passes anybody's mind who visits Castaway Cay. That is my understanding.

Passports are returned at a pre-destined venue 6am morning of your return to port.

Roscodog

 

[momsgoofy]

roscodog,

Thanks for the info!

Laura ºoº

 

[Cruisin]

But why only foreign passports when Americans are just as capable of "jumping ship" as any other nationality?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

My family are from the UK and we travelled on DCL before, on the passports, they take them at the port on embarkation, and they are held in custody until about 6am on the day you leave the ship. Yes it is very early, you go through emigration on the ship after it has berthed and all non USA res, have to present themselves in a location specified on the ship, before everyone can leave.

The view is you are 'in transit' and they keep your passports to avoid all of the usual passport checks on arrival at each new location.

When I did part WDW part DCL, although it was a package it was 7 days at each, the single check in didn't work, and we were advised in our docs and at WDW that we would have to check in the second time at the port.

The single check in at that time only related to USA residents.

Hope that clarifies, if you have any enquiries contact DCL direct or your TA to confirm.

 

[Cruisin]

Andrew DEREK UK

The "in transit" thing really does not explain why only foreign passports are retained.

Everyone on the ship is "in transit" between different countries not just the ones with foreign passports.

 

[TiggerKing]

The in-transit on non-USA residents refers to the fact they are essentially leaving the United States for another country and then returning to the US. Therefore, they essentially have to go through immigration twice. As US residents, we don't have to go through immigration when we re-enter the US, only through customs.

 

[roscodog]

Andrew
Thanks for the info. Dis you do the land/sea or was each portion arranged separately?
roscodog

 

[disneyholic family]

we just did the land/sea....
during your land stay, you'll have to check in at the DCL desk at the hotel.....
that person will tell you if you have to do something special at the port, given that you're not US citizens....
if i were you i would get to the port much earlier than you're currently planning to...

 

[*Huey*]

Why must US citizens go through immigration in St. Thomas. . . I could understand St. Maarten or others, but as a US territory, I assumed it would be like going from Floriida to Georgia... Understandibly, foreign visitors going through immigration on a US territory but why EVERYONE??

 

[mickeyfan1]

Originally posted by *Huey*
Why must US citizens go through immigration in St. Thomas. . . I could understand St. Maarten or others, but as a US territory, I assumed it would be like going from Floriida to Georgia... Understandibly, foreign visitors going through immigration on a US territory but why EVERYONE??

Where does the ship stop before St Thomas? If it is a foriegn country, then you are reentering the US and thus must clear immigration. Same thing when you return to the US from any foriegn country.