Going through customs at St. Thomas

[praisehisname]

I'm a little confused. Does EVERYONE on the ship have to go down to the theater to clear customs, even if you're not planning to get off the ship?

Denise C. in MD

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Yep. Because the ship made a stop at a foreign port and has returned to US territory, everybody needs to be cleared through immigration.

I still think this is one of the silliest things going, but hey, that's just me.

 

[xABearx]

Yes....everyone onboard must go through immigration whether getting off the ship or not .... Andy

 

[cathie]

Do you have to go through customs at any of the ports on the Western? Cathie

 

[xABearx]

We were on the Western a couple of years ago and did not have to....I don't know if they have since changed, but, we are going in August and I guess I'll find out then .... Andy

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Regardless of Eastern, Western, 3-night, or 4-night, you only have to deal with U.S. Customs on the morning of debarkation. You fill out a form. If you exceeded the U.S. Customs allowances, you must pay duty on the excess (which you do on the ship, early in the morning). It's also possible for U.S. Customs to spot-check your checked or hand-carried luggage.

On the Eastern itinerary -- and only on the Eastern itinerary -- there's a U.S. Immigration check early in the morning. This is not the same as U.S. Customs. St. Thomas is part of the United States, and you're returning from St. Maarten, which is a foreign port. There is no similar mid-cruise U.S. Immigration check needed on the other itineraries.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

You just show your passport or Birth Cert/Photo Id and then you get a sticker or card (or so was the case on Carnival) and then you were free to go. They had a system (if your sticker was not passed out, then you were in trouble..lol) to know who did and who didn't go through and if you didn't go to Immigration then you were escorted off and brought to Immigration in the city at YOUR expense... ouch! Like I said it was simple and took only a few minutes.

 

[mickeyboat]

At immigration on DCL you get an invisible stamp that shows up under ultraviolet light. You have to show that stamp to get off the ship in St. Thomas.

Denae