Port Canaveral as a port question

[ArielRae]

I understand that morning we need to check in with boarder patrol and customs and show proof of citizenship (Our Passports). Will we as US citizens need to bring our passports off the ship with us when we leave the ship. Wondering if we need it for when we get back to the ship what documents other then photo ID and our Stateroom card we will need. We have an early morning transfer to the parks. Will I be able to take our passports back to our stateroom before we leave the ship on the transfer?

 

[Sytrace]

I understand that morning we need to check in with boarder patrol and customs and show proof of citizenship (Our Passports). Will we as US citizens need to bring our passports off the ship with us when we leave the ship. Wondering if we need it for when we get back to the ship what documents other then photo ID and our Stateroom card we will need. We have an early morning transfer to the parks. Will I be able to take our passports back to our stateroom before we leave the ship on the transfer?

You do not need to bring passports off the ship. All that is needed is ID and KTTWC.

 

[Marc D]

I’m guessing you are sailing from NYC ? If so, you will not need to meet with Homeland security for a passport check.

 

[ArielRae]

I’m guessing you are sailing from NYC ? If so, you will not need to meet with Homeland security for a passport check.

Yes sailing from NY

and Thanks!

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Everyone on the ship will need to go through passport control, even if you plan to stay on the ship for the day. You can’t bring passports back to your room and then head off to the parks because to get off the ship, you need to show your passport.

 

[ArielRae]

Everyone on the ship will need to go through passport control, even if you plan to stay on the ship for the day. You can’t bring passports back to your room and then head off to the parks because to get off the ship, you need to show your passport.

Um ok?

So which is it? You or Marc D correct?

Guess I’ll have to wait to find out on the ship.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Well, that’s how we did it last October. We stopped at CC before PC, so had left the US.

 

[ArielRae]

Well, that’s how we did it last October. We stopped at CC before PC, so had left the US.

That was what DH was just saying. Since CC is considered the Bahamas we have to do that whole imagration thing. To bad we can’t do WDW first then CC so we don’t have to go thru all that mess. Really didn’t want to carry around the passports all day at WDW. That fear of losing them.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

That was what DH was just saying. Since CC is considered the Bahamas we have to do that whole imagration thing. To bad we can’t do WDW first then CC so we don’t have to go thru all that mess. Really didn’t want to carry around the passports all day at WDW. That fear of losing them.

What was interesting was that we had to go through passport control when we got back to NY, too. Many folks figured that it wouldn’t be necessary since we had come from PC.

 

[TRTRguy]

Since you are going to Castaway Cay then Port Canaveral you will have to clear us customs in PC. Here is a link with info https://disneycruiselineblog.com/wp...averal-Customs-Immigration-Info-Magic-NYC.pdf

 

[dcassetta]

That was what DH was just saying. Since CC is considered the Bahamas we have to do that whole imagration thing. To bad we can’t do WDW first then CC so we don’t have to go thru all that mess. Really didn’t want to carry around the passports all day at WDW. That fear of losing them.

Are you planning to park hop? If not, then just rent a locker. Then you know that your passports are locked up and safe, and you can pick them up on your way back to the ship. That being said, we just wrapped ours up in our passport wallet, tucked them way inside the backpack and made our way around the parks. No problem at all.

 

[Marc D]

Um ok?

So which is it? You or Marc D correct?

Guess I’ll have to wait to find out on the ship.

Sorry, I assumed you got to PC before going to CC, not after. In that case, my answer is different. You’ll need your passport...

 

[Weedy]

The same but different??? We did a Disney Cruise that sailed out of Miami went to Castaway then Key West so we had to go through customs when we arrived back in Key West
Customs officials came on the ship the morning we docked in Key West. They had lots of stations set up on the ship it took about 10 minuets. It was very easy. They put a star sticker our KTTW card so we didn’t need our passports but adults 18 and over will need a government issued photo ID (adults need ID in all ports.)
The best part was when we arrived back in Miami we didn’t have to go through customs

 

[dcassetta]

The same but different??? We did a Disney Cruise that sailed out of Miami went to Castaway then Key West so we had to go through customs when we arrived back in Key West
Customs officials came on the ship the morning we docked in Key West. They had lots of stations set up on the ship it took about 10 minuets. It was very easy. They put a star sticker our KTTW card so we didn’t need our passports but adults 18 and over will need a government issued photo ID (adults need ID in all ports.)
The best part was when we arrived back in Miami we didn’t have to go through customs]

We had a similar experience in Key West. I think the difference might be that Port Canaveral isn't set up as a port stop the way Key West is. Port Canaveral is primarily a place for you to get on the ship at the beginning of the cruise or off the ship at the end. Maybe if more cruise lines use Port Canaveral as a port stop they would get better at the customs and immigration thing.

 

[Weedy]

We had a similar experience in Key West. I think the difference might be that Port Canaveral isn't set up as a port stop the way Key West is. Port Canaveral is primarily a place for you to get on the ship at the beginning of the cruise or off the ship at the end. Maybe if more cruise lines use Port Canaveral as a port stop they would get better at the customs and immigration thing.

Other cruise lines use Port Canaveral as a Port stop. So the Port Authorities and Customs should be use to handling this.

 

[dcassetta]

Other cruise lines use Port Canaveral as a Port stop. So the Port Authorities and Customs should be use to handling this.

This is true, however not at the rate of some other ports. Port Canaveral averages about 10 ships a month using it as a port stop, Nassau does that in two days. And, some of those ports stops were on days when no other cruise ship is in port at PC, that means you're pulling in your CBP officers for one ship. I would guess that the Canaveral CBP office doesn't have near the staff of a port like Miami or Fort Lauderdale. This may not be true today, but I know at times in the past they used to pull officers from Orlando airport to meet their needs on busy days. Others may have different experiences, but I have never arrived into PC on a day where all of the immigration stations were staffed.