St Thomas - immigration check -

[imgoingtodisney]

Is there an easier way to do this immigration check than at 630am if we arent doing a disney excursion?
Is time the same whether we are doing disney excursion or not?
Do the others go later? Can we go at 630am?
If we wait is there another herd to get past?

 

[SC Minnie]

Everyone MUST go through the immigration before the ship is cleared and any passagers are allowed to leave the ship. You will be given a time to report- it will be left in your stateroom the night before.

DD went to the check in the PJ's as well as many other kids. It took about 15-20 minutes. It moved fairly quick.

 

[ducklite]

Is there any rhyme or reason to the order that they do the checkins in? Is it done by deck? Category? Number of people in your party? Citizenship?

Anne

 

[jlmcantwait]

Could you shed some light on this question. I have never had to clear immigration individually, in the past on all of my cruises the ship clears immigration...they make an announcement the ship is cleared you are free to disembark. Is this a Disney policy?

 

[SC Minnie]

This policy stems from 9/11.

I don't remember if they make an annoucement letting everyone know it is OK to disembark- I am pretty sure they do. We were in our staterooms getting ready for Magans Bay. I am pretty sure the times set up were by deck. It moved very quick. You need to have a picture ID and birth certificate - or passport- for all adults and at least a birth certificate for children.

 

[jlmcantwait]

This must be a Disney policy. In March 2002 RCCL cleared the ship...you never spoke to immigration in person. This included all non us citizens also.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

This was implemented by U.S. I.N.S. after 9/11. It applies to the Disney ship because they're returning to a U.S. port after having been to a foreign port. IMO, it's just a bunch of window dressing. Disney controls access to the ship very well... they have procedures to check the documentation of all passengers and crew onboard... and anyone who snuck onboard at St Maarten could certainly evade I.N.S.'s "inspection" at St Thomas.

 

[Denine]

I thought they had stopped doing this. Did they start it up again? Maybe I am thinking of another cruise line.
We had to do St. Thomas immigration last October. We didn't have to do anything in April on our Panama Canal cruise with Princess.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Denine

I thought they had stopped doing this. Did they start it up again?

They did, very briefly, about a month after 9/11. But then they started up again.

 

[D A P & I]

We were on the July 27th Eastern Cruise.
They leave you a paper on your bed the night before with your navagator.
It states as I have it in front of me.
Dear Disney Magic Guest:
Please be reminded that United Staes Immigration Authorties require the ALL GUESTS on board the Disney Magic clear with Immigration Officials, upon arrival in St Thomas tomorrow morning at:

The Walt Disney Theater on deck 4 forward
Guest on morning shore Excursions 6:30 am
All other guests 7:00am-8:30am

US Immigration requires that all family members are present to clear with the US Immigration Officials.
All guest are required to present a Passport or Birth Certificate (accompanied with Photo ID), for each guest to the Immigration Officials.
Please note that US Immigration requires that NO GUESTS will be allowed ashore without them having cleared through Immigration at the times quoted above. Even if you are not planning on going ashore, you are still required to go through the US Immigration proceduce.
This proceduce is a United States Immigration Law that applies to any ship that goes from a foreign port (eg. St Maarten) to a US port (eg. St Thomas).
Thank you for your understanding and we hope you enjoy your day in St Thomas.



Our family went at 7:00, we had no excursions, but they said it was fine. Kids went in PJ's. They do it row by row. You show your cards Id's and Bc or Passports, you get a stamp, they run your cards through the computer. That is it. It took about 10 minutes if that. They do call room numbers that have not reported, and then "We have cleared Immigration", Have a wonderful day in St. Thomas.

Anne

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Ok, I think I found one more reason I'm glad we're doing the Western...trying to get 2 teenagers out of bed for the excursions they want is going to be tough enough but for a 6:30 customs clearance? Yikes!

Ok, now someone break the bad news to me...is this also part of the process for Cozumel and/or Grand Cayman?

Deb

 

[Willowwind]

Please forgive me my ignorance, I've never left the US before.

So, US imigration requires that everyone's passports are checked before they get off of the ship in other countries?

Why do they care who gets off of the ship?

Shouldn't they be more worried about who's getting back on the ship? Or how about who gets off of the ship in the US!! Do you have to clear immigration when you come back into port?

 

[Señor Ferrari]

Originally posted by Willowwind
So, US immigration requires that everyone's passports are checked before they get off of the ship in other countries?

Why do they care who gets off of the ship?

The immigration check in question takes place when the ship calls at St. Thomas, USVI. It's a US port, so that's why the US Immigration and Naturalization Service has an interest in who gets off of a ship that is coming from a foreign port.

As Dave said, this is really just window dressing. I have yet to be convinced of any real security value.