Tell me about going through customs...

[DMDaisy31]

Newbie here. Please help with what we will need to do when coming back into the country and going through customs after our Bahamas cruise on the Dream this summer. What does it entail, about how long does it take, etc. THANKS. New to leaving the country at 43 years old!

 

[diznymom]

Your last night of the cruise, you will receive a customs form. You can google it. YOu fill it out and list anything you have boght and the cost.....save your receipts.
There may or may night be a long line. You make your way to the customs desk and hand over your customs form. If you haven't bought much, it's no big deal.

Going through customs is really no big deal.

 

[dcassetta]

When packing on the last evening of your cruise, make sure not to pack any of your passports. After exiting the ship, you'll go down an escalator into the baggage hall. If you're going to the airport, and have chosen to use Disney's Airline check-in program, you will not need to pick up your bags. In any other situation you'll stop in the baggage hall get your bags before proceeding to customs. There may or may not be a line. When approaching the immigration official, They will ask you for your customs declaration form and your families identification. Make sure and keep receipts for any purchases Unless you have brought expensive jewelry or watches in Nassau, or exceeded the limits on alcohol, they will welcome you home to the United States. You'll then go outside and get in the Disney bus to the airport or resort, or go to your vehicle or arranged transportation.

 

[JWG]

It's really easy, and has seemingly improved over the years. Fill out the customs form left in your room the night before, declare your purchases, have your passports and form ready to present at the customs desk/agent and you're on your way.

They do a nice job here. It took us longer to find our luggage.

 

[DMDaisy31]

So, two adults, one room... do we both fill out a form or does one of us fill out one for all things we bought?

 

[DMDaisy31]

Also, does this just include things bought in Nassau, or also Castaway Cay and the ship? Thanks.

 

[Dug720]

So, two adults, one room... do we both fill out a form or does one of us fill out one for all things we bought?

If you are a married couple, you fill out one form.

If you are two friends traveling together you each fill out your own form.

 

[kiford]

So, two adults, one room... do we both fill out a form or does one of us fill out one for all things we bought?

IIRC, it's one per family living at the same address. I know in Canada it's one per family. And I seem to recall that I'm the one who has the form to hand over (I handle all of the tickets, itinerary, and everything else) so it must be just the one.

Also, does this just include things bought in Nassau, or also Castaway Cay and the ship? Thanks.

Everything you bought from the time you boarded the ship until you disembarked so, yes, anything in Nassau, CC and the ship.

 

[Capt_BJ]

Yes, one per family

99% of the time they take your form with a cursory glance and you are done .....

now if a dog hit on one of your bags ........... you may get to visit one of the special little rooms .........



if all you buy is the standard tourist trinkets, don't go crazy with descriptions especially if you are way below your standard allowance as I always am.

"misc tourist items value $100"

has served me for many cruises

 

[Dug720]

Yes, one per family

99% of the time they take your form with a cursory glance and you are done .....

now if a dog hit on one of your bags ........... you may get to visit one of the special little rooms .........



if all you buy is the standard tourist trinkets, don't go crazy with descriptions especially if you are way below your standard allowance as I always am.

"misc tourist items value $100"

has served me for many cruises

HOWEVER, if you are family BUT have different addresses (such as when my parents, sister, and I went on the Dream - or when I took my parents on the Magic (though in that case we had 2 cabins)) there must be a form for each address.

 

[dcassetta]

Anything you purchase on Castaway Caydoes does contribute to your allowance, but I only mentioned Nassau because that's the place where you're most likely to purchase something that could put you over your allowance. I guess a person could spend $800 in souvenirs on Castaway Cay but I think it would be hard!

 

[Capt_BJ]

correct, I should have said one family at same address.

All in all ..... they don't really sweat it too much. You could do one form per person .... or one for the entire group ..... unless you raise a flag, they are gonna wave you thru.

For example, I cruised with my son who was in college. Is his address with me or at school?

btw .... by law all Coast Guard officers, are Officers of Customs ... much to the chagrin of ICE folks ... but that's the way the US Code is written ....

 

[MUN]

Newbie here. Please help with what we will need to do when coming back into the country and going through customs after our Bahamas cruise on the Dream this summer. What does it entail, about how long does it take, etc. THANKS. New to leaving the country at 43 years old!

If you bring back any Cuban rum or cigars from Nassau, don't write "Cuban rum" or "Cuban cigars" on the declaration form.

 

[Dug720]

If you bring back any Cuban rum or cigars from Nassau, don't write "Cuban rum" or "Cuban cigars" on the declaration form.

Actually they are allowed now.

 

[MUN]

Actually they are allowed now.

Awesome!

 

[diznymom]

The Customs Form has easy instructions on it.

 

[diznymom]

For example, I cruised with my son who was in college. Is his address with me or at school?

If you have a child in college his permanent address is "home". I would just fill out one Customs Form to include him.

Unless you have purchased over your limit, I would make things as simple as possible.

 

[DMDaisy31]

HOWEVER, if you are family BUT have different addresses (such as when my parents, sister, and I went on the Dream - or when I took my parents on the Magic (though in that case we had 2 cabins)) there must be a form for each address.

So, it is my sister and I and we live at the same address at home. So one form?

 

[Dug720]

So, it is my sister and I and we live at the same address at home. So one form?

That I don't know. I live alone.

 

[gatordoc]

When we cruised on the Magic last month (5-night Bahamian from Miami) we were told we did not need to complete a declaration form unless we had spent over our limit. I was skeptical, but we did not have a form, and all the customs agent did was check our passports and wave us through (didn't even ask what we purchased/how much we spent).