Tell me about immigration in St. Thomas

[tbuot]

I was reading about it on the dcltribute.com site and 6:30 a.m. sounds painful especially with small children. I would like to know how long it lasts and if anyone ever brings children in pj's? My kids will be still sleeping and if I don't have to get them up that much earlier they will be much easier to deal with unless of course this procedure takes a long time...

What was your experience like?

 

[xABearx]

For us, it was painless.....everyone goes to the WD theatre and the immigration officers checked our passports and that was it....I can't tell you about the experience with children since we don't have any, however, I'm sure someone will reply that does......Andy

 

[PiperG]

We took DS in his PJs, which was just fine. Many kids were still in jammies.

I agree with the previous poster about the experience being painless. They got everyone through very quickly. However, once DS6 was up, he was not going back to sleep! After breakfast, DH caught a nap in the cabin while DS and I played shuffleboard and watched the seaplanes take off and land in the bay (we didn't have a planned shore excursion).

Actually, this turned out to be one of our best days. The Magic was tendered in the bay that day, so we took the shuttle over to the island for a brief visit. Upon return, we had lunch at topsiders, and then returned to the cabin with the intent of changing into our suits.

Rather than swimming, DS konked out on the couch, and DH and I spent several hours sitting on the verandah drinking cocktails. There was a lot to see (sea planes, party boats, the tender shuttle going back and forth). And, of course, we enjoyed some nice adult quiet time. It was just incredible.

DS woke up just as we were pulling out of port. . . . what great memories. Thanks for asking the question and allowing me to re-live that MAGICal day.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

Some adults were in their pjs too! It is early, but you will be on vacation, so you don't need to sleep until you get home!!

 

[2disneycruzrs]

We just got back. My suggestion is to get there before 6:30. We arrived at 6:25 and were in the first 100 to arrive. Because we got there early, we got through and we're able to go to Topsiders with less wait up there. The line started to build after that.

You only have to go at 6:30 if you are on an excursion that day. Otherwise, you can go between 7 and 8 a.m.

 

[tbuot]

How is it done? Does everyone sit in the rows and then go to the immigration people or do you get in a line?

 

[JCLNJ]

Just returned from the Magic 11/1 cruise. We went down to the theater at 7:30, Outside they ask you your room number then we walked straight down to front where imigration officers were, showed them our passports and that was it. The whole process took us 5 minutes.

 

[tbuot]

Thanks everybody! It seems easy enough.

 

[jrabbit]

One you haul your very tired bodies (from having way too much fun the night before) out of bed (all of the including the kids), grab your doc's and photo ID, stay in your pj's, wander down to the WD Theater, give the nice man your doc's, take them back and take your family back to bed.

Since you aren't going to go back to sleep. bit the kids are, you can sneak up to topsiders and get some coffee and donuts and crousants, and bring back to the room for when everyone wakes up.

It really is painless except for the getting up part.

 

[DanaJo37]

We just got back, and it was not a problem. There were seven of us and the biggest problem was getting the kids, 25, 21, 13, 10 and 6 out of bed! It is early, and we did not get to the theatre until about 7:30 to 7:45 which worked out great because most of the people had gone through - our line just moved right along. Most of the excursion people had to go through around 6:30. I found that after a deck party the night before that lasted well into the evening, I just felt it was too early to drag everyone out if you were not getting up to go on an excursion. You need your birth certificate/picture ID with you. The official just asked each of us a question, like where were you born, or where do you live, simple stuff. He asked my 6 year old his name. No biggie, just too early in the morning.
DB

 

[tbuot]

danajo37-
I have another question...if you are going on an excursion but it is a later one can we go to the later time like you all did or do we go at 6:30 because any and all excursions most go then?

 

[DanaJo37]

You won't be able to go much later than we did, as they want everyone to have passed through by 8:00am. I suppose that the later excursions wouldn't require the really early time slot.

 

[tbuot]

thank danajo37!