What are the crew doing???

[Disney_Life84]

We just got off of the Dream this morning. We are always the first off of the ship, so anyone who is not an early express walk-offer like us may not know what I am talking about. While we were waiting for clearance to disembark, a group of about 50 crew members got off of the ship with their passports, only to return about 10 minutes later. We have seen them do this on our past cruises as well. What are they doing? It just seems odd that a group gets off the ship together, only to return a few minutes later. Anyone know?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We just got off of the Dream this morning. We are always the first off of the ship, so anyone who is not an early express walk-offer like us may not know what I am talking about. While we were waiting for clearance to disembark, a group of about 50 crew members got off of the ship with their passports, only to return about 10 minutes later. We have seen them do this on our past cruises as well. What are they doing? It just seems odd that a group gets off the ship together, only to return a few minutes later. Anyone know?

Crew must also clear immigration, so maybe that?

 

[Disney_Life84]

That makes sense...but why only a small group of them? Unless they do groups throughout the day???

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That makes sense...but why only a small group of them? Unless they do groups throughout the day???

I know that some of them will do it before the guests are even awake. Maybe it's by departments. But I don't know. I only know that, on at least 2 of our cruises, our dining room server (serving us breakfast) was late to the meal due to immigration checks.

 

[Disney_Life84]

Got it! Thank you for solving this baffling mystery for me!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Got it! Thank you for solving this baffling mystery for me!

Not saying that what it IS, just my best guess.

 

[Mickey of the Villages]

This is just a guess but I presume that these crew members are leaving the ship while it is in port (so they are entering the U.S) either to go to the grocery store or pharmacy. They likely go through a different process than passengers. Still just a guess.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is just a guess but I presume that these crew members are leaving the ship while it is in port (so they are entering the U.S) either to go to the grocery store or pharmacy. They likely go through a different process than passengers. Still just a guess.

I doubt that they (as a group) could make it to a store and back in 10 minutes. At least not in Port Canaveral.

 

[bbel]

Immigration. For the crew that started their contract on the day you got onboard (which is why it's only a small number and a mix of all departments and nationalities). At the end of their first cruise sailing out of US ports all crew have to go through immigration and get their I95 (crew landing permit) which then allows them off in US ports without having to go through immigration every time. They do it before guests go through immigration so it's an early wake up call. If you go on a transatlantic back to the US then it's a full crew immigration and everyone goes. There are also occasionally full crew immigration inspections called throughout the year.
It's also the only time a (non US) crew member will touch their passport until the end of their contract.

 

[Dug720]

Crew must also clear immigration, so maybe that?

They don’t actually clear every time - only if they are getting off for any time off. They clear at certain intervals.

One other possibility is they were Castaway Cay crew members - they must come back to the mainland every so many weeks, so they would get on when the ship is leaving and most likely dropped off when the ship returns to Castaway.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

If they got off the ship and back on maybe they were completing one contract and starting another?

 

[Dug720]

If they got off the ship and back on maybe they were completing one contract and starting another?

That would be really rare. There is almost always vacation after a contract.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I had to run to the pharmacy before our cruise and there was a crewmember there who chatted with me while we waited for it to open. This was in Vancouver, so walking distance to the ship. Besides immigration, I wouldn't be surprised if other crewmembers ran errands if they have time.