When do you go through Customs?

[missattitude]

We are going on the 1/10/04 7 day eastern, when do you go through customs? Do the kids have to go?

 

[ChattyKathy]

I beleive everyone goes thru customs....

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

on your day in st thomas you and your kids will go through customs. it starts at 6:30 am. so if you want to go in pajama's. and once you get back into port your luggage will go throug customs. if you have any questionible items or if your over on your free goods you will have to see them. otherwise only in st thomas. i hope this helps

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by KYCruiseCrazy
on your day in st thomas you and your kids will go through customs.

Just to clarify, the mandatory early morning activity in St. Thomas is U.S. Immigration, not U.S. Customs.

Prior to disembarking on the final morning, anyone who has exceeded the U.S Customs duty free allowances must see a U.S. Customs officer early in the morning.

Also on the final morning, everyone must clear U.S. Immigration. I'm not sure how it is now, but in spring 2002, all non-U.S. citizens had to report to Rockin' Bar D at 6:00 a.m. And all U.S. citizens had to show acceptable identification (passport or birth certificate) to a U.S. Immigration officer when disembarking.

 

[professorandmom]

I've traveled to several countries and Canada after 9/11. Getting off the ship at the end of the cruise and going through customs/immigration is nothing like that - only some people were asked to show papers or asked any questions...very non-intimidating (unlike some other experiences)...nothing to worry about IMHO
Barbara

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by professorandmom
I've traveled to several countries and Canada after 9/11. Getting off the ship at the end of the cruise and going through customs/immigration is nothing like that - only some people were asked to show papers or asked any questions...very non-intimidating (unlike some other experiences)...nothing to worry about IMHO
Barbara

Barbara,

When you wrote that "going through customs/immigration is nothing like that," are you saying that what I wrote is incorrect?

Is there not an early-morning Immigration check in St. Thomas? Doesn't someone from a family which exceeded the Customs allowance need to see a U.S. Customs officer on the final morning? Isn't there a U.S. Immigration checkpoint when disembarking on the final morning?

I agree that the processes are non-intimidating and are nothing to worry about. (Well, having to get up really early on the St. Thomas morning was annoying.)

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

Werner,

We were on the 12/13 Eastern and the immigration/customs process was just as you described. The process at debarkation was very quick. I know they can ask you to open your luggage for inspection but I didn't see anyone being asked this when we went through.

Also, another note on St. Thomas day. On our cruise, only the people with shore excursions had to be at immigration at 6:30 am. All others went from 7 - 8.

 

[professorandmom]

Oops - I wasn;t clear - I was talking about debarkation at DCL terminal in FL. I was on the 4 day so immigration was not an issue for me as a US citizen - but what I was trying to describe was returning to US soil - it was a breeze.
Barbara

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by professorandmom
I was on the 4 day so immigration was not an issue for me as a US citizen - but what I was trying to describe was returning to US soil - it was a breeze.
Barbara

Regardless of whether you're on a 3-, 4-, or 7-night cruise, you leave the United States, so Customs and Immigration are issues when returning to the U.S. If you exceed the spending limits on foreign soil (or on the ship), you must report to a Customs officer. And there's an Immigration checkpoint at disembarkation.

I agree that, as a U.S. citizen with proper identification — passports, in our case — it was a breeze.

Non-U.S. citizens had to go to Rockin' Bar D at 6:00 a.m. on disembarkation day.

 

[missattitude]

Thanks for the information, OMG...6:30...this is like a work day!

Of course in St. Maarten we booked a private excursion, so I guess I better get the kids up and moving that day.