St. Thomas and Customs - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

CPT Trips · 09-08-2005, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweet angel

Our itinerary is Miami, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Nassau.

I'm not really concerned about it -- just about having to get up really early!

You are in business . . . the first three stops you list (Miami, San Juan and St. Thomas) are all US

! No need to present at immigration until after being in a foreign port. Neither St. Maarten nor Nassau will make you present yourself. No immigration/customs till you return home.

sue miller · 09-08-2005, 10:19 PM

The line does move very fast!! Just remember to take the papers for every passenger in your cabin, that has the names and time to go!! If you don't have them, they will pull you out of the line, and it will take longer!!

sweet angel · 09-08-2005, 10:19 PM

Cool beans! Thanks!

bill be cruisin · 09-09-2005, 01:47 PM

and remember, if your papers are out of order or you're late, they'll put ya on the "Group W" bench with all sorts of mean, scary people! But things will be ok as long as y'all start playin' with the pencils.....

Sorry this thread just got me thinking of Alice's Restaurant.....

Talks to Strangers · 09-10-2005, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPT Trips

We had to report for customs/immigration on Disney. Our first stop was St. Martin then St. Thomas - Uncle Sam wanted to see our documents as we were entering the US from a foreign port.

I had heard that since Explorer of the Seas goes to St. Martin before St. Thomas that we would have to go through customs like CPT said above. I'm being cautious about booking early excursions because I am just not a morning person and getting up early for customs before an excursion might be too much .

Sea Otter · 09-12-2005, 02:16 PM

OK guys, I am not getting picky, but I think we should get this correct.

It is immigration NOT customs.

Customs is a totally different thing.

Big4Chaps · 09-12-2005, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweet angel

Is it true that every passenger on a ship has to report to Customs at some ungodly hour (like 7 a.m.) in St. Thomas? Why is this?

Yes, we just returned on a cruise on HAL from St. Thomas (9-7-05) & everyone on board had to report to the vista lounge to see a customs agent. They started calling us at 7:15 AM one deck at a time until everyone was seen. It didn't take long, just showed them our passport picture & moved on. Some passengers didn't report when they were told to, so no one could disembark to St. Thomas until everyone had been seen. They announced these passengers names & then finally told them they would be fined if they didn't show up. We don't know what happened after that. We were told "thru the grapevine" that if you didn't show up, you would be hauled to downtown & explain to them all day why you refused to show up when called!

MrPeteLI · 09-12-2005, 05:43 PM

It's not customs. You do not claim anthing till the end of your cruise.

It is immigration, and you only have to do it if St. Thomas is your re-entry into the US AND you are not sailing to another foreign port. In other words, your next and final stop is the US as well.

sweet angel · 09-12-2005, 06:07 PM

Okay, so since I will be going to San Juan, then St. Thomas, then St. Maarten and finally Nassau, I will be required to appear at IMMIGRATION (not customs) at an ungodly hour. Ugh. I hate getting up early on vacation!

Sea Otter · 09-13-2005, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweet angel

Okay, so since I will be going to San Juan, then St. Thomas, then St. Maarten and finally Nassau, I will be required to appear at IMMIGRATION (not customs) at an ungodly hour. Ugh. I hate getting up early on vacation!

Nope !

You go through immigration only if you are coming from a foreign port. San Juan and St.Thomas are both US territories and not foreign ports.

If you leave the US then go to San Juan you do not go through immigration.
If you leave from San Juan and go to St. Thomas you do not go through immigration.
It appears that Nassau is you last port. I don't know where your ship is leaving from but you will go through immigration when you return to either San Juan or the US.