aliaschief Posted October 27, 2013 #1 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Just disembarked MS Eurodam. Only two custom agents and that appears to be permanent as they have a sign apologizing for delays due to funding cut backs Held us on ship due to congestion in terminal but it went fairly smoothly once we were allowed to disembark. Just thought you should be aware of this and expect possible delays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted October 27, 2013 #2 Share Posted October 27, 2013 It was worse in February. I was expecting it to be much worse. I didn't think it was too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 27, 2013 #3 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Thank you both for the heads up for disembarkation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnvcanada Posted October 27, 2013 #4 Share Posted October 27, 2013 You are not alone. We had the same problem with c and i two weeks ago. We were not able to get off the ship until 10:30am. We had three agents working and one took a break. They are working in a slow down mode. Went thru the passport page by page and we both have extra pages in ours. Understand the Royal Princess didn't get clearance until 9:30 this morning. They dock around 04:00 am this morning. Something to consider when booking flights out of FLL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjw869 Posted October 27, 2013 #5 Share Posted October 27, 2013 (edited) It was worse in February. I was expecting it to be much worse. I didn't think it was too bad. Same for us in late January where the wait was about two hours when six ships were in port. We were told there weren't enough agents to cover all the terminals and spent half the time in line on the Nieuw Amsterdam. There were only two agents also that day. Welcome back! Edited October 27, 2013 by kjw869 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted October 27, 2013 #6 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Thanks for the info Chief? What time were you finally through? Thank heavens Maasdam is the only ship in port when we arrive next year - hopefully it won't be as badly backed up:confused::rolleyes:;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 27, 2013 #7 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Thanks for the report. How long did it take you from when your color/number was called until you had cleared Customs/Immigration? Welcome back. Hope your cruise was great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 27, 2013 #8 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Thanks for the info Chief? What time were you finally through? Thank heavens Maasdam is the only ship in port when we arrive next year - hopefully it won't be as badly backed up:confused::rolleyes:;) Even if there are only two Officials clearing Maasdam guests, there are fewer people they need to process than if it was a Signature or Vista Class ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 27, 2013 #9 Share Posted October 27, 2013 I think more people are going to start considering a post cruise overnight in FLL. It doesn't sound promising people can make early flights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted October 27, 2013 #10 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Even if there are only two Officials clearing Maasdam guests, there are fewer people they need to process than if it was a Signature or Vista Class ship. That's what I am counting on:D No issue for us - we leave much later but cruising companions have an earlier flight - so thinking about them;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinaLC Posted October 27, 2013 #11 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Wow. I was upset that our flight home wasn't until 2:30 p.m. Now I'm glad!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted October 27, 2013 #12 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Wow. I was upset that our flight home wasn't until 2:30 p.m. Now I'm glad!! That is the ideal time if you are leaving the same day IMO:) I'd rather wait at the airport than be stressed about catching a flight:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 27, 2013 #13 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Wow. I was upset that our flight home wasn't until 2:30 p.m. Now I'm glad!! If it remains the same, you likely will not have that long a wait at the airport. Of course, processing the airport always depends how many ships are in with you that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR NW GUY Posted October 27, 2013 #14 Share Posted October 27, 2013 This past summer - only two ships in port. Limited customs. No apology signs however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet524 Posted October 27, 2013 #15 Share Posted October 27, 2013 In March (coming off Eclipse) the delay was awful. In June (coming off Allure) it moved rather smoothly. I guess there's really just no way of knowing. Your tax dollars at work(?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted October 27, 2013 #16 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Thanks for the report.How long did it take you from when your color/number was called until you had cleared Customs/Immigration? Welcome back. Hope your cruise was great. I got off about 9:50 and I think I was out by 10:40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 27, 2013 #17 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Thanks,,,,,,,,, roughly an hour. What time was your color/number supposed to debark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted October 27, 2013 #18 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Thanks for the info Chief, good to know to have some patience when disembarking. Welcome back Chief.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliaschief Posted October 27, 2013 Author #19 Share Posted October 27, 2013 We had pink 1 status but went to Pinnacle for breakfast. Came down the elevator and presumed we could walk off but were held 30 minutes and told "to much congestion and backup." Not a big issue for us but others were pinging because of travel times. Cruise Director was frustrated with process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted October 27, 2013 #20 Share Posted October 27, 2013 I empathize, Chief, with what you experienced. Disembarking Celebrity Eclipse last February was the worst cruise experience I have had. I wonder if this is a Fort Lauderdale issue rather than a Federal agency nation-wide issue. Disembarking Eurodam in New York on September 12th, there were 16 Customs agents in the terminal processing passengers. It was quick, smooth, and easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 27, 2013 #21 Share Posted October 27, 2013 I got off about 9:50 and I think I was out by 10:40 That is nearly an hour for the whole process that should take only about 15 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamamzee Posted October 27, 2013 #22 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Typical government charades --"because of cuts in funding". Yet read about the stupid things they do fund, send money galore to other countries, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaofami Posted October 27, 2013 #23 Share Posted October 27, 2013 That's one of the reasons I like luggage direct. We disembark right after those people doing their own luggage and it's faster through immigration since less people. However, we did only have 2 immigration officials and I heard there was a big back up and that was on Maasdam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrp96 Posted October 27, 2013 #24 Share Posted October 27, 2013 I empathize, Chief, with what you experienced. Disembarking Celebrity Eclipse last February was the worst cruise experience I have had. I wonder if this is a Fort Lauderdale issue rather than a Federal agency nation-wide issue. Disembarking Eurodam in New York on September 12th, there were 16 Customs agents in the terminal processing passengers. It was quick, smooth, and easy! Princess board has been reporting bad backups at LA on some sailings recently, so it's not just Port Everglades. Remember that ships are starting to arrive back in the US for the winter, so more ships equals each getting less agents. Also Royal Princess arrived in the US for the first time this morning so I wouldn't be surprised if some agents got diverted over to her to do her full inspection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelly Posted October 27, 2013 #25 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Guess I'll continue to schlep my own luggage off the ship at 7:30 a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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