Severe delay disembarking Eclipse today 2/15 Miami

[cruisestitch]

It's 9:30. They have only called #14. Just announced that gangway is now closed due to "orders from CBP"

 

Folks, don't book early flights when sailing from Miami

 

And American citizens, write your Congressmen and women and urge them to restore funding to CBP.

 

And please don't blame Celebrity, or any cruise line if this happens to you.

[keithm]

It's 9:30. They have only called #14. Just announced that gangway is now closed due to "orders from CBP"

 

Folks, don't book early flights when sailing from Miami

 

And American citizens, write your Congressmen and women and urge them to restore funding to CBP.

 

And please don't blame Celebrity, or any cruise line if this happens to you.

We used the luggage valet service & just hung around on board until we decided enough had left & it would be less crowded in the terminal. Usually we don't book a return flight home until after 2PM for exactly the reasons you stated.

[Nachosdelux]

CPB personnel are "essential" and not affected by the DHS funding issues.

 

That said, there may be a "job action" involved.

[cruisestitch]

some passengers this morning decided to go ahead and leave even though their numbers hadn't been called have been firmly rebuffed. The gangway has just reopened and they called up to #14.

[didicruiser]

Thanks for the update.

[Lois R]

Thank you for posting this~for all the people who ask, "Can we make

a 10:30am flight home?".....

SHIP happens:eek:.....much safer to book afternoon flights home.

[caladezi]

some passengers this morning decided to go ahead and leave even though their numbers hadn't been called have been firmly rebuffed. The gangway has just reopened and they called up to #14.

 

Don't you just love those kind of people?

[cruisestitch]

10:52 and last numbers finally called. Reports are that the lines to get through CBP inside the terminal are still long.

[Can'tstopcruising]

We boarded Jan. 18 and we waited outside in a very long snake line for quite some time before we even entered the building. It was awful. They said the departure of the previous cruise was delayed.

 

This seems to be an ongoing problem, for whatever reason.

 

Too bad.

[cruisestitch]

11:26 B2B passengers just cleared Customs. Crew, including the Master, still waiting in line to start their immigration process.

[Lisah101]

Ever wonder if its just a worker "slow down"? We've disembarked in Los Angeles before and noticed very long slow lines. When we finally got to the front, the agent was nice, slow and wanted to chit chat. I was thinking - buddy, there are hundreds of people in line and you are almost deliberately delaying by wanted to talk about the time you went to Catalina and your favorite fish place in Seattle, etc.

[cruisestitch]

Yup, we got some of that. I handed the agent my birth certificate and drivers license. " you don't have your passport?" "No I have this." "So you don't have your passport?" no. "Where's your passport". "Ma'am you have my ID". "May I have your passport." "You have my ID". " so may I have your passport". It was almost comical, and clearly designed just today the process!!!!

[wwcruisers]

Cruisestitch -- Thanks for posting this -- but, sorry to hear that your cruise is ending on such a troublesome note. If you ever find out what the problem was, let us know. We were really lucky when we disembarked Eclipse, the first week of January -- off the ship and in a cab to the airport, shortly after 9 am!

[A Sixth?]

The Eclipse departure was very slow on January 18th as well.

 

Last numbers called at 10:30 and we weren't through customs until 11:15

[C 2 C]

Reflection turnaround yesterday in Miami, last number called at 10:15.

Back to back cruisers, 20 passengers and 40 Polish workers who are constructing Luminae, disembarked at 10:30 and back on board at 10:45. Passengers were boarding at 11.

Strange that the process on Eclipse was so different.

[dcruisers]

We had such a different experience last week on the Relection. Does seem strange that 2 ships within the same cruise line would have such different debarkation experiences.

 

Sorry I am so dumb but what does CPB stand for?

Edited February 15, 2015 by dcruisers

[RocketMan275]

It's 9:30. They have only called #14. Just announced that gangway is now closed due to "orders from CBP"

 

Folks, don't book early flights when sailing from Miami

 

And American citizens, write your Congressmen and women and urge them to restore funding to CBP.

 

And please don't blame Celebrity, or any cruise line if this happens to you.

 

As stated previously, CBP personnel are Essential and will not be affected by funding. But for the record, all Homeland Security Department activities are fully funded by current legislation through 27 February so even if they were not Essential personnel, funding would still not be an issue.

[NLH Arizona]

We had such a different experience last week on the Relection. Does seem strange that 2 ships within the same cruise line would have such different debarkation experiences.

 

Sorry I am so dumb but what does CPB stand for?

CBP stands for US Customs and Border Protection.

 

On my last cruise out of Miami, I had read horror stories about how long disembarkation/customs took, so I decided to stay in Miami another day. Well, disembarkation went so smooth, I was at the hotel at 9:45 and thank goodness they had a room ready for me.

Edited February 15, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[beachseeker]

Getting on the Eclipse was super smooth today. Great start to our cruise.

[Happy2cruise]

Getting on the Eclipse was super smooth today. Great start to our cruise.

Great, wishing you a great cruise:D

[Texed]

Getting on the Eclipse was super smooth today. Great start to our cruise.

 

Have a great cruise. :)

[beachseeker]

Have a great cruise. :)

 

Thank you! Hope we cross cruising paths again soon. Tell Jacque retirement is awesome!

[hypercafe]

As stated previously, CBP personnel are Essential and will not be affected by funding. But for the record, all Homeland Security Department activities are fully funded by current legislation through 27 February so even if they were not Essential personnel, funding would still not be an issue.

 

They are essential so from what I have read they will be required to work after funds run out after Fed 27 however they will not get paid. Great reason to work hard.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

[cruisestitch]

I don't know what it was like in other ports or other cruises, can only report that today in Miami it was definitely a problem disembarking or being B2B and getting through the process and many reported that the slowdown appeared to be deliberate.

[RocketMan275]

They are essential so from what I have read they will be required to work after funds run out after Fed 27 however they will not get paid. Great reason to work hard.

 

Sent from my SM-T320 using Forums mobile app

 

That's not exactly the case. They will be required to work and they will not receive paychecks after Feb 27. However, in every case in the past, personnel affected by shutdowns were paid after the fact. Even those who were sent home and did not work during the shutdowns have been paid. Essentially, a paid holiday.