gerelmx Posted January 17, 2018 #1 Share Posted January 17, 2018 We booked a B2B on the Eclipse to Hawaii from Vancouver. Is the same American immigration procedure when traveling to Hawaii and / or Alaska? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted January 17, 2018 #2 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Meaning, do you clear US Immigration when you board the ship in Vancouver? The answer is yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted January 18, 2018 #3 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Bruce is correct (barring a change of policy from US gov't about preclearance in Canada or a change of route before your cruise), as this cruise goes straight from Vancouver to Hawaii - the only US-bound cruises which skip preclearance are the ones with a second Canadian port after Vancouver (a few coastals visit Victoria or Nanaimo before heading into US waters). Immigration happens at first US port in those circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted January 22, 2018 #4 Share Posted January 22, 2018 My experience is that it is still the same meaning you will clear USA immigration at the port. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetiredCruiser2015 Posted February 18, 2018 #5 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Cruising from Vancouver to Alaska on RCL, so assume the same would hold true as the first stop is US, true? Any idea how much time going through US customers at the Vancouver port adds to the check in process? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted February 18, 2018 #6 Share Posted February 18, 2018 This depends. Maybe about another 15 minutes. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerelmx Posted February 18, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Thanks for your answers, We will do a B2B2B on board the Eclipse. Vancouver-Hawaii, Hawaii-Vancouver and Vancouver-Los Angeles, the third leg will have a one day stop at Victoria. 28 Nights Cruising in the Pacific. :) 580 days to sail the first leg Gerardo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare martincath Posted February 18, 2018 #8 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Cruising from Vancouver to Alaska on RCL, so assume the same would hold true as the first stop is US, true? Any idea how much time going through US customers at the Vancouver port adds to the check in process? Since CBP is the tightest bottleneck when embarking at Canada Place, arguably it can cause any amount of delay from the literal time of fiddling with the kiosk/speaking to the agent up to 2+ hours because you are forced to wait once they hit capacity - you may be held in the first room or after security, but the reason for the wait is still CBP who process people slower than any other element in the process. Biggest factor is how many ships in port with you - on a 3 ship day, planning for a total boarding time of 3 hours means you should usually be pleasantly surprised... unless it's one of the first few early in the season (when new staff needing trained and even old staff needing to refamiliarise themselves as we are not a year-round cruise port, so the speed of doing everything is slow enough that queues just keep building until 3pm) coming as late as possible usually means no waiting. If you're cruising June or later, aim to be at the pier for 2-3pm (NB: at least 90mins before ship departs!) and you can end up literally not even stopping except when you actually need to actually interact with someone (and even then it's quicker - easier for staff to find your paperwork among a dozen people than 2,000+!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetiredCruiser2015 Posted February 18, 2018 #9 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Since CBP is the tightest bottleneck when embarking at Canada Place, arguably it can cause any amount of delay from the literal time of fiddling with the kiosk/speaking to the agent up to 2+ hours because you are forced to wait once they hit capacity - you may be held in the first room or after security, but the reason for the wait is still CBP who process people slower than any other element in the process. Biggest factor is how many ships in port with you - on a 3 ship day, planning for a total boarding time of 3 hours means you should usually be pleasantly surprised... unless it's one of the first few early in the season (when new staff needing trained and even old staff needing to refamiliarise themselves as we are not a year-round cruise port, so the speed of doing everything is slow enough that queues just keep building until 3pm) coming as late as possible usually means no waiting. If you're cruising June or later, aim to be at the pier for 2-3pm (NB: at least 90mins before ship departs!) and you can end up literally not even stopping except when you actually need to actually interact with someone (and even then it's quicker - easier for staff to find your paperwork among a dozen people than 2,000+!) This sounds a lot uglier than I expected. Happy for the heads up! [emoji3] Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowmeboy Posted February 21, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I made a cruise once, only because of the CBP backup at Canada Place, and the fact they were hours behind on the first 3 ship day. I was very thankful for that delay, at least on that day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptcgal Posted March 28, 2018 #11 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Ship Disembark in Vancouver. Is the same true for CBP when you return to US. At the airport is there US Customs before boarding plane for US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheezedr Posted March 28, 2018 #12 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Ship Disembark in Vancouver.Is the same true for CBP when you return to US. At the airport is there US Customs before boarding plane for US? Yes, you will clear US customs before getting on your plane. This is the reason most flights from Canada land at domestic terminals in US airports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlipoo Posted April 15, 2018 #13 Share Posted April 15, 2018 Yes, you will clear US customs before getting on your plane. This is the reason most flights from Canada land at domestic terminals in US airports. What does CBPmean? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheezedr Posted April 15, 2018 #14 Share Posted April 15, 2018 What does CBPmean? Sent from my iPad using Forums Customs and Border Patrol Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCruiser30 Posted April 15, 2018 #15 Share Posted April 15, 2018 I just got my passport for the first time (US Citizen). We are cruising in two weeks out of Los Angeles and arriving in Vancouver BC. Do I need just my passport and a driver's license to do this? And moreover: Do I need something from Canada BEFORE making this trip, or can I just show up in Canada? We are NOT flying straight out of Vancouver, but rather taking an Amtrak to Seattle after a couple days. Is this ok? Will they be ok if I stay in Canada after just showing up for a few days? Do I need a VISA? Not exactly sure what this is, except the passport has places for this? Anything else I should know? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheezedr Posted April 15, 2018 #16 Share Posted April 15, 2018 I just got my passport for the first time (US Citizen). We are cruising in two weeks out of Los Angeles and arriving in Vancouver BC. Do I need just my passport and a driver's license to do this? And moreover: Do I need something from Canada BEFORE making this trip, or can I just show up in Canada? We are NOT flying straight out of Vancouver, but rather taking an Amtrak to Seattle after a couple days. Is this ok? Will they be ok if I stay in Canada after just showing up for a few days? Do I need a VISA? Not exactly sure what this is, except the passport has places for this? Anything else I should know? Thank you! Your new passport will be fine. You will not actually need your DL but I would leave it in your wallet if you decide to rent a car or just because I don’t like to thin my wallet that much. No Visa is required. The only hooker for travel to Canada would be any prior felony conviction, including a DUI. That is one thing they frown upon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em-sk Posted April 16, 2018 #17 Share Posted April 16, 2018 Cruising from Vancouver to Alaska on RCL, so assume the same would hold true as the first stop is US, true? Any idea how much time going through US customers at the Vancouver port adds to the check in process? Sent from my iPad using Forums The terminal in Vancouver can handle up to 3 cruise ships at once. The time you spend with a US customs office will be very short (one to two minutes). Especially if you are a US or Canadian national. The lines are a bit more difficult to predict, it comes down to how many ships are departing that day, the size of the ships and volume at the time. Given it is just is another step in a multi-step process I don't think on its own it adds significantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coquitlam Cruiser Posted April 24, 2018 #18 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Actually, the agency is known as Customs and Border Protection. FYI. having dealt with them for many years at Blaine WA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotterchaos Posted April 24, 2018 #19 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Holy crow, looks like there are *four* ships on May 13 when we depart. Good thing I’m a patient person on vacation! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em-sk Posted April 24, 2018 #20 Share Posted April 24, 2018 I just got my passport for the first time (US Citizen). We are cruising in two weeks out of Los Angeles and arriving in Vancouver BC. Do I need just my passport and a driver's license to do this? And moreover: Do I need something from Canada BEFORE making this trip, or can I just show up in Canada? We are NOT flying straight out of Vancouver, but rather taking an Amtrak to Seattle after a couple days. Is this ok? Will they be ok if I stay in Canada after just showing up for a few days? Do I need a VISA? Not exactly sure what this is, except the passport has places for this? Anything else I should know? Thank you! American Nationals do not require a visa to enter Canada. All you need is the passport. Depending on how they handle the ship they may clear the entire ship into Canada or they may want to clear each person individually as you depart the ship. You can stay up to 30 days without obtaining a special visa. If you want to stay longer in Canada or you wanted to work in Canada, then you would need a visa or permit that would be glued or stamped into your passport. Canada and the US have fairly free movement of people between the two countries. That is not the case for other contries, e.g. China or Russia. When you get to the train station in Vancouver, you will clear US customs as you board the train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em-sk Posted April 24, 2018 #21 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Ship Disembark in Vancouver.Is the same true for CBP when you return to US. At the airport is there US Customs before boarding plane for US? Yes for the majority of flights. There is a small number of red-eye flights that depart after US customs closes (8:30 pm) in Vancouver. These flights go out of the international concourse and you clear US customs when you arrive the next morning in the US. I know there are red-eyes to JFK and Atlanta that fall into this category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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