Coast Guard Inspection This Sunday - Oasis - Impact to Embarkation - what can we expect?

[graceinga]

Hi Everyone - we just received notification to not arrive to the port before 12:30 because there will be a coast guard inspection of the Oasis that day.  Embarkation will now take place between 12:30-3:30.  Does anyone have any experience with this that they can share?   I'm envisioning a very stressful and long start to our cruise...still excited beyond words of course but wondering if anyone has any tips to navigate this.  

[pcur]

Yep.  They can take their sweet time, or they can get it done quickly.  Depends on their schedule.  I suggest dropping off your luggage and going somewhere nearby for lunch.  Take Uber.

[Magnetchief]

Were on the same cruise, that's exactly our plan. 

Drop off the cases then off to Papa Vitos for lunch :)

 

[cruisegirl1]

Wonder what they do with the B2B cruisers. Can they wait on board during the inspection or will they have a several hour wait in the terminal?  B2B’s please report back after turn around day. 

 

Thanks. 

M

[UKWLDCruise]

It happened to me when I was on the Indy a few years ago and they went out of their way to get you to go on an excursion.  Large discounts and a free taxi back to the ship rather than continuing on the bus to the airport were offered.  Other than that yes you could have got off and waited in a separate bit of the terminal to get back on. 

[BillOh]

1 hour ago, graceinga said:

Hi Everyone - we just received notification to not arrive to the port before 12:30 because there will be a coast guard inspection of the Oasis that day.  Embarkation will now take place between 12:30-3:30.  Does anyone have any experience with this that they can share?   I'm envisioning a very stressful and long start to our cruise...still excited beyond words of course but wondering if anyone has any tips to navigate this.  

 

For what little it's worth,  This happened to me for the first time on Enchantment last month. They told us to arrive at noon, and sure enough that is when they started boarding.  Of course your mileage may vary.

 

Looking back at your post, I've found boarding the Oasis class in Fort Lauderdale is pretty stress free, charge your phone, bring a book enjoy people watching and make an effort to not stress is my best advice. 

[chengkp75]

It is not so much that they "take their sweet time", but that if the USCG inspectors don't feel that the crew is performing up to the required standards, they can have the drill run again, and again, and again, until the crew get it right.  Typically, they will do one re-drill, and since they are specifically enjoined to not interfere with the ship's business to an unreasonable extent, if they are not satisfied with the performance, they will write it up as a "port state deficiency" and require the ship to be re-inspected at the next US port.  New passengers will not be allowed onboard until the drill is successfully completed.

The inspectors will try to get the drill out of the way as soon as possible, after all the departing guests are off the ship, in order to impact the turn-around operation as little as possible.  However, the inspection will be going on behind the scenes from the time the ship docks usually until the ship sails.  Any major problem with equipment found during this time, can result in a delay to sailing while it is corrected, or even a "detention" for days until it is fixed.

[BillOh]

5 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

I  New passengers will not be allowed onboard until the drill is successfully completed.

 

 

Just something I noticed on Enchantment, that might interest some people -  The B2Bers are allowed to re board. I did a CG personnel watching as that happened. It was the first I saw the CG from the terminal waiting area. 

[BillOh]

28 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Wonder what they do with the B2B cruisers. Can they wait on board during the inspection or will they have a several hour wait in the terminal?  B2B’s please report back after turn around day. 

 

Thanks. 

M

I didn't see your post before my other reply, but on Enchantment B2Bers were allowed to reboard.  I knew the inspection was going on, but chose to wait, comfortably in the terminal anyway. I saw those people get back on board around 11am when regular boarding started post inspection at noon. 

[coldflame]

1 hour ago, graceinga said:

Hi Everyone - we just received notification to not arrive to the port before 12:30 because there will be a coast guard inspection of the Oasis that day.  Embarkation will now take place between 12:30-3:30.  Does anyone have any experience with this that they can share?   I'm envisioning a very stressful and long start to our cruise...still excited beyond words of course but wondering if anyone has any tips to navigate this.  

 

I'd say heed their suggestion have a late breakfast and don't be there before 12:30-1:00. Last time this happened to our ship (was a surprise inspection, apparently). The ship did not begin to embark until 2pm or so. No one is allowed to board or de-board while the inspection is going, so getting to the port earlier only means you'll be 2-3 extra hours there doing nothing.

[sparks1093]

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

It is not so much that they "take their sweet time", but that if the USCG inspectors don't feel that the crew is performing up to the required standards, they can have the drill run again, and again, and again, until the crew get it right.  Typically, they will do one re-drill, and since they are specifically enjoined to not interfere with the ship's business to an unreasonable extent, if they are not satisfied with the performance, they will write it up as a "port state deficiency" and require the ship to be re-inspected at the next US port.  New passengers will not be allowed onboard until the drill is successfully completed.

The inspectors will try to get the drill out of the way as soon as possible, after all the departing guests are off the ship, in order to impact the turn-around operation as little as possible.  However, the inspection will be going on behind the scenes from the time the ship docks usually until the ship sails.  Any major problem with equipment found during this time, can result in a delay to sailing while it is corrected, or even a "detention" for days until it is fixed.

 

Is this something different than their normal inspection? I swear I've seen Coasties checking the ship out on most of our sailings, usually in the food service areas. 

[coldflame]

1 minute ago, sparks1093 said:

 

Is this something different than their normal inspection? I swear I've seen Coasties checking the ship out on most of our sailings, usually in the food service areas. 

 

Yes. The announced/schedule ones are more thorough. The ones you see the coasties around the ship while folks are boarding are the security-related. The health inspectors you see in food service areas aren't the same as the coast guard. Two different authorities.

[chengkp75]

2 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

 

Is this something different than their normal inspection? I swear I've seen Coasties checking the ship out on most of our sailings, usually in the food service areas. 

Those wearing khakis in food service areas are more likely USPH inspectors, or the USCG "sea marshals" getting a meal prior to the ship sailing.  Typically, the Sea Marshals are armed, while the port state inspectors are not.  The Sea Marshal's job is to escort the ship out of port, typically with two or three men on the bridge, two in the ECR, and one or two in steering.

The USCG "port state inspections", which focuses on SOLAS compliance, is targeted to inspect each foreign flag cruise ship twice a year, but in actuality is done only once a year (availability and/or budget).

[sparks1093]

2 minutes ago, coldflame said:

 

Yes. The announced/schedule ones are more thorough. The ones you see the coasties around the ship while folks are boarding are the security-related. The health inspectors you see in food service areas aren't the same as the coast guard. Two different authorities.

Now you have me thinking but my memory tells me that they were in Coast Guard overalls (but I could have juxtapositioned two different groups in my memory).

[chengkp75]

1 minute ago, sparks1093 said:

Now you have me thinking but my memory tells me that they were in Coast Guard overalls (but I could have juxtapositioned two different groups in my memory).

Yes, the Sea Marshals are most often in coveralls (overalls have a bib), or blue BDU uniforms.

[sparks1093]

4 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Yes, the Sea Marshals are most often in coveralls (overalls have a bib), or blue BDU uniforms.

Then maybe one was escorting a USPH inspector. I meant coveralls, can't type today.