ABC XYZ Posted January 9, 2023 #101 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Wow. Are lots of people in line for embarkation? Hopefully there is some shade. Asked for a late hotel checkout so will probably get to terminal E around 1:30pm. Hopefully don't end up having to wait too long to board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #102 Share Posted January 9, 2023 12:30 B2B pax finally lined up for immigration Lots of missing pax on board that are being paged for immigration. Yikes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare morpheusofthesea Posted January 9, 2023 #103 Share Posted January 9, 2023 3 minutes ago, styles27 said: 12:30 B2B pax finally lined up for immigration Lots of missing pax on board that are being paged for immigration. Yikes They are not missing. They are hiding. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estraro1 Posted January 9, 2023 #104 Share Posted January 9, 2023 We are awaiting embarking Divina. Got up at 3am to drive to the port, and with Diamond/C.ub Black status, expected to board at 11am. It appears the ship is delayed by late disembarking, so now we wait. Not a good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC XYZ Posted January 9, 2023 #105 Share Posted January 9, 2023 1 minute ago, estraro1 said: We are awaiting embarking Divina. Got up at 3am to drive to the port, and with Diamond/C.ub Black status, expected to board at 11am. It appears the ship is delayed by late disembarking, so now we wait. Not a good start. Have they provided any estimate on when boarding will begin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estraro1 Posted January 9, 2023 #106 Share Posted January 9, 2023 2 minutes ago, ABC XYZ said: Have they provided any estimate on when boarding will begin? Not a word. Staff checking in seems totally uninformed of the situation. Terminal is full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #107 Share Posted January 9, 2023 6 minutes ago, estraro1 said: We are awaiting embarking Divina. Got up at 3am to drive to the port, and with Diamond/C.ub Black status, expected to board at 11am. It appears the ship is delayed by late disembarking, so now we wait. Not a good start. B2B and we’re still in line for immigration. Horribly disorganized. 4 minutes ago, ABC XYZ said: Have they provided any estimate on when boarding will begin? No. We’re waiting in the hallway of the terminal. 44 of us need to go to immigration. Will never do a B2B on MSC again. This is by far the most disorganized mess we’ve ever seen. The word is it’s because there were so many non US citizens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #108 Share Posted January 9, 2023 People are losing patience up here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #109 Share Posted January 9, 2023 (edited) 90% of pax on our sailing were non US citizens. Supposedly that is the reason why immigration is taking so long. Not sure I’m buying that. We haven’t moved in 30 min. An older gentleman who works for the port just told us that every person is being searched. They are doing a full inspection. Every article every bag everything is being physically searched. Edited January 9, 2023 by styles27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC XYZ Posted January 9, 2023 #110 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Thanks for the updates and sorry it's such a crap situation. Probably best if I hold off on heading over then. Hope it starts moving soon.. it's hot out there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare carlmm Posted January 9, 2023 #111 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Just now, styles27 said: 90% of pax on our sailing were non US citizens. Supposedly that is the reason why immigration is taking so long. Not sure I’m buying that. As if the authorities wouldn't have had the passenger manifest days before. Arriving on or wanting to embark ships from "distant foreign ports" this kind of very lengthy immigration prodecure has happend to me multiple times in US ports, especially Florida. Is it really that difficult for the authorities in charge to schedule an adequate number of officers? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #112 Share Posted January 9, 2023 (edited) We’re going to immigration now yay Spoke too soon. They stopped us again. 😏 Edited January 9, 2023 by styles27 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare carlmm Posted January 9, 2023 #113 Share Posted January 9, 2023 14 minutes ago, styles27 said: Will never do a B2B on MSC again. 6 minutes ago, styles27 said: An older gentleman who works for the port just told us that every person is being searched. They are doing a full inspection. Every article every bag everything is being physically searched. In how far is this MSC's fault? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #114 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Okay we’re through immigration. First ones. Once the others are through we can board together and then you guys will board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #115 Share Posted January 9, 2023 9 minutes ago, carlmm said: In how far is this MSC's fault? Never said it was MSC’s fault. The port authorities are unorganized. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #116 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Heading to the ship. Me and hubby will be the first ones back on. Yay 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #117 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Our immigration experience was the smoothest we’ve ever had. He stamped our passports and took our pics. Never asked us anything. Once they took the B2B pax into the terminal they separated us into 2 groups US Citizens and non US Citizens. It played out like the people employed by the port had never processed B2B pax before. They were asking MSC reps where we should go and vice versa. Not sure why it was as disorganized as it was but hopefully they learned something and it will be a smoother transition for the next group of pax doing B2B. The terminal looked full. Sorry for those folks waiting hours to board. I hope their cruise improves once they’re on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC XYZ Posted January 9, 2023 #118 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Basically two minute wait for security. Check-in about 15 min. Now waiting to board. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #119 Share Posted January 9, 2023 1 hour ago, ABC XYZ said: Basically two minute wait for security. Check-in about 15 min. Now waiting to board. What was your read on the avg age of passengers waiting in the terminal? On the pool deck now and it is looking like a Spring Break crowd. God help us all🤪 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC XYZ Posted January 9, 2023 #120 Share Posted January 9, 2023 21 minutes ago, styles27 said: What was your read on the avg age of passengers waiting in the terminal? On the pool deck now and it is looking like a Spring Break crowd. God help us all🤪 There were quite a few families and yes a fair number of groups. I am younger looking myself but am definitely not a Spring Break type. I tried to change tables but Generose only has four tables that are full for the first seating. I didn't want to change to second seating so am waitlisted with a high probability of not getting moved. I am at a table of six solo travellers - will see how that goes. Won't have wifi on board so once we leave port I wont be able message - but will try to find you to say hello 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnpurple Posted January 9, 2023 #121 Share Posted January 9, 2023 1 hour ago, ABC XYZ said: Basically two minute wait for security. Check-in about 15 min. Now waiting to board. What time did you show up to embark? I've heard of a few immigration issues when ships return from Columbia, so kind of planning for potential delay. We'll be in YC, so hopefully not too chaotic, but we might not want to get there too early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare styles27 Posted January 9, 2023 Author #122 Share Posted January 9, 2023 35 minutes ago, mnpurple said: What time did you show up to embark? I've heard of a few immigration issues when ships return from Columbia, so kind of planning for potential delay. We'll be in YC, so hopefully not too chaotic, but we might not want to get there too early. I definitely think our itinerary was the reason for such a thorough immigration process. Some older guests feel it is because of the problems with MSC’s cargo business that they’re being scrutinized Who knows what it is I just hope it won’t be like this on Friday when we get off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkwbear Posted January 9, 2023 #123 Share Posted January 9, 2023 6 minutes ago, styles27 said: I definitely think our itinerary was the reason for such a thorough immigration process. Some older guests feel it is because of the problems with MSC’s cargo business that they’re being scrutinized Who knows what it is I just hope it won’t be like this on Friday when we get off. I am sorry that happened to you. However, I do believe it is because of the stop in Columbia. I didn't get on until almost 4pm on embarkation day. I don't think it's MSC's doing, but Customs. At the end of my 4 day cruise, I disembarked before 9, and got on the MSC shuttle to the airport. I was more than 4 hours early for my flight so I had to sit about an hour with my luggage before I could check in. I don't guarantee it but I think you will find getting off on Friday will be very easy. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABC XYZ Posted January 9, 2023 #124 Share Posted January 9, 2023 1 hour ago, mnpurple said: What time did you show up to embark? I've heard of a few immigration issues when ships return from Columbia, so kind of planning for potential delay. We'll be in YC, so hopefully not too chaotic, but we might not want to get there too early. I got to the terminal around 1:50pm (was assigned 12:30pm). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr173 Posted January 9, 2023 #125 Share Posted January 9, 2023 Jeeez. When we enjoy MSC from Europe, we just show up around 11 and hop on the ship. Things seem complicated on our side of the pond. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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