JetJock_YHZ Posted February 10, 2009 #1 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi Folks, We are sailing on the Emerald Princess on the 18th. Our first stop is Princess Cays (Eleuthera). Next stop is St. Thomas, USVI. The Emerald docks in St. Thomas at 0700. Will we have to get up early to clear US Customs and Immigration there? Thanks! Carl (and Brett) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysalis Posted February 10, 2009 #2 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Some recent reports indicate that you don't have to do any clearances there anymore. I think that this is something very new Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintchip8 Posted February 10, 2009 #3 Share Posted February 10, 2009 We were on the Emerald and were at St Thomas 2/5/09, we didn't have any customs. Got off the ship early and went shopping. I did see about 6 custom agents eating breakfast at the Horizon Court in St Thomas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantwaitfornextcruise Posted February 10, 2009 #4 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Wow that is very new late last year we were all still standing in line very early and some very grumpily. I hope it’s correct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob and Deb Posted February 10, 2009 #5 Share Posted February 10, 2009 When the vessel docks in St. Thomas, having arrived from a foreign port such as the Bahamas, you will be be having to get up and meet the immigration officers with your passport. You can come down in your robe. Enjoy the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysalis Posted February 10, 2009 #6 Share Posted February 10, 2009 When the vessel docks in St. Thomas, having arrived from a foreign port such as the Bahamas, you will be be having to get up and meet the immigration officers with your passport.You can come down in your robe. Enjoy the trip. read post #3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwinCruiserMom Posted February 10, 2009 #7 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Did the same itinerary in December with Princess Cays first and then St. Thomas and we did NOT have to do immigration. I even called down to the desk and asked and they said it was no longer necessary. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKE Posted February 10, 2009 #8 Share Posted February 10, 2009 It has been my experience after 69 cruises that You go to customs in St. Thomas if You have stopped in a foreign port before St. Thomas. Example, St. Maarten, Bahamas, Aruba etc. If You stop in San Juan or other US Virgin Islands, It is not rquired and You can sleep in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billet Posted February 10, 2009 #9 Share Posted February 10, 2009 This is a very recent patter from the Crown http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/12894/pat/PP%20Crown%20Jan%2022.pdf There was no requirement to go through customs in St Thomas after visting both Princess Cays and St Marteen. This is also confirmed from people who have written in earlier threads of this forum who were just on a similar route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toto2Kansas Posted February 10, 2009 #10 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Things have changed just recently. No more getting up early to go through cutoms/immigration in St. Thomas, even when you have stopped at a foreign port before arriving. I was shocked last month, so I asked why we didn't have to do that on our cruise (Grand Princess). We were told it is now discountinued. :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcacace Posted February 10, 2009 #11 Share Posted February 10, 2009 As everyone else has said, you don't have to go through customs any longer in St Thomas. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetJock_YHZ Posted February 11, 2009 Author #12 Share Posted February 11, 2009 WOW! Thanks, everybody for the quick responses! There was some conflicting information, but it seems that I can sleep in and not have to go through Immigration in my bathrobe! :) Our yacht-racing tour is not until 1230. Just as an FYI, we live in the Halifax, NS, Canada, and cruise ship passengers who enter our port do not have to personally pass through Canadian Immigration before being allowed off the ship. I assume that all the data we provide, prior to sailing, does get read by the Authorities and is acted-upon appropriately. The ship's own security system of cruise cards being matched with a photo in those machines would negate the possibility of someone trying to smuggle on board in the Bahamas and enter the USA illegally in St. Thomas. I applaud the USA and it's Homeland Security Department for this sensible and long-overdue convenience! Carl (and Brett) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrytens Posted February 11, 2009 #13 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I was in St. Thomas in January and we just waltzed off the ship!!!! Miriam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted February 11, 2009 #14 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Wow, happy to hear the change. It wasn't a big deal before but since we're not getting off the ship early and we arrive in at 7 AM I'm glad to hear that I can sleep in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanJ Posted February 11, 2009 #15 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Sounds like a nice change. However, when we did this itinerary last year, St Thomas was our last port, so clearing there meant we didn't have to clear back in Port Everglades, which was really nice. I assume that if they aren't clearing in St Thomas now, even if it is the last port, that you still have to clear back in Florida? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcacace Posted February 11, 2009 #16 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Sounds like a nice change. However, when we did this itinerary last year, St Thomas was our last port, so clearing there meant we didn't have to clear back in Port Everglades, which was really nice. I assume that if they aren't clearing in St Thomas now, even if it is the last port, that you still have to clear back in Florida? You sure do. The seem to rush you off the ship even faster than years back only to line up in the terminal & wait in even longer lines waiting for 4 or 5 agents to check you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob and Deb Posted February 11, 2009 #17 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I stand corrected. I walked over to customs this morning and asked an officer about clearing in. Discontinued for now. Sleep in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen G Posted February 12, 2009 #18 Share Posted February 12, 2009 WE were just on the CB and our stop before St Thomas was Dominica and we did not have to clear immigration or customs. When we disembarked in San Juan we didn't go through immgration either. But we did have to pass through customs and they only had two customs people which caused a very long line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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