Back to back cruises & US Immigration.

[Cruisin' Crazy]

We are thinking of taking back to back cruises in the Caribbean next year from Fort Lauderdale. Have heard that on turnaround day between the two cruises, that pax are required to go off the ship and go through immigration and customs regardless of the fact that you are just going to sail away again and have to go through it all again at the end of the second cruise. This would apparently be required despite the fact that we would not be wanting to do anything off the ship (no tour or shopping, etc)., but just want to relax for the day on the ship until we sail off again.

 

Additionally to having to leave the ship, have also heard that you cannot just turn around and go back on when finished at immigration, but have to line up with new pax just coming on, possibly resulting in a wait of some time, instead of, as a continuing passenger, just get back on.

 

Has anyone gone through this ridiculous procedure?

Does anyone know if this is a REQUIREMENT of US Immigration/Customs?

Or is it just the cruise line making you do this to suit something they want?

ie: perhaps, for instance, getting your new photo done on the new cruise card? (which a continuing pax could get done anytime convenient during the day by just going to the gangway)

 

Please post any experiences. Thank you all

[cactusrose]

Cruisin Crazy. . .I've recently seen several posts discussing this issue. Try doing a searh on B2B or Back to Back or variations. There's a lot of information out there. It sounds like sometimes you have to get off an go through customs and immigration and sometimes not. I don't recall reading that anyone was made to stand in line with the new passengers coming on. I think you can reboard immediately. One benefit of going through customs is that your duty free allowance starts over.

[keebae]

Cruisin' Crazy

 

We did B2B's in September on the Caribbean Princess. This is what took place for us. A couple of days prior to the end of our first 7 days we received a letter detailing what would happen on Saturday morning and a small passenger in transit card. We were told to meet in the Casino at 9:45am (I think) we were given our new passenger cards at that time. Once all of the other passengers were off the ship they took us off. They held us for about 20-30 minutes in an area in the terminal then they walked us through immigration only not customs. Then we were allowed right back on the ship (using your new card). If you left the terminal (to take a tour etc) then I believe you had to wait until they opened up the ship to the new passengers before you could get back on again. Hope this answers your questions. If not let me know.

[Justmetalkin]

Cruisin' Crazy

Not sure you mentioned if you are on the CB, but no matter, congrats on B2B! Let us know how it works for you!!!!!!

[C 2 C]

It depends on the ship you are on...

 

When we were on the Island B2B in Feb., a staff member took us from a lounge reserved for us, through immigration & customs.. well organized..

 

On the Sun last month it was totally disorganized....

We were told to show up in the lobby at 9:30 sharp.. no-one met us..when I went to the counter we were told to wait until all the passengers were off the ship... then we were released by an announcement...more than 40 minutes later.. followed the crowd, through immigration into the luggage area where again no-one could direct us past the 100's of people with luggage... We got in the short line with the porters, gave our customs cards to the agents, went outside and found the entrance to the terminal... No Princess ground agents could give us any directions... We found that the Pursar's desk was incompetent on a number of occasions on our voyage.. and would not recommend this Princess ship.. After 10 Princess cruises our experience on the Sun will be the last for quite a while... :(

[kryos]

Has anyone gone through this ridiculous procedure?

Does anyone know if this is a REQUIREMENT of US Immigration/Customs?

Or is it just the cruise line making you do this to suit something they want?

ie: perhaps' date=' for instance, getting your new photo done on the new cruise card? (which a continuing pax could get done anytime convenient during the day by just going to the gangway)

[/quote']

I've never done a b2b on Princess, but have on HAL. If you've been out of the U.S., getting off the ship is a requirement (at least on HAL it was), but all you do is present your customs form to the agent with "in-transit" noted on it, and $0.00 declared. You also have to show him your passport. You then simply wait in a lounge type area for a few minutes ... I believe I waited at the most ten minutes ... and then you get right back on the ship. You don't have to get in line with passengers embarking for the cruise for the first time. You then have a couple of hours to yourself on the ship before the new passengers begin boarding. It's a great time to use the pool, especially since your cabin steward will want you to stay out of the cabin for awhile so that he can throughly clean it for the second segment. I guess this makes it easier for him in that the place won't get too messy over the course of two weeks, giving him an extra big job when you finally do disembark. :)

 

Also, at least on HAL, there was no second photo taken for the key card. I was just issued a new cabin key the night before turnaround and I believe the same photo was used on that. I stayed in the same cabin both weeks of the b2b, but apparently a new key card still has to be issued.

 

Just make sure that when you get off the ship you take your passport, the customs form and your new cabin key card with you.

 

It's really a painless process.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita