Many dismissive comments in this thread from armchair adventurers, but those of us on board know that every seat in the main terminal was taken, the folding chairs set up down below were all taken, and the rest of us waited curbside, sniffing diesel exhaust, for several hours. Around 1pm staff began rescuing wheelchair passengers, and those who had fainted in the sun and shortly afterwards it appears they abandoned the ill conceived immigration inspection and went into crisis mode. The line began moving and we were back onboard at 2:00 PM.
When I say they abandoned the effort I mean that literally. Ultimately, THERE WAS NO CUSTOMS inspection - all efforts were focused on re-boarding passengers. Crisis management. They scanned our sea pass upon boarding, but that was it. No facial Rec, nobody asked to see a passport, never took it out of my pocket, just keep moving.
In fairness, there was one CBP agent leaning against a wall as we went past. Perhaps it depends on what you mean by “immigration inspection” - that may have been it.
Standing curbside, my sun addled brain was struck by two recurring thoughts - are immigration rules enforced with the same zeal at our southern border, and was anything actually accomplished by this exercise? Any contraband, fugitives, or immigration violators?
Mention was made that this is a Federal requirement, not Royals, and I agree, however Royal did schedule this itinerary knowing this would be a requirement, but overestimating their ability to manage it - so at least partial credit for creating this superspreader event must go to Royal.
