Al Miller Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 So on Anthem out of NJ this week and since it's an 8 day they added a stop in Miami. And they are telling us that everyone on the ship has to get off in Miami and go through security. Even if you had no intention of getting off in Miami. At 7:30am! Is this normal? Cause it seems like BS to me. Why add the stop at all if this is the way the passengers are treated? This is punishment for booking an 8 day itinerary. If this is how it's always been, I super regret booking the Feb 4th 8 day now. Such crap. Like I didn't hate Miami enough already... Rose City Cruiser 1 Quote
LizzyBee23 Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 That honestly sounds like they're looking for someone. Don't think it has anything to do with 8 day vs 7 day. Quote
Al Miller Posted November 2, 2022 Author Report Posted November 2, 2022 Verbatim "In accordance with United States customs and border protection (cbp) law, all guests are asked to complete immigration upon arrival to Miami Florida. This inspection is mandatory for all guests, even if you are not planning to visit Miami." And this whole convoluted plan of going to stations around the ship and wait to be called. What utter nonsense. If this is how it is going forward then Miami needs to be dropped as a port of call. Only for embark and debark. I am still absolutely fuming over this! CrimsonCruiser and FireFishII 1 1 Quote
fireclan Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 We had to do that once in Port Canaveral because we went to Nassau first (left from Baltimore), so had to go through some sort of customs thing by getting all of us off the ship, sitting in a freezing terminal pre-breakfast with NO COFFEE until 9:30 or 10:00am. I sympathize. It sucked. Al Miller, Neesa and PhillyLady 2 1 Quote
Al Miller Posted November 2, 2022 Author Report Posted November 2, 2022 Then this needs to be made clear in the booking process. This is actually worse because it means Royal knew this would be the case and still made the brilliant call to book Miami last. Royal basically said "Screw your vacation, we are going to schedule a worthless port of call in order to ruin half of one of your days with us. You're welcome!" Quote
Pattycruise Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 1 hour ago, Al Miller said: Then this needs to be made clear in the booking process. This is actually worse because it means Royal knew this would be the case and still made the brilliant call to book Miami last. Royal basically said "Screw your vacation, we are going to schedule a worthless port of call in order to ruin half of one of your days with us. You're welcome!" So you left NJ and went to foreign ports first, then Miami before heading back? If that’s the case I’ll need to look at my future cruises to see what’s what. I’ve never heard of this before. Crazy as I am not a morning person! Al Miller 1 Quote
FionaMG Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 We're booked on that 8-night itinerary in April but it has our ports in a different order, Port Canaveral and Miami first and then Coco Cay and Nassau, so immigration would be done on arrival back at Cape Liberty, which definitely sounds like a better option. I don't fancy having to be up that early to go through immigration even though we are planning on getting off in Miami. Allen2 and Pattycruise 2 Quote
wordell1 Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 It's a US immigration rule, not a Royal Caribbean policy. SpeedNoodles, Matt, Pattycruise and 4 others 7 Quote
twangster Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 Must be the first US port of call after visiting a foreign port. It's been that way for some time. For NE cruises often immigration is done in Bar Harbour for the same reason. I've done the same thing in Key West because it was our first US port before arriving back to our home port. When Symphony first arrived in America we stopped in Port Canaveral and everyone had to go through the terminal and be processed by CBP before the cruise ended the next day in Miami. It's US federal policy as implemented by CBP. Coordinating ports on an itinerary is like trying to negotiate a game of musical chairs in advance. There are a lot of ships from various cruise lines all trying to find ports to call on. The order ports occur on an itinerary is typically driven by what is available on each day of the week considering the speed and range of the ship. You may not like Miami. That doesn't mean everyone doesn't like Miami. If you want complete control and the ability to inform the Captain where you shall visit consider renting your own yacht. Or maybe don't book a cruise that visits ports you don't like. Carlos A., teddy, cruisellama and 8 others 9 1 1 Quote
ScooterScott22 Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 It is not something you will encounter JUST in the US or Royal. It was a number of years ago but we encountered a similar thing sailing in Europe on Disney. Every guest had to go to the theater at a designated time, with passports, to meet with customs and immigration. Quote
OCSC Mike Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 7 hours ago, Al Miller said: This is punishment for booking an 8 day itinerary. Good grief. TexasTerrapin, whitsmom, teddy and 4 others 6 1 Quote
tonyfsu21 Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 I agree with OP re: Miami sucks, however, I wouldn’t allow a forced stop in Miami to ruin my cruise! I also don’t see how you can pin this on RC? Seems like you need to take this gripe up with the US Customs and Border Patrol! Okgladgal and Baked Alaska 2 Quote
baltodave Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 It is not punishment for going on an 8-night cruise. As @twangster pointed out, Miami is the first US port of entry after visiting a foreign port. That is why you need to clear customs/immigration there. The same rules apply if you're flying to the US from a foreign airport. CruiseGus and Swar 2 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 good info in this thread CruisinMikeD, PhillyLady and FloatyBoaty 3 Quote
teddy Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 As far as I’m concerned, a bad port day in Miami beats a good day at work. Sometimes it’s very hard to behave in threads like this. dr martini, TexasTerrapin, Okgladgal and 8 others 10 1 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 Man, people have been extra spicy on here of late. Ya'll need to go on a cruise hehehe! KristiZ, Ampurp85, FireFishII and 7 others 6 2 2 Quote
Xaa Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 It's ok to vent a little. @Al Millergot what to him, appears to be a procedural slap in the face. It hurt and he griped. Now he knows why and when the pain of the slap wears off, he'll likely avoid instances of that particular pain point in the future. It appears he's in for it again in Feb. He's better equipped from the information he received today but also still currently in a group of other passengers similarly "slapped" by the unknown requirement. VirtKitty, Baked Alaska and LifesaBeach 3 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 I will say, as usual, @twangster provided very useful info. I had no idea about the CBP policy with first port after an international one. Thats good to know for the future. Matt, Baked Alaska and FireFishII 3 Quote
Matt Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 11 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: I will say, as usual, @twangster provided very useful info. The twangster machine learning algorithm is getting better every day! WAAAYTOOO, Okgladgal, asquared17 and 10 others 5 6 2 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 The breadth of cruise knowledge on this board is staggering. This place is like an Askjeeves website for all things cruise related. CrimsonCruiser, Floski, BrianB and 4 others 4 3 Quote
karl_nj Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 Is Miami the last port? If so, you may not need to do Immigration when you get back to NJ. Not that it's a big deal in Port Liberty anymore, since they use the facial scanners there these days. Kathleen 1 Quote
karl_nj Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 21 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: I will say, as usual, @twangster provided very useful info. I had no idea about the CBP policy with first port after an international one. Thats good to know for the future. Usually it's less of an issue, because at a port like Bar Harbor, most people want to wake up and visit the port. In fact, people are usually annoyed because they wanted to get an earlier start on the day (not sleep in) and they have to get on a line and walk by a CBP officer while holding up their passport. Then they can get their tender ticket and start their day. If one was planning on staying onboard in Miami and have a nice pseudo-sea day, I could certainly see this being quite annoying. I guess now it makes sense why on every NYC to Bahamas cruise with a stop at Port Canaveral, Florida is always the first stop. No matter what cruise line. Quote
KevinK Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 10 hours ago, Al Miller said: So on Anthem out of NJ this week and since it's an 8 day they added a stop in Miami. And they are telling us that everyone on the ship has to get off in Miami and go through security. Even if you had no intention of getting off in Miami. At 7:30am! Is this normal? Cause it seems like BS to me. Why add the stop at all if this is the way the passengers are treated? This is punishment for booking an 8 day itinerary. If this is how it's always been, I super regret booking the Feb 4th 8 day now. Such crap. Like I didn't hate Miami enough already... I also, booked Feb 4 Anthem of the Seas also.. hmmmm Quote
BrianB Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 Typical CBP procedure for cruises to Canada/New England. The first US port visited after a Canadian (foreign) port requires the process. Usually, pre-Covid, it was done onboard. First thing in the morning, we had to report to a designated area on the ship (ie; SeaPlex) where we were hustled through a line which moved pretty quick…displayed our passports to the CBP officer…then a crew member affixed a colored sticker to our SeaPass cards. We then went back to our room to put our passports back in the safe. Going ashore they checked to make sure we had the sticker. Quote
beccaball Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 This is interesting. I understand the frustration.... Good to know for future cruise bookings.....I wouldn't let it ruin my vacation, but I do understand how the early call on a vacay day does indeed suck. Maybe switch cruises? Thank you for the insight that I'd never even thought of before..... LifesaBeach and Neesa 2 Quote
Jenna Delvey Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 Looking forward to February 4th saying hi to CBP. Stay safe everyone! Quote
CrimsonCruiser Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 I remember having to do something similar on our Bahamas cruise that stopped in Key West on the way back up from the Bahamas. Fortunately we never had to get off the ship, just take us, our passports and our seapasses down to the theater. It was early but it was fast and I don't think they did more than a cursory glance at my US passport. (this was years ago though so things may have changed. We were also on Enchantment which is a MUCH smaller ship) Quote
FionaMG Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 1 hour ago, KevinK said: I also, booked Feb 4 Anthem of the Seas also.. hmmmm That one appears to have the ports in a different order, Port Canaveral and Miami both before Nassau and Coco Cay. This particular itinerary only runs a few times in the season and the order of the ports seems to vary from cruise to cruise. Al Miller 1 Quote
SpeedNoodles Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 You just have to go through immigration - you can get back onto the ship after that. Nobody said you have to go into town and find something to do. Personally, for me, it's just not that big of a deal (and it has happened to me). On our last Canada sailing we had to go through immigration before stopping in Portland (which was our last port). They did do it on the ship, but we did have to go through it. It just wasn't that big of a deal. It went very quickly. Baked Alaska and JimnKathy 2 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 OP has every right to vent. I would be upset to be forced to put on clothes at 7am, stand in line with others who probably put on clothes but didn't wash their butt, when I had no plans to do that. I guess the issue with these threads turning "spicy" is that most people acknowledge the "rant" but provide reasononing. When most people vent they don't want to hear solutions to their vent, just people agreeing. Baked Alaska, Xaa, CrimsonCruiser and 2 others 5 Quote
KevinK Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 30 minutes ago, FionaMG said: That one appears to have the ports in a different order, Port Canaveral and Miami both before Nassau and Coco Cay. This particular itinerary only runs a few times in the season and the order of the ports seems to vary from cruise to cruise. Yup, I looked at on my Feb 4 & April 23, both of them is 8 days, and both of them is Miami then Nassau then back to NJ port. Being Nassau the last port then coming back to NJ. FionaMG 1 Quote
Cruisegirl1976 Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 This happened years ago on NCL when we stopped in Miami. Quote
LJay0301 Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said: I guess the issue with these threads turning "spicy" is that most people acknowledge the "rant" but provide reasononing. When most people vent they don't want to hear solutions to their vent, just people agreeing. I can understand this right here, so many times I am annoyed by something (mostly work related or from my own causes) and I want to rant but my boyfriend is reasonable and is providing solutions - I didn't ask for a solution I wanted to just get it off my chest and go about dealing with it - that is how OP feels and he has a right to feel this way, he wants to vent his frustration without getting answers, which is fine. However, now in the future OP and many others, know that when you get to a US port after a foreign port you must go through customs at the first US port (even if it is not your final port), this information is probably new to many who haven't had an itinerary this way before - but I can agree that maybe this information should be made known while booking maybe it is in the fine print. :edit - to fix typo VirtKitty, FireFishII and Neesa 3 Quote
Kathleen Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 We just sailed to Hawaii and Maui was our first port. We all had to go through immigration because it was our first US port, although done on the ship. When we disembarked in Oahu, just a few days later, we did not have to go through immigration. We grabbed our luggage from the area where they were placed and walked out the door. I liked the easy disembarkation at our final stop which no longer included immigration. It will take a while. Sleep in and catch the end of the line! Quote
FireFishII Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 2 hours ago, karl_nj said: Is Miami the last port? If so, you may not need to do Immigration when you get back to NJ. Not that it's a big deal in Port Liberty anymore, since they use the facial scanners there these days. I don't think you have a choice. At the first US port after traveling out of the country, EVERYONE needs to go thru immigration. If everyone is asked to exit the ship, then the ship is keeping count so they know when they reach 0. It would be nice to have an option. Here is another tidbit, a few years ago, I had traveled to Ireland. We got to the airport in what we thought was plenty of time. What we did not know was we had to go thru US Preclearance before boarding. This is immigration, customs, and agriculture all in one place. We almost missed our flight. Quote
BDunn Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 Interesting topic… made me think. Why doesn’t this CBP process (first US port after foreign visit) apply to Puerto Rico or St Thomas stops after visits to St Maarten/St Kitts/Bahamas? They are after all, US Territories. #askingforafriend Quote
karl_nj Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 20 minutes ago, FireFishII said: I don't think you have a choice. At the first US port after traveling out of the country, EVERYONE needs to go thru immigration. If everyone is asked to exit the ship, then the ship is keeping count so they know when they reach 0. It would be nice to have an option. Here is another tidbit, a few years ago, I had traveled to Ireland. We got to the airport in what we thought was plenty of time. What we did not know was we had to go thru US Preclearance before boarding. This is immigration, customs, and agriculture all in one place. We almost missed our flight. Sorry, I didn't mean to make it seem like there was a choice. Just trying to say there may be a bright side to the situation—quicker disembarkation for all back in NJ. FireFishII and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote
FireFishII Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 20 minutes ago, BDunn said: Why doesn’t this CBP process (first US port after foreign visit) apply to Puerto Rico or St Thomas stops after visits to St Maarten/St Kitts/Bahamas? They are after all, US Territories. #askingforafriend Different rules between territories and states? Maybe? Quote
karl_nj Posted November 2, 2022 Report Posted November 2, 2022 24 minutes ago, BDunn said: Interesting topic… made me think. Why doesn’t this CBP process (first US port after foreign visit) apply to Puerto Rico or St Thomas stops after visits to St Maarten/St Kitts/Bahamas? They are after all, US Territories. #askingforafriend Along the same lines, one could also ask why it's ok for a foreign flagged ship to do a repositioning cruise from NYC to Puerto Rico, but not from NYC to Miami. Quote
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