New govt rules.

[billroddy]

CLIA sent this email to TAs.

There are several changes that the U.S. government will be implementing in the coming months that will impact your cruise clients. Please review the following information and communicate these messages with them.

1. Effective February 18, 2008 - Passengers MUST be on board at least one hour prior to departure
Cruise ships departing from U.S. ports will be required by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to provide the full passenger and crew manifest to the U.S. government 60 minutes prior to departure starting Feb. 18, 2008. This means that all cruise guests will need to be on board at least one hour before the ship’s scheduled departure.

2. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that effective January 31, 2008, all travelers, including U.S. citizens, entering the United States through all ports of entry (including land and sea ports) will no longer have the option of orally declaring their citizenship. This previously accepted, but rare, practice of proving citizenship through oral declaration will no longer be sufficient. Cruise passengers must present the appropriate identification or risk being denied boarding.

Bill

[hammybee]

I wonder if change #1 is going to impact if a ship can wait for a delayed plane or bus prior to disembarkation. It's all the more reason to not take unnecessary risks and fly in the day before the cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

All to often we have been on various ships when our sailing was delayed while we waited for a HAL bus to come from the airport because a plane was late. Wonder what they are going to do about that?

[Krazy Kruizers]

2. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that effective January 31, 2008, all travelers, including U.S. citizens, entering the United States through all ports of entry (including land and sea ports) will no longer have the option of orally declaring their citizenship. This previously accepted, but rare, practice of proving citizenship through oral declaration will no longer be sufficient. Cruise passengers must present the appropriate identification or risk being denied boarding.

Bill

For this first time in years we had to go through immigration in San Diego before we boarded the ship -- which was a total mess!!

Does this mean we will have to do this at all ports of embarkation?

[Two if by Sea]

1. Effective February 18, 2008 - Passengers MUST be on board at least one hour prior to departure

Does this mean at every port, or only at the port of embarkation?

[jtl513]

Does this mean at every port, or only at the port of embarkation?Well, the second sentence says :

Cruise ships departing from U.S. ports will be required ... 60 minutes prior to departure ...

[Northshorecruisers]

Never have to worry about us being on board 60 min prior......we're on as soon as we can to start enjoying our vacation.
We have always flown in the day prior, just because it's nice to have a good sleep prior to the start of the cruise. On our cruise this past November, I found out why we do that. Our flight at 6:30am was cancelled and we didn't get a flight until 12:30pm. We arrived in the right state, but we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us to get to the right city. Instead of arriving at 12:30pm at our hotel, we arrived at midnight - almost 12 hours later. Our problem didn't have anything to do with weather or overbooked flights, just a fluke that shut down the concourse at our connecting airport.

[seaisme]

that's why we ALWAYS fly in the day prior to the cruise. Too much can go wrong. If luggage doesn't arrive, you have time to purchase the essentials. If plane delays, you have time to get to the pier. Plus, like you, we board ASAP. Gives you almost another full day on the ship. Might as well enjoy lunch, drinks and the ship on boarding day. Plus we are able to get good times for spa reservations. We take care of things like checking on our table location, ordering wine for dinner, and then getting our cabin set up prior to the drill. Nice to have everything all set prior to sailing.

[tomc]

Does this mean at every port, or only at the port of embarkation? I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on the radio, but my guess is "embarkation" means the original port at which they do the sail-away party.

[jtl513]

I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on the radio, but my guess is "embarkation" means the original port at which they do the sail-away party.By one definition of "embark", you do it any time you get back on the ship at any port, but most people (and HAL) usually take it to mean the start or commencement of a voyage or enterprise.

However, if you embark (by definition #2) in Vancouver to sail to Seward, this new 60 minute deadline would apparently not apply, since it says ships departing from U.S. ports. :)

[jtl513]

... but would apply leaving St. Thomas or San Juan etc?

[Jsipes]

Wow....I hope the 2nd para doesn't mean people driving back to US from Mexico have to fill out a written Customs form to declare they are a US Citizen......the border will come to a standstill wtih all the paperwork...

[chasetf]

Does this mean at every port, or only at the port of embarkation?
I do not see the word embarkation in the requirement. It says departing any US port so my interpretation would be any port, such a Juneau for instance............. which has interesting consequences for those running to the ship at the last moment.

So would those folks have to stand there for 59 minutes and watch the rest of us sail away. :eek: ;)

[gizmo]

... but would apply leaving St. Thomas or San Juan etc?

Since they are US ports, I would think so.

[catl331]

Wow....I hope the 2nd para doesn't mean people driving back to US from Mexico have to fill out a written Customs form to declare they are a US Citizen......the border will come to a standstill wtih all the paperwork...All paragraph 2 says is "will no longer have the option of orally declaring their citizenship", but must show proof - like a passport. Why are you reading so much more into it?