Cruzin with BQ & CQ Posted August 20, 2013 #1 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Our upcoming cruise has us in Key West on Saturday and disembarking in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. When will we clear customs? I seem to remember it is upon re-entry to the first US port. Am I correct? I'm asking if that may affect our day in Key West. Thanks to all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin'girl Posted August 20, 2013 #2 Share Posted August 20, 2013 You clear immigration at the first US port. Immigration is to let a person into the country, so that would be Key West. You clear Customs when you are bringing goods into the country- Ft L. Immigration is the person and who are you wanting to enter. Customs is for what you are bringing in and taking with you into the country on your final stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted August 20, 2013 #3 Share Posted August 20, 2013 You will go through immigration in Key West -- which can be hassle -- especially if you have a short time there. Customs will be in Ft Lauderdale the next day and will go quickly. You will claim your luggage, walk to the doors to go outside and hand over your custom's form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted August 20, 2013 #4 Share Posted August 20, 2013 You will clear US Immigration in Key West but Customs must still be cleared in FLL. Passengers are called starting with the top deck and told to report to Deck 3 where US Immigration checked EVERY passport and punched a funny hole in your room card. There were two lines: US and Others. The total time you are away from your room in Key West is about 5 minutes. Nobody can go ashore until ALL passengers are checked. Our cruise had some Russian passengers who did not respond to the Captain's announcement. With five passengers holding up all of the passengers from disembarking, a Russian-language announcement was made with the threat to charge $1000 fine if they were not processed in the next 15 minutes. That worked!! The ship was then cleared to go ashore. You could not return to the ship in Key West without that funny hole punched in your card. US Customs is cleared in FLL where you complete the declaration cards and still have to show your passport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted August 20, 2013 #5 Share Posted August 20, 2013 We have gone through immigration in Key West and it was quite uneventful. Deck by deck people are sent through one of the public lounges where your passport is checked, and you are sent on your way. Hopefully, everyone shows up in a timely manner and things will go very smoothly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted August 20, 2013 #6 Share Posted August 20, 2013 We have gone through immigration in Key West and it was quite uneventful. Deck by deck people are sent through one of the public lounges where your passport is checked, and you are sent on your way. Hopefully, everyone shows up in a timely manner and things will go very smoothly. That's been my experience also;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted August 20, 2013 #7 Share Posted August 20, 2013 We have gone through immigration in Key West and it was quite uneventful. Deck by deck people are sent through one of the public lounges where your passport is checked, and you are sent on your way. Hopefully, everyone shows up in a timely manner and things will go very smoothly. Does this still happen if Key West isn't at the end of the cruise, but just one of the ports (after US ports only)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin'girl Posted August 21, 2013 #8 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Does this still happen if Key West isn't at the end of the cruise, but just one of the ports (after US ports only)? Immigration happens at the first US port after a foreign port(s). If Key West was entered after a US port (like after Ft L or Tampa at the beginning of a cruise) there wouldn't be immigration check. Immigration documents are checked in the US immediately after entering from a foreign country no matter what the US port happens to be. They need to know that everyone entering the US has the right to be here. It has nothing to do with Key West itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted August 21, 2013 #9 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Does this still happen if Key West isn't at the end of the cruise, but just one of the ports (after US ports only)? If Key West is your first port of call after another U.S. (your embarkation) port, i.e. Tampa and/or Ft. Lauderdale, there will be a routine "ship's clearance" upon arrival (handled by the ship's Purser/Crew Officer and/or Port Paper Officer and either the ship's agent, CBP or both) which does not involve passengers having to present themselves physically/in person to a U.S. CBP agent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trub Posted August 21, 2013 #10 Share Posted August 21, 2013 just a slight aside on this - I was planning on booking an excursion at key West which starts at 0830, do you think we will make it given the immigration clearance that will be done, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JORAY Posted August 21, 2013 #11 Share Posted August 21, 2013 This discussion brings up an interesting question. We are on the Grand South Pacific & Asia cruise (9/20/13) which starts in Vancouver and the first stop is LA and then goes to Hawaii etc. Question -- will we have to go through immigration in LA as we have come from a foreign country? Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyglobetrotter Posted August 21, 2013 #12 Share Posted August 21, 2013 I am 99% sure that there is pre-clearance in Vancouver for US ports. It is good for Alaska cruises, most likely will be the same for Grand Asia starting in Los Angeles. Everybody must go trough immigrations when arriving in a country, even if they are citizens of the country in question. Lets hope that pre-clearance will be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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