Non-US citizens Dawn Disembarkation

[che5904]

So, we've heard that the problem with the Dawn disembarkation should be resolved and the U.S. citizens were able to disembark at a normal time in a timely fashion.

 

Some of us are still waiting to hear from any non-U.S. citizens on what the procedure was for them on the Jan. 5th to 12th sailing.

 

Anyone have any experience on the last sailing?

[che5904]

OK obviously no one from the past sailing fits this description.

 

Is there any non-U.S. citizen on this coming sailing Jan 19th - 26th that would be willing to come back and inform us?

[NJLVW]

You may get more response when the people on the 12th get back this Sunday. If not I would ask on the roll call for the weeks in question. That way those that fit the discription of what you need can come back to answer for you hopefully before your cruise!

[che5904]

You may get more response when the people on the 12th get back this Sunday. If not I would ask on the roll call for the weeks in question. That way those that fit the discription of what you need can come back to answer for you hopefully before your cruise!

 

Thanks I considered popping into the next roll call, but didn't want to "crash" the party :)

[mrs.cool]

There's actually a thread on this that I updated yesterday. You should be able to find it if you search Dawn Embarkation Problems.

[che5904]

There's actually a thread on this that I updated yesterday. You should be able to find it if you search Dawn Embarkation Problems.

 

If you are talking about the "live from the dawn thread", sorry that is only information on disembarking in general and everyone that I have seen, that has posted from that sailing states it was very specific that disembarking for U.S. citizens only started on time.

 

I'm trying to get information about non-U.S. citizens, but thanks.

Edited January 15, 2014 by che5904

[erinm03]

I'm a US citizen from the 5-12th sailing on the Dawn. All I know is that when I was walking around the boat at 7am on disembarkation day there was a line of non-US citizens lined up from the casino until the hallway next to Le Bistro, so through Gatsby's. At about 8:45am they started announcing names over the loud speaker to report to the front desk regarding customs. I'm assuming these were non-US citizens who were yet to report? Sorry this is all I know!

[che5904]

I'm a US citizen from the 5-12th sailing on the Dawn. All I know is that when I was walking around the boat at 7am on disembarkation day there was a line of non-US citizens lined up from the casino until the hallway next to Le Bistro, so through Gatsby's. At about 8:45am they started announcing names over the loud speaker to report to the front desk regarding customs. I'm assuming these were non-US citizens who were yet to report? Sorry this is all I know!

 

Thanks for what you could tell me.

[albertamom]

As a Canadian, I am so anxious to hear some first-hand updates! Hoping to get some new information today. We are heading out on the Dawn in March, and this will be our first experience with being segregated for customs. It sounds absolutely dreadful. I've already moved our flights to late afternoon, but I'd still like to know ahead of time what to expect.

[PLW0520]

We experienced this on Carnival several years ago and it was awful. Since then we have always cruised with Princess and there was no difference. We were given a choice of when we wanted to disembark and everything went smoothly. I had no idea that NCL made non US citizens line up in the morning. Not looking forward to this in March. I would also like more info on this.

[garycarla]

As a Canadian, I am so anxious to hear some first-hand updates! Hoping to get some new information today. We are heading out on the Dawn in March, and this will be our first experience with being segregated for customs. It sounds absolutely dreadful. I've already moved our flights to late afternoon, but I'd still like to know ahead of time what to expect.

 

As I understand it, they need to clear the NON U.S. Citizens before they do the rest of the ship. Not at the end.

[njhorseman]

We experienced this on Carnival several years ago and it was awful. Since then we have always cruised with Princess and there was no difference. We were given a choice of when we wanted to disembark and everything went smoothly. I had no idea that NCL made non US citizens line up in the morning. Not looking forward to this in March. I would also like more info on this.

 

It's not the cruise line that decides how it's done. US Customs and Border Protection determines how passengers will be processed, and those procedures can vary from port to port depending on facilities and the number of CBP agents on duty. The procedures also can change from time to time, so the way disembarkation clearance was handled last week or last month or last year is no guarantee of how it will proceed this week.

Edited January 19, 2014 by njhorseman

[Froggitt]

You should try a non-US entry into one of the major airports......e.g. Miami, Detroit, Vegas......if it takes less than 90 minutes, I count it as a good day.

[Demonyte]

You should try a non-US entry into one of the major airports......e.g. Miami, Detroit, Vegas......if it takes less than 90 minutes, I count it as a good day.

 

Rarely have we spent over an hour total passing through immigration and customs in Miami coming from either Heathrow or Frankfurt and that includes sometimes waiting for the luggage to arrive by the luggage carousel - although we do try to be among the first ones (read dozens) from our plane (younger, quicker feet and long way from the gate to immigration queue ;)).

Edited January 19, 2014 by Demonyte

[albertamom]

It's not the cruise line that decides how it's done. US Customs and Border Protection determines how passengers will be processed, and those procedures can vary from port to port depending on facilities and the number of CBP agents on duty. The procedures also can change from time to time, so the way disembarkation clearance was handled last week or last month or last year is no guarantee of how it will proceed this week.

 

Having only cruised once before (on the POA, which is a completely different situation because all ports were on American soil), this is all very new to me. I was assuming that this segregation would happen at all ports where you leave from the US, dock in a foreign country, and return to the US. From what you've said, this is not the case. If it does happen, it's just something we'll have to deal with.

 

Either way, it is certain to happen on our Dawn cruise out of Tampa, and may or may not take much longer because of the new passengers boarding in Cozumel. Hopefully someone will be able to report first-hand about their experience.

[che5904]

We experienced this on Carnival several years ago and it was awful. Since then we have always cruised with Princess and there was no difference. We were given a choice of when we wanted to disembark and everything went smoothly. I had no idea that NCL made non US citizens line up in the morning. Not looking forward to this in March. I would also like more info on this.

 

I too did this on Carnival.

 

The last 2 NCL cruises from Miami & LA, we just had to go to the theatre at some ung*dly hour and show our passport and customs form and be on our way to disembark with everyone else at the normal times.

 

On Carnival we all had to show up, sit in the theatre and wait until everyone got there. Then CBP came onboard, got their complimentary coffee and donuts then we had to go up and get our passports stamped. The whole process was quite time consuming and wasted our entire last morning on the ship. No time for breakfast or relaxation.

 

This sounds like it could be a similar process now being required on the Dawn. That's why I started this thread to see if someone could let us know.

 

It in no way affects our flights since we have extra couple of days in Tampa, but I still would love to know what to expect.

 

If no one on the sailing returning today can come in and let us know. 2 non-US citizens from the sailing that started today have promised to come back and let us know.

[che5904]

It's not the cruise line that decides how it's done. US Customs and Border Protection determines how passengers will be processed, and those procedures can vary from port to port depending on facilities and the number of CBP agents on duty. The procedures also can change from time to time, so the way disembarkation clearance was handled last week or last month or last year is no guarantee of how it will proceed this week.

 

I agree nothing is written in stone, but at least it gives you a heads up if the sailing before you or a couple weeks before you have had a certain process.

[albertamom]

If no one on the sailing returning today can come in and let us know. 2 non-US citizens from the sailing that started today have promised to come back and let us know.

 

This is so good to hear! I am very, very curious! :)

[che5904]

Is there anyone back from this weeks sailing, that can answer this?

[OzCanuck]

Off the Dawn this morning.

 

Very easy process. You go to Aqua around 7am and get a "group" number. Then you sit around and wait for your group to be called. Five or six immigration inspectors are aboard and your passports are "sighted". We still had time for a leisurely breakfast in Cagney's and then disembarked around 9:15.

 

After leaving the ship, get your bags and clear customs as per usual.

 

Hint: if you are able to use the services of the concierge you can be in and out in less than ten minutes....

[che5904]

Off the Dawn this morning.

 

Very easy process. You go to Aqua around 7am and get a "group" number. Then you sit around and wait for your group to be called. Five or six immigration inspectors are aboard and your passports are "sighted". We still had time for a leisurely breakfast in Cagney's and then disembarked around 9:15.

 

After leaving the ship, get your bags and clear customs as per usual.

 

Hint: if you are able to use the services of the concierge you can be in and out in less than ten minutes....

 

So you don't have to wait until all non-U.S. Citizen arrive before the process is started?

 

Thanks so much that's exactly what I wanted to hear.

 

Nope not in a suite.

[OzCanuck]

So you don't have to wait until all non-U.S. Citizen arrive before the process is started?

 

Nope. It was well underway (Group 7 was called) when we showed up. The line, at that point, was quite long and the doors to Aqua were closed. (no more seats left).

 

I think overall it did delay things a bit - easy walk-off seemed to start around 8:45 if I recall but I wasn't really listening. And of course, the typical elevator jam midship and forward (always go aft if you want to use the lifts on the last day..)

[che5904]

Nope. It was well underway (Group 7 was called) when we showed up. The line, at that point, was quite long and the doors to Aqua were closed. (no more seats left).

 

I think overall it did delay things a bit - easy walk-off seemed to start around 8:45 if I recall but I wasn't really listening. And of course, the typical elevator jam midship and forward (always go aft if you want to use the lifts on the last day..)

 

Wonder why they are not using the theatre. That's where they had us go on our last 2 NCL cruises and our Carnival cruise. Three times the seating in the theatre.

 

At least I know it won't be as long a wait as on Carnival. That took up the entire morning, because they waited for everyone to get there before they even started. We didn't even have time for breakfast and by the time we got back to our cabin to pick up our bags, the room steward already had our room cleaned for the next passengers.

[rajones007]

Off the Dawn this morning.

 

Very easy process. You go to Aqua around 7am and get a "group" number. Then you sit around and wait for your group to be called. Five or six immigration inspectors are aboard and your passports are "sighted". We still had time for a leisurely breakfast in Cagney's and then disembarked around 9:15.

 

After leaving the ship, get your bags and clear customs as per usual.

 

Hint: if you are able to use the services of the concierge you can be in and out in less than ten minutes....

That's what we did when we were on the Dawn repo in April 2013 when it arrived in Boston.

 

It was a breeze. There's no sense in anybody getting all worked up over the procedure. You have to do it, and NCL makes it as comfortable as possible.

 

We had coffee while in waiting Aqua. At least we got to sit down and be comfortable while waiting. They open a set of doors off in the back and off the side, and you actually walk into La Cucina where the Customs Officers were sitting at their little tables. There was at least 8 officers. (note: La Cucina may have originally been designed as an overflow room for Aqua).

 

Anyways. We walked out of La Cucina and went back to the cabin to get our carry-on. Then we went to Cagneys for breakfast, and then to Spinakers to meet the Concierge. We hung around there for half an hour (our choice, we were earlier than we expected) before she walked us off to meet our private day-long tour of Boston.

[che5904]

That's what we did when we were on the Dawn repo in April 2013 when it arrived in Boston.

 

It was a breeze. There's no sense in anybody getting all worked up over the procedure. You have to do it, and NCL makes it as comfortable as possible.

 

.

 

I really don't see anyone getting "worked up over it". It seemed like a logic question since there will be more non-US citizens than a normal sailing due to the pick up of passengers in Cozumel.

 

Every recent post so far regarding disembarkation states "all U.S. citizens could disembark with ease". No one could really answer what the non-US citizens had to do. Since our long over-drawn-out experience on Carnival, I wanted to know what we were in for when preparing for our last morning, that's all.

 

This had nothing to do with NCL, nor did it have to do with Carnival out of Boston. It was just how the customs people wanted it.

Edited January 27, 2014 by che5904