US Customs on Northbound Voyage of the Glaciers?

[jb008]

Was just thinking about the normal clearing customs at the end of a cruise... but when do you clear US customs on a northbound cruise (e.g., starting in Vancouver and ending in Whittier)? We leave from a Canadian port, but then visit several US ports before ending at the US port. Do you do a CBP check at every US port? Is it like a European cruise where there's no customs to deal with at the disembarkation port?

 

Thanks in advance!

[ggprincess2004]

You clear US Customs in Vancouver before boarding the ship. Before you get to the checkin point in Vancouver, you will go through customs. It can be a huge mess, depending upon how many ships are in port and need to be cleared prior to departure.

[Colo Cruiser]

Vancouver.

[jb008]

Thanks for the info. So it is similar to preclearing customs before flying home to US from a few different int'l airports.

 

Upside then is that disembarkation is treated as a domestic arrival with no additional CBP screening I presume? Walking off an EU cruise at the final port was a breeze since no customs clearance needed - just a stroll off to the waiting luggage and then taxi onward. Am I being too optimistic to hope for something similar for Alaska?

[caribill]

Thanks for the info. So it is similar to preclearing customs before flying home to US from a few different int'l airports.

 

Upside then is that disembarkation is treated as a domestic arrival with no additional CBP screening I presume? Walking off an EU cruise at the final port was a breeze since no customs clearance needed - just a stroll off to the waiting luggage and then taxi onward. Am I being too optimistic to hope for something similar for Alaska?

 

Exactly.

[reney313]

That truly is one of the benefits of sailing Northbound, out of Vancouver. It is SOOO nice on debarkation morning to walk right off the ship and grab your luggage.

 

Although, I will say to be prepared for a long wait in Vancouver. I would be the earliest I possibly could or the very latest. We got to the port around 11:00am and waited in line for several hours. I would rather that at the beginning of my cruise though than the end.