Vancouver Customs can't keep up

[Langley Cruisers]

Maybe it's an Ontario thing, but I typically find the US border patrol agents friendlier going in, than I find the Canadian agents coming back.

 

No, we find that here too. What is interesting, I think, is if an American would say the same thing. I bet s/he'd say the Canadian agents are so friendly going into Canada, but the US guys are tough coming home. I think it depends on where you are from (I mean, if you are visiting, or re-entering your own country)... know what I mean? :)

[M&A]

RC doesn't dock at Canada Place - the ships in on the 9th were NCL, HAL, and Princess. I know that Princess passengers didn't even need to clear US customs in Canada Place for this cruise - it was a 1 nighter to Seattle and we were informed that they would do this on arrival in Seattle. Not sure how the other two lines handled that portion. I suspect the hold up was going through security (when your bags are scanned) and not customs/immigration - as I said, lots of people to process in a short space of time! The lines were definitely dwindling by 3:30!!!!!

 

Wrong - I was on the RCI Rhapsody of the Seas which arrived last Friday morning at Canada Place. Believe me there were very long line ups to get off the ship mainly because there were only 3 Canada customs pers.

There were three ships arriving at Canada Place at the same time - HAL, NCL and RCI. The Celebrity Mellenium went into Ballantyne pier.

[LeftcoastBC]

Wrong - I was on the RCI Rhapsody of the Seas which arrived last Friday morning at Canada Place. Believe me there were very long line ups to get off the ship mainly because there were only 3 Canada customs pers.

There were three ships arriving at Canada Place at the same time - HAL, NCL and RCI. The Celebrity Mellenium went into Ballantyne pier.

 

 

Getting off with only 3 Canadian guys would be our problem for sure. Now this thread was about getting on and we were winning that wee debate. shush :D

[The Nice Family]

Reading LeftCoast's Astoria experience I'm wondering if anyone can share their experiences at Canadian Ports of Call, as Canadian Citizens? I'm not sure what you call it but, what I mean is, what's it like getting off the ship at Canadian Ports of Call, not Canadian final destinations?

 

I'd appreciate answers from an Canadian Citizen's perspective...our upcoming cruise leaves from Quebec City, stops in Sept Iles, Charlottetown, Halifax (none of which I expect would involve hold-ups) and Portland (where I suspect we may be held up). Our final stop and disembarkation point is Boston (ditto hold ups - if it's anything like NYC).

 

Any experience with that, Canadian CC'ers?

[inar]

Not sure how it works on the East coast, but on the West coast you only need to show your id when coming and going from the ship for a port of call visit. Simple!

[Rochell]

When we took a 10-day cruise from New York to Montreal(over night) including St. Johns, Halifax, Quebec city, photo IDs were asked only at St. Johns upon returning the port. And we didn't go through the Customs until the disembarkation morning in Montreal.

[M&A]

Getting off with only 3 Canadian guys would be our problem for sure. Now this thread was about getting on and we were winning that wee debate. shush :D

 

But once we were off the ship we had a fantastic time in Van.

We had a harbour view room at the Bayshore Westin, great views over the harbour and Stanley Park. Three days of sunshine!!!

[DanJ]

Reading LeftCoast's Astoria experience I'm wondering if anyone can share their experiences at Canadian Ports of Call, as Canadian Citizens? I'm not sure what you call it but, what I mean is, what's it like getting off the ship at Canadian Ports of Call, not Canadian final destinations?

 

I'd appreciate answers from an Canadian Citizen's perspective...our upcoming cruise leaves from Quebec City, stops in Sept Iles, Charlottetown, Halifax (none of which I expect would involve hold-ups) and Portland (where I suspect we may be held up). Our final stop and disembarkation point is Boston (ditto hold ups - if it's anything like NYC).

 

Any experience with that, Canadian CC'ers?

 

The only time we've done it was Saint John and Halifax in 2001. It was just like any other non-American port then. Not sure how they handle it now, but your case is different since your cruise originates in Canada, where ours started in Boston. You will have to clear US immigration in Portland if that is your first US port. Disembarking in Boston should only involve handing the form into the customs agent after you claim your luggage.

[LeftcoastBC]

We have not had any issues with Canadian Authorities while on cruise ships.

Disembarked here on the west coast ports of Victoria, Naniamo, and terminated in Vancouver about 4 times. Now all those started here in Canada so keep that in mind. Last year when we departed from Seattle and did Ak., had a stop in Victoria for a few hours but didn't get off.

Returning from cruises into USA for us foreigners has in the past 10 yrs improved so much I have no negative comments at all there either.

[The Nice Family]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Going by what you're saying, I'm thinking our BC Drivers Licences should do in all ports before Portland ME.

 

We have cruised from Vancouver to Alaska and there was no hold-up in the Alaskan ports but, we cleared US customs in Vancouver and all of the ports of call after that were US. Maybe we'll be doing that in Quebec City (clearing US border security)? That would eliminate any delays in Portland as well.....

[DanJ]

You won't clear US immigration at Quebec City because you will have Canadian ports later. They do that in Vancouver because the US already has agents in Vancouver to deal with the airport, and they likely don't have a lot of agents at the Alaskan ports.

 

If you have the new enhanced security license from BC, then you should be fine at Portland, assuming the US agent knows that the BC licenses are the new ones. Otherwise you will need a passport after June 1. Either way, it will be a pretty quick process.

[missintahiti]

Maybe it's an Ontario thing, but I typically find the US border patrol agents friendlier going in, than I find the Canadian agents coming back.

 

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who finds the US border guys MUCH friendlier than the Canadian guys. That said, I've often found the Canadian agents to be more efficient.

[Ephraim]

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who finds the US border guys MUCH friendlier than the Canadian guys. That said, I've often found the Canadian agents to be more efficient.

 

Odd, I find the American agents to be ruder, more hostile and more intrusive. I've even had one open a private letter and stand there reading it in front of me. I understand where they are coming from, but for me that crossed a line. I have never felt welcome when visiting the US, only lucky that I have been allowed in. I even had one ask me what I planned to do when I needed a passport to visit the US instead of my birth certificate and driver's licence.

 

Sure, I've had my run ins with the guys on the Canadian side. I realize that as a returning Canadian they are there to collect taxes. I declare and I don't worry about it. I know the limits and if they ask questions they quickly figure out that I know them as well. I haven't had my car searched in three years. And the last time they searched my car they found absolutely nothing that wasn't declared.

 

But honestly, if one of them was actually rude with me... I would stop my car at the side and be in the office talking to a supervisor in a minute. It happened to me twice. One at Mirabel airport where the guard refused to speak English to me and once when I switched lanes and he thought it was funny to turn off his light and make me go back to the other lane. I assure you that having a civilian complaint isn't fun, especially when it comes to language, because you can lose your annual bilingualism bonus.

[The Nice Family]

Odd, I find the American agents to be ruder, more hostile and more intrusive. I've even had one open a private letter and stand there reading it in front of me. I understand where they are coming from, but for me that crossed a line.

 

But honestly, if one of them was actually rude with me... I would stop my car at the side and be in the office talking to a supervisor in a minute. It happened to me twice. One at Mirabel airport where the guard refused to speak English to me and once when I switched lanes and he thought it was funny to turn off his light and make me go back to the other lane. I assure you that having a civilian complaint isn't fun, especially when it comes to language, because you can lose your annual bilingualism bonus.

 

I'm thinking that Canadians don't have the same right to complain to US supervisors? The only time I asked to speak to a supervisor (at LAX), I set a group of Security agents off into hysterical laughter. A Supervisor? Yeah, right. At least I could see that they were capable of laughter - even if it was at my and my daughter's expense:mad:.

 

Honestly, I always feel SO intimidated by these people who have the power to completely ruin your holiday by refusing entry, that I just always do whatever they tell me to. I really can't overstate the stressful feelings that we go through when dealing with US Security/Customs agents. We are never, ever, guilty of anything however we are almost always treated, if not as criminals, at least as people not worthy of any respect at all. I don't think it should, or needs to be, that way. All I know is, that's how I and my family feel.

 

It has gotten so bad that after my last cruise out of NYC in December 2007, I swore I wouldn't travel in the US again. Unfortunately I love to cruise and I live in North America. So, that kinda limits the number of cruises I can go on. I've managed a 50% success this time around, leaving from Quebec, but I still need to deal with US Security in Boston on the way home.

 

Ah well, I'll do what I always do, keep smiling and suck it up. At least all they can do is kick me out of the US, not keep me from my vacation.

 

I guess we're still on topic here and I'm sorry if I'm offending any of you lovely American CC'ers. That's not my intent. I just think that given the OPs disparaging remarks about "Canadian Customs", a bit of a rebuttal was in order. Judging by the number of posts that followed, it seems as if I wasn't alone in that feeling.

[jfjudge]

I was one of a party of 8 (one in a wheelchair) who was in that LONG line waiting to board RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas. There were also people in our line for Norwegian Jewel and Holland America Ryndamn. We stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel and walked across the street at 10:15 am - waited in line until after 12 noon to go to security. They finally pulled all the Norwegian Jewel people out of our lines around 11 am. Hal and Rccl were still in the same LONG line. After security clearance then we were all put in a smelly room to wait for checkin for RCCL and waited there for another 2 hours or so. No one seemed to know what they were doing, we were told they had problems with the gangway and that delayed disembarking by 2 hours, then all the computers went down and we waited and waited until YEAH they finally have 5 computers working. We get up to the counter to check in and low and behold they have a trainee at the computer. What were they thinking. We finally boarded Rhapsody of the Seas at around 2 pm. We were to have left Vancouver at 4 pm but didn't leave until 5:30 pm. WE DID HAVE A GREAT VACATION IN ALASKA AND SWEAR WE WILL NEVER NEVER SAIL OUT OF VANCOUVER AGAIN. We had people in our group who were also making their 1st cruise, we have been on 5 before and we assured them that this is not always the way it goes. Usually the disembarking is the worst but to our surprise disembarking in Seattle was a breeze...............

[Putterdude]

I was one of a party of 8 (one in a wheelchair) who was in that LONG line waiting to board RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas. There were also people in our line for Norwegian Jewel and Holland America Ryndamn. We stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel and walked across the street at 10:15 am - waited in line until after 12 noon to go to security. They finally pulled all the Norwegian Jewel people out of our lines around 11 am. Hal and Rccl were still in the same LONG line. After security clearance then we were all put in a smelly room to wait for checkin for RCCL and waited there for another 2 hours or so. No one seemed to know what they were doing, we were told they had problems with the gangway and that delayed disembarking by 2 hours, then all the computers went down and we waited and waited until YEAH they finally have 5 computers working. We get up to the counter to check in and low and behold they have a trainee at the computer. What were they thinking. We finally boarded Rhapsody of the Seas at around 2 pm. We were to have left Vancouver at 4 pm but didn't leave until 5:30 pm. WE DID HAVE A GREAT VACATION IN ALASKA AND SWEAR WE WILL NEVER NEVER SAIL OUT OF VANCOUVER AGAIN. We had people in our group who were also making their 1st cruise, we have been on 5 before and we assured them that this is not always the way it goes. Usually the disembarking is the worst but to our surprise disembarking in Seattle was a breeze...............

 

Sorry that you had such a bad experience in Vancouver and please be assured that this is not the norm and related more to the fact that this was the first big cruise weekend of the season. However these things do happen at all cruise terminals as an example we had huge delays getting off the Coarl Princess, which was the only ship in port that day, in San Pedro in late January then had a further problem with a young inexperienced customs officer. We simply chaulk it up to one of things that happen but would not ever say "we won't ever sail in or out of San Pedro again".:)

[scottbee]

I was one of a party of 8 (one in a wheelchair) who was in that LONG line waiting to board RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas. There were also people in our line for Norwegian Jewel and Holland America Ryndamn. We stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel and walked across the street at 10:15 am - waited in line until after 12 noon to go to security. They finally pulled all the Norwegian Jewel people out of our lines around 11 am. Hal and Rccl were still in the same LONG line. After security clearance then we were all put in a smelly room to wait for checkin for RCCL and waited there for another 2 hours or so. No one seemed to know what they were doing, we were told they had problems with the gangway and that delayed disembarking by 2 hours, then all the computers went down and we waited and waited until YEAH they finally have 5 computers working. We get up to the counter to check in and low and behold they have a trainee at the computer. What were they thinking. We finally boarded Rhapsody of the Seas at around 2 pm. We were to have left Vancouver at 4 pm but didn't leave until 5:30 pm. WE DID HAVE A GREAT VACATION IN ALASKA AND SWEAR WE WILL NEVER NEVER SAIL OUT OF VANCOUVER AGAIN. We had people in our group who were also making their 1st cruise, we have been on 5 before and we assured them that this is not always the way it goes. Usually the disembarking is the worst but to our surprise disembarking in Seattle was a breeze...............

 

I'm sorry you had issues with boarding, however the things you waited for are well beyond the control of the Port of Vancouver.

 

The long wait for 'security', is actually a long wait for pre-clearance back into the United States. This is caused by a lack of staffing from the USA department of Homeland Security.

 

As for the number of checking counters, and computers. They computers are all provided by the cruise ship itself, in which case you should be contacting Royal Caribbean.

[c-to-sea]

jfjudge

 

A question.

 

What time did your cruise documents tell you to check in? I doubt that it was 10:30am.

 

With 3 ships disembarking, I would think that starting the boarding process at noon was

pretty good. As for the processes, as other have stated, most are US authorities doing

pre-clearance so that you aren't delayed at your first port of call.

[t13nif]

My elderly mother and i waited 2 1/2 hours to board Carnival at Long Beach in California. She has difficulty standing for that long but they said there wasn't anything that could do--no chair, no expedited passage, nothing. Just goes to show that these kind of delay can happen anywhere, even when there aren't customs officials involved.

 

The worst US border story i have is when i was crossing late at night. There were 2 lanes open with one car ahead of me in each lane. Of course i get behind a car that they wouldn't put through. By that time, there were no cars in the other lane. Still, i waited. Finally they put the car ahead of me through and the guard turned off the light, meaning he was no longer open, and walked away. I backed up and went into the other lane. The officer crucified me....saying i had just broken federal law by backing up on a highway. She denied that the other officer had turned off his light (of course by this time he had turned it back on). I was the only car at that crossing and she was so rude that i didn't even care whether she hauled me in or not. Usually i take whatever attitude they give me, but i was so close to telling her off. After a bunch of rude questions, she let me go. Awful experience.

[jfjudge]

Well we have been on 6 cruises now and have always gotten to the cruise terminal around 10:30 and have gotten on the ship as early as 11:30. So for them to open the doors just after noon was ridiculous and then to have to wait around in another room for 2 hours before check in was even more ridiculous. It was just a big mess.

[cruiseryyc]

I have been on 15 cruises (all Princess) and arrived at the terminal at 1:00 p.m. or later and just walked onboard with no waiting. No cruise line tells you to be there as early as 10:30; boarding is always listed as noon or later, the fact that it might have been earlier than that on your previous cruises was pure luck.

[Urban trekker]

Ah but we have to be the first one the ship in case they run out of food in the buffet and we are left with only hot dogs and popcorn to eat.

 

Don't want to have to worry about getting a lounge chair poolside even if we have to give them up for muster.

 

Don't want to have to worry that they will run out of helmets and we won't be able to get the beer specials.

 

Have to get to the casino to find that high paying penny machine even when the casino doesn't open for several hours.

 

Wonder if a cruise line was to give a $50 OBC for those who don't arrive until the posted time if there would still be a mad rush to get on the ship.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[c-to-sea]

"Well we have been on 6 cruises now and have always gotten to the cruise terminal around 10:30"

 

Guess they just got hit by the 7th. wave.

[BDngn]

Actually, I'm American and recently went up to Vancouver (May 2009). The Canadian agents were really rude, unfriendly, and took extreme caution on everyone. Coming back to the US, it was a breeze and the agents were really great. They were personable too. Maybe it's just Canada.

[cruiseryyc]

Actually, I'm American and recently went up to Vancouver (May 2009). The Canadian agents were really rude, unfriendly, and took extreme caution on everyone. Coming back to the US, it was a breeze and the agents were really great. They were personable too. Maybe it's just Canada.

 

You need to read this thread more carefully, the issue was going through US Customs & Immigration to get ON the ship in Vancouver. Cruise passengers in Vancouver are pre-cleared into the US so that there are no delays at their first stop in Alaska. Having said that, I've had rude and obnoxious agents on both sides of the border.