Where do you go through immigration and customs?

[2112]

On a one way northbound route out of Vancouver, where do you go through US customs and immigration? The first port? Whittier? Both? Is it a time consuming process?

[Northern Aurora]

In 2009 on a northbound from Vancouver to Seward we went through US Immigration at the Ballantyne Pier prior to embarking. While the procedure created a fairly slow boarding process once we reached the first Alaska port passengers just walked off the ship.

[Glaciers]

In 2009 on a northbound from Vancouver to Seward we went through US Immigration at the Ballantyne Pier prior to embarking. While the procedure created a fairly slow boarding process once we reached the first Alaska port passengers just walked off the ship.

 

This is very nice that you clear US Customs just prior to boarding the ship in Vancouver so you don't have to go through it in Alaska. Suppose it depends on what time you board but this summer there was no line and we buzzed right through about 11:30am.

[Northern Aurora]

This is very nice that you clear US Customs just prior to boarding the ship in Vancouver so you don't have to go through it in Alaska. Suppose it depends on what time you board but this summer there was no line and we buzzed right through about 11:30am.

 

Every cruise is memorable for different reasons (On a 2008 cruise a passenger actually died in while waiting to board which certainly cast an unusual spell over the entire ship during the entire seven days of the cruise.). On this particular Alaska cruise the ship returned to port with an outbreak of noro, and they did an enhanced cleaning before allowing passengers to board. We had elite boarding but had of course to wait, so once boarding commenced there was quite a back-up of passengers.

 

On that particular Alaska cruise passengers were given US Customs forms prior to reaching Seward. Crew instructed disembarking passengers to have their completed customs forms in hand as we left, but no one from US Customs collected them.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We actually went through customs twice on our recent NB cruise from Vancouver to Seward.

 

Arrival in Vancouver--We went through when we landed in Vanouver at the airport. There were 4 planes arriving within 20 minutes of us that had to go through. The area seemed very busy. But, it only took us 40 minutes to clear customs. (about 11am)

 

Leaving on the Cruise: We went through again (leaving CA and entering USA) as we processed through the Canada Place cruise ship terminal. We left our hotel at 10:30 am and we were on the ship by 11:15am. (We had to sit about 7-8 minutes in chairs until they began boarding the ship. The cruise documents say not to arrive before 1pm. But, if you wait that long there will be a longer line.

[pdmlynek]

We actually went through customs twice on our recent NB cruise from Vancouver to Seward.

 

Arrival in Vancouver--We went through when we landed in Vanouver at the airport. There were 4 planes arriving within 20 minutes of us that had to go through. The area seemed very busy. But, it only took us 40 minutes to clear customs. (about 11am)

 

Leaving on the Cruise: We went through again (leaving CA and entering USA) as we processed through the Canada Place cruise ship terminal. We left our hotel at 10:30 am and we were on the ship by 11:15am. (We had to sit about 7-8 minutes in chairs until they began boarding the ship. The cruise documents say not to arrive before 1pm. But, if you wait that long there will be a longer line.

 

This is exactly what happened with us, and it makes sense for anyone flying into Vancouver from outside of Canada. But you did NOT go through US customs twice. Just once. The first customs entry into Vancouver was Canadian customs, not U.S. customs. (You could tell by them being much nicer.)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We used the bus to get from Seattle to Vancouver.

 

Our first customs / immigration was at the border going into Canada.

 

Then once we got to Canada Place and right before we got on the ship, again had to go through customs / immigration. This was actually the longest time compared to the border.

[scottbee]

On a one way northbound route out of Vancouver, where do you go through US customs and immigration? The first port? Whittier? Both? Is it a time consuming process?

 

You pre-clear US Immigration and Customs prior to boarding the ship, after checking in. Therefore you're already cleared at your 1st stop.

 

This is also why people sometimes complain about line ups at Vancouver, as it's an extra step you don't do any other cruise terminal.

[2112]

So when you get to Whittier, there is none of that waiting around like there is on all other cruises? You just walk off whenever you want and that's it. I love that idea!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

This is exactly what happened with us, and it makes sense for anyone flying into Vancouver from outside of Canada. But you did NOT go through US customs twice. Just once. The first customs entry into Vancouver was Canadian customs, not U.S. customs. (You could tell by them being much nicer.)

 

I did not say we went through US customs twice. The first customs was entering Canada at the airport. (It would make no sense to go through US customs there.) We did that at Canada Place--as I said.

 

Went through customs twice:

Airport--Canadian

Cnada Place--Canadian/US