Delayed boarding after ship returns from Belize

[addictaftermagic]

Is this still an issue when a cruise returns from Belize? Experienced on our cruise last summer. We leave out of Galveston in 11 days... And the previous ship will be clearing customs after Belize trip.

[Yazoo cruiser]

Can't speak about Galveeston but we have been to Belize 5 or 6 times out of New Orleans and never noticed a difference.

[bury me at sea]

Got off the Magic June 14 after going to Belize. Customs was out in full force but we got through fairly quickly. If boarding was delayed it shouldn't have been by very much.

 

My last three cruises on the Magic have included Belize so I have no experience trying to board one following. I know a year ago we were still on the ship at 10:30 so I have no idea when they started boarding.

 

Not very helpful but that's all I know.

[chengkp75]

Returning from Belize will require a more stringent clearance procedure for those disembarking, but not sure if that will delay boarding or not.

[ScottsSweetie]

We received a letter about some extra customs clearance issue when we returned to Galveston on the Magic, but there was no delay noticed on our end.

 

We met in the Platinum area to debark with Zone 1 at 8:00am and were escorted off the ship at 8:15am - self debark had already begun, so we saw no actual delays.

 

I was under the impression that it was our debarking that would be delayed due to extra clearance procedures. Since it was not, I'd expect that embarking was not impacted.

[Halfpint012]

Why does itmatterifyoube bern to Belize? We just. Got back from one. That went to Belize and commented on how this was the easiest/most relaxed customs we've ever experienced

[chengkp75]

Why does itmatterifyoube bern to Belize? We just. Got back from one. That went to Belize and commented on how this was the easiest/most relaxed customs we've ever experienced

 

CBP has declared that cruises entering the US that have visited Belize, and have passengers travelling under the WHTI documentation rules will be subject to more thorough screening than other cruises. I believe it has to do with Belize's lack of security in issuing passports. (So the reason is nothing to do with cruising, it is just sort of a slap on the wrist for Belize)

[okgirl]

I have cruised from and to Belize at least a dozen times and have never experienced a delay in boarding when the ship has been returning from Belize or debarkation when I was on the ship returning from Belize.

 

I've sailed there from Galveston, NOLA and Miami.

 

I think this is more legend than actual fact.

[uncleg]

I think sometimes regardless of ship, customs goes through a more thorough check, its all random as far as I can tell. Once they even brought drug dogs on board and went cabin to cabin, before ship was cleared, I am pretty sure that was in Jacksonville.

[addictaftermagic]

Thanks for responding.. We didn't get to start boarding until 130. We have FTTF again and just wanted to see others experiences. We may hang out a little longer at the hotel.

[DebJ14]

When they do the more thorough Immigration and Customs inspections they scan all the passports and type in the info from the Birth Certificates and Driver's Licenses. They also run the names against the National Crime Information Data base. We were told by port agent in Galveston that if a past drug conviction shows up that they are much more likely to search luggage.

 

We have sailed many times on the Belize/Roatan/Cozumel itinerary and found that each time the length of time it took to get through Immigration and Customs was much longer than on other itineraries. On several cruises where the previous cruise stopped at Belize and Roatan, we found that embarkation began later than usual.