Customs in Key West

[ted1717]

We will be on Celebrity Century in early February. For us Key West is our return to the States. I was wondering how customs is handled. Do we have to pack a night early so our bags can be inspected? Or do we just all file past a customs pfficer in some large public area showing our ID and a customs form?

[Stacylee]

We just waited and filed past an officer when the time came. However, we were quite delayed because a passenger failed to check in with the customs agent. The delay was over an hour....

[ted1717]

Thanks! About what I figured. Was there any further inspections once you got to Ft. Lauderdale?

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[Luckyroot]

Ted we just had to turn in our customs form as we were leaving the ship. If you had something to declare, they take care of it at that time. I was over by 2 bottles of liquor, and they just waved me right thru.

[kelmac]

We are on the Century in March, however, Key West is our first stop after leaving Ft Lauderdale. So, since we never sailed to a foreign port, do we still have to clear customs? I wouldn't think so??

 

Thanks,

Kel

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We are on the Century in March, however, Key West is our first stop after leaving Ft Lauderdale. So, since we never sailed to a foreign port, do we still have to clear customs? I wouldn't think so??

 

Thanks,

Kel

 

The two times I have cruised into Key West, I never had to clear customs. Key West was our first stop of each cruise, however, so that may make the difference.

[Scottohiocpa]

We sailed on the Carnival Imagination in January 2002. We were supposed to dock in Key west on day 1 then Cozumel on day 2 but when we got to Key west there was a really thick fog. The captain decided to turn our itinerary around and visit Cozumel first and hit Key west on the return. Because of this change, we had to clear customs - we would not have had to if we hadn't visited a foreign port first.

 

Customs reqired that EVERYONE who was NOT a US citizen report to them before they would allow anyone to disembark in Key West. We had to wait over 2 hours while the ships loudspeakers asked MR and MRS "insert unpronouncable foreign names here" to please report to the lower deck so that the passengers could be allowed to get off the ship. Once they finally found these passengers, there was a 1 hour wait in line in the stairwell to get off the ship while customs looked at each person's birth certificates and inspected their backpacks/handbags/etc.

 

Our 7 hours in Key West was sadly reduced to just 4 hours by the delay. On the plus side, we got see the sunset celebration just before it was time to get back on the ship, and the ship was docked right there in Mallory square. That just about made up for the delays.

 

We are taking this same trip in April, and I if MR and MRS "unpronouncable foreign names" come along, I hope they don't inconveinence 2000 people again.