Mid cruise customs?

[LB_NJ]

On an upcoming cruise it looks like the itinerary will be Bermuda, Charleston and then back to NJ.

 

So my question is will we have to go through customs in Charleston?

 

What does that mean, will we have to take our luggage off the ship?

 

Will we have to go through customs again after we dock in NJ?

 

Do they shut down on-board duty free liquor after we dock in Charleston?

 

 

[gerelmx]

When we did the Pacific coast from Vancouver to Los Angeles, immigration was in San Francisco, there was no need to go down with suitcases, just show our passport to the officers.

Edited May 19, 2022 by gerelmx

[alfiemom]

Perhaps, passports….but that’s all.  NJ is another question, but you’re coming from a US port by that time.

[Ipeeinthepools]

I’ll tell you tomorrow.  We’re on the Summit, scheduled to arrive in Charleston at 6:30 pm.  There hasn’t been any discussion about cleaning customs in Charleston.  All you need to leave the ship

is a government picture if and your seapass card.  I expect to have to clear customs when we return to New Jersey.

[cyntil8ing]

I've been on a few cruises that have stopped in a US port before returning to the home port, most often Key West. In every case, we have had to have our passports inspected by customs officials, who were onboard, generally set up at tables in the main restaurant. 

 

On Summit, the line snaked the whole deck, through the casino. It took about 45 minutes. We were given appointments, but it was simply a time to join the line. After passing through, we were free to get off the ship.

 

When we debarked the following day, there was no inspection at all. We walked off the ship and out the door.

[1025cruise]

You will need to clear immigration in Charleston. Normally in situations like this, the agents come on board and you meet in a room.

If you need to do customs, you will do that when you return to NJ.

[Treasure Hunter]

On NCL ( round trip NY -Bahamas) we stopped at Norfolk VA before returning to New York. We walked off the ship with our passports. It took 5 minutes, we spent the morning in Norfolk. When we returned to NY we walked right off the ship to our car.

[catspaw1]

retired Fed here & I used to work at DHS. You always clear immigration ( ICE) at the first point of entry to the US. Not sure CBP ( customs border protection) but that may be when we get off the ship in NJ. They can either collect all passengers passports in advance to be inspected by ICE or have each individual passenger appear before the agent. If the latter, that will take time.

[Knolmom]

Home last Friday from the 5/4 Summit Bermuda and Charleston . No customs and Immigration in in Charleston. We tied up at about 6 and they announced at about 7 PM that the ship had been cleared by local authorities. No passport check .. we just walked off the ship.

we had about a 20 minute wait for customs in Bayonne as initially they only had a few lines . Everyone was out and thru customs by 9:30. 

[Ipeeinthepools]

Just got off the Summit after we spent a couple days in Bermuda.   There weren’t any government officials anywhere to be seen when we arrived in Charleston.  We just walked off the ship.

Edited May 20, 2022 by Ipeeinthepools

[catspaw1]

Wow I'm shocked no  immigration. Doesn't seem like a good plan by DHS.

[C-Dragons]

1 hour ago, catspaw1 said:

Wow I'm shocked no  immigration. Doesn't seem like a good plan by DHS.

Prior to boarding for a cruise each passenger must upload a picture through X's APP. Everyone boarding or leaving the ship passes by a camera shoreside. Facial Recognition software automatically identifies you. It's fantastic and has speeded up the immigration process tremendously. 

[catspaw1]

I retired so this is all probably new since I left. Much better than waiting on line to clear immigration. I also highly recommend Global Entry for expedited airport  processing. We have had it since DHS rolled it out when I worked there & it has saved us a ton of time not having to clear immigration at the airport.

[C-Dragons]

20 minutes ago, catspaw1 said:

I retired so this is all probably new since I left. Much better than waiting on line to clear immigration. I also highly recommend Global Entry for expedited airport  processing. We have had it since DHS rolled it out when I worked there & it has saved us a ton of time not having to clear immigration at the airport.

We've also had GE since it's inception. It's worth every penny. 👍

Edited May 20, 2022 by C-Dragons

[catspaw1]

16 minutes ago, C-Dragons said:

We've also had GE since it's inception. It's worth every penny. 👍

Yup I was there when we rolled it out- it was a big deal. I agree- worth every penny.