Late departure? How does one buy it?

[Charles4515]

3 minutes ago, LoganTheCruiser said:

Where is this secret magic line where all the porters go that allows you to breeze through? How do I find this line? Do I just follow the luggage carts or something?

The porters hang out in the area where the bags are put out. 

[cruise_co]

On 4/7/2023 at 10:25 AM, LoganTheCruiser said:

There was no wrong line. There was only one line. The line shown in the video. It was absolute chaos. And correction: the video was taken at Port Canaveral when I got off Wonder. But in Miami I had a huge line as well.

Are you sailing on a birth certificate or a passport? At PC when we disembarked last fall there were indeed 2 lines. Passports went through the facial recognition line and birth certificates were pointed to a long line. We passports were through in less than 10 minutes. And yes, we walked up, the kiosk scanned our face, approved and we walked out of the terminal.  

 

However, one in our group was sailing on a birth certificate. She had to stand in an enormous line and didn't clear customs for almost 45 minutes after us.

Edited April 9, 2023 by cruise_co

[orville99]

2 hours ago, cruise_co said:

Passports went through the facial recognition line and birth certificates were pointed to a long line.

I believe the passport (facial recognition) line only applies to people with valid U.S. passports. 

[Subman738]

On 4/7/2023 at 6:28 AM, LoganTheCruiser said:

I just came across the attached Royal Caribbean document. How does one get this? It says available on select ships but I haven't seen or heard about it on any of the Oasis or Quantum class ships I've been on? One of my biggest pain points with cruising is the fact that you have to be out of your stateroom by 7 or 8am. Being able to leave your room at 9am would make things a heck of a lot more enjoyable for me on the last day. I really wish Royal offered some kind of paid priority departure option. I think the top tier suite passengers get some fancy departure option, but I would be more than happy to pay 100 bucks extra (per person) just to have no line to get off and be taken to a priority customs line. Every time I get off a cruise ship it's 1 to 2 hours of waiting in line hell that I dread from the moment I step foot onboard.
 

 

I got off the Oasis in March, 2022. I don't remember what time we had to be out of our cabin but think it was about 8am we waited in the Schnoor bar until called and were off the ship, cleared customs with baggage in hand within 20 min of leaving ship. No line at all. 

[cruiseboy89130]

18 hours ago, orville99 said:

I believe the passport (facial recognition) line only applies to people with valid U.S. passports. 

Any passport will do!

[Carlos A.]

18 hours ago, orville99 said:

I believe the passport (facial recognition) line only applies to people with valid U.S. passports. 

Some International passports works as well.

[pcur]

On 4/7/2023 at 5:08 AM, LoganTheCruiser said:

I always carry my bags on and off as I only have one small roller bag. But you're saying that if you hire a porter to transport your bags then that comes with getting access to a separate less busy customs line?!

What about when you don't collect your checked bags until after customs? In Miami, you collect before customs. In Barcelona, you collect your bags after passport control. 

Your statement about Miami is incorrect. As mentioned just above, I had the longest customs line (or any line for that matter) that I've ever experienced in my life getting off Wonder in Miami. Why they don't even have a separate line for citizens, I don't understand. The disorganization and chaos during disembarkation has always astounded me. I've been on 10 cruises in the last 2 years.

 

Both Miami and Fort Lauderdale are using facial recognition at the Customs line now.  I have been out of both ports several times in the last 3 months.  

 

Suite and Pinnacle guests meet with the Concierge in a designated place, and as soon as the ship is cleared are escorted off the ship to the luggage claim area.  Luggage is placed at the very front next to the Customs booths.  Because I was escorted off very early, the line was minimal with the self assist passengers, and with facial recognition I was outside requesting an Uber on my phone within 5-10 minutes of arriving in the luggage bay.