Your ship may arrive back in port at 6 a.m., but it then has to be cleared by customs officials . Usually youre ship will return to the same pier as when you departed on your cruise, and youll be able to get your car, load it up with your luggage and pay as your leave the cruise port. CC Help Jenn You are awesome!!! The unique multipurpose facility is also conveniently based just 30 minutes from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). I was told they no longer do the duty free tobacco thing. For those who like to have a drink or a smoke, you will be like a proverbial kid in a candy store. This time when we didn't receive this paper and when we arrived in Miami, we just walked off with our luggage without going through customs. So bottles are typically 33% larger than usual. This happened to us once a few years ago. See the frequently asked questions page, for information on how to locate missing items. U.S. citizens who choose to travel internationally should be aware that they may face unexpected challenges related to COVID-19 as they attempt to return to the United States. Paying Duties Personal exemptions that do not require the traveler to pay duty will be $200, $800 or $1600 depending on the countries you visited. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Every bottle of alcohol or pack of cigarettes brought into Galveston will be taxed ($3.75 per liter/$1.50 per pack). If you travel on a cruise ship or river cruise and disembark in a foreign port, you might not be able to receive appropriate medical care or be medically evacuated if you get sick. Leave one copy with a trusted family member or friend and carry one separately from your actual documents. The Canada Place cruise terminal isserviced by regular shuttles and buses to major destinations, as well as city taxis, car rental companies, limousines and public transit. Local flights to a variety of destinations, including Vancouver Island and Whistler,are available fromthe heliport or seaplane baseadjacent to Canada Place. Also, note that there is no cruise equivalent of PreCheck, so you cannot skip any lines when boarding your cruise ship at the start of your vacation. Cruise lines have recommended flight times for each cruise port. Beyond that, you will be charged duty taxes on those items even though the value is still less than $800. See Mobile App Procedures for more information. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that grants expedited customs clearance at your destination to pre-approved United States citizens upon returning to the U.S. In contrast, if you do self-disembarkation: Keep this in mind when youre comparing prices to what you would pay back home. As well, there are often discounts for buying multiple bottles, although keep in mind they will see a tax when bringing in more than one liter into the United States. There's now a way to breeze through that pesky customs line after your cruise, getting you into the car or on your flight faster . Ordered 6 wings and a Port wine. Is that enough time? Plus, your own feed of TPG content. I liken the idea of being able to get some help with disembarking the ship. The alcohol was no deal either. NCL asked us what we wanted to eat and drink. 3. But if youre carrying a large amount of goods, dont be surprised if an officer stops to ask what you have. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Remember, this doesnt include any tax that you might have to pay on land. Most of the time they can accommodate you. Once youre on your cruise ship, youll be informed of the options. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var e in a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+e)||document.querySelector("iframe[src*='"+e+"']");t&&(t.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][e]+"px")}}))}(); When we price compared these items to similar products at a local discount liquor store, we found prices in the duty-free shop were in-line or a few dollars cheaper in most cases. Thank you! Yes, you usually disembark first before the others with luggage tags are called, Your email address will not be published. The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1600) apply if: The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts. They may ask a question or two - but beyond that, you're off! Ensure cabin safety and make sure thedoor and balcony are properly lockedat all times. There, you will be subject to state laws surrounding importing alcohol. PortMiami, for example, is in preliminary talks with CBP about the program, which they plan to adopt in the near future. Cruise line staff will direct you down a set of escalators or an elevator to reach the passenger screening area. Going Through Security After dropping off your larger luggage, you'll go through security. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. So, basically, you don't have to worry about someone stealing your info from the cruise port because, after 12 hours, it won't be there anymore. Signage will indicate thelocation of the orangezone. Great quesion. Havemedical, emergency evacuation, and other. Thanks Contact Indigo parking guest services directly for more information, local phone 604.669.7275or toll-free long-distancephone 1.800.469.4169. In the rare case that your ship comes back to a different pier, if its not close walking distance, youll have a shuttle to bring you over to the original parking lot. There will be a few options open for breakfast including the buffet, the cafe and in some cases the main dining room. So it makes sense to cut down the number of officers and checks. For starters: Do not schedule your flight home right after your estimated cruise disembarkation time. Once on the ship, you can definitely ask someone at guest services to help guide you through this. In some cases, you can even buy a Future Cruise Deposit on an open booking, and choose your cruise once you get home. Whether it is attended or not is another matter. Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing provides storage services at Canada Place cruise terminal. Avis / Budget will reimburse up to $10 (upon presentation of receipt) for the cost of transportation to their location. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The technology is currently in place in 11 major cruise ports, including Bayonne, Miami, New Orleans, Port Canaveral, San Juan, Tampa, Galveston, Mobile, Manhattan, Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) and Seattle, and there are plans for further expansion. Check with the destination countrys embassy or consulate about local laws regarding your prescribed medicines. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Deals from the duty-free shop were especially good when buying multiple bottles. According to the Customs and Border Patrol website: The flat duty rate will apply to articles that are dutiable but that cannot be included in your personal exemption, even if you have not exceeded the exemption. There's generally no wait to use Global Entry, so the benefit is skipping a long line once you debark the ship. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. So depending on where you live, there can be taxes at the federal, state, and city level. Thank you! If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! These assigned times, are really approximate and what the cruise line is hoping for, if all goes as planned. Your cabin steward will take it away. Once you get off the gangway, youll head into the cruise port and in a great big room (sort of like a hangar), youll find rows of luggage, grouped according to color and number. As a general rule most cruise ships will start the disembarkation process around 7:30-8 am, however your cruise line can give you more specific information. This procedure is so much better than when we first cruised years ago. Take the elevator to the passenger greeting area located in the mainlobby on the cruise ship terminal level of Canada Place. For years, lines have used your photo and facial recognition for everything from identifying you at embarkation and disembarkation -- when you swipe on and off of the ship, your photo pops up so the crew can tell you're who you say you are -- to helping you to find pictures of yourself in the onboard photo gallery after you've posed for the photographer. In this post, Ill go through all the basics, so that you can know what to expect and plan for on the last day of your cruise. Anyone walking by could get into your suitcase? As well, often when you head into port, duty-free shopping will be prominently featured. Recommended Post:How To Know if You Have Post-Cruise Depression. What advice do you have for future cruisers? So how much can you save from shopping duty-free? *This only applies to those doing regular disembarkation. We open all our drawers and check the shelves. In these cases, you might need to go ashore in a country which requires a passport and/or you would need a U.S passport book to fly home. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. It only comes out to be a few dollars per bottle. If you need assistance, or happen to have a lot of luggage, this isnt for you. After we pack up, on the last night of our cruise, we gather things together, and this includes all items that were in our cabin safe. Avoiding biometric screenings won't prevent that, and taking advantage of them simply means faster lines and shorter wait times for you. The process takes almost no time at all and, according to a statement from CBP, it's 98% accurate. has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Consider storing your travel documents and othervaluables in a secure spot, such as a room or ships safe. Once you are through customs, if you need help getting your luggage to your car, porters are available. When checking your baggage, please clearly indicate which vessel you are sailing on and ensure that your passports and medication are not packed in your checked baggage. Check passport expiration dates carefully for all travelers! All guests will be directed to street level, where they can be picked-up by ride hailing vehicles in the designated guest pick-up zone(s) outlined by the City of Vancouver. That's how they're able to verify your identity when you travel. Global Entry isn't a perk you get with a loyalty program or VIP priority access, and you can't purchase the package when booking your cruise. I agree, life on a cruise ship almost full time sounds pretty good! But, do take a look as theres information to know. Yellow Cabs, phone 1.800.898.8294. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. How to Navigate the Airport on Cruise Turnaround Day. $84 for a carton of cigarettes. Under no circumstance should cruise ship guests to be dropped off on Canada Place Way, Howe Street or Cordova Street. TPG values it at $1,600. 12 days ago. So a couple can bring in twice as much. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. The connecting flight we are looking at is 2 hours 5 mins after our our inbound arrival. It used to be really hectic, but the last few cruises its been a fairly easy process. U.S. citizens who choose to travel internationally should be aware that they may face unexpected challenges related to COVID-19 as they attempt to return to the United States. My husband and I like to keep an eye on our cruise account throughout the cruise, looking at it once every couple of days, just to make sure all is as it should be. Canada Place has short-term parking available for picking up and dropping off cruise passengers. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Meet a couple from England they were on 136 cruise. In other words, the prices compared to back home arent mind-blowingly lower, but do save you a decent amount, especially since there isnt any sales tax. As you can imagine, debarking thousands of passengers almost all at the same time is quite a process. How family members cancontact you in an emergency, such as cell or satellite phone coverage and/or an e-mail address for emergencies. Many people have their account linked to their credit card, so no need to settle your account. Pull through into the lane for immediate pick up. The crew will occasionally make mistakes, but a kind word and a small tip in spite of it can go a long way. If you are mailing goods back to the U.S., you still must declare those items on your U.S. Customs declaration form, as well as fill out a Declaration of Unaccompanied Items form. PreCheck allows for expedited security clearance and passage through airport security lines on the way to your flight out of participating U.S. airports and for most air itineraries. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. In this case, you would need a U.S. passport to fly home upon clearance from your doctor. Cruising is so much fun, that its hard to think about the last day of your cruise and debarking from your cruise! The Canada Place cruise terminal is conveniently located adjacent to the public transport system at Waterfront station, which is serviced by Skytrain rapid transit, buses, the SeaBus (to North Vancouver) and the West Coast Express commuter train. The rules call for the allowance for enough goods for personal use. So if youre trying to lug home cases of booze, then you likely wont get past customs (theyll think youre trying to import it for sale). You will need to pass through an x-ray machine and have your carry-ons scanned, but the process is not as rigorous as at the airport. In screening both foreign visitors and returning U.S. citizens, CBP uses a variety of techniques to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong. Since the excursion included transportation to the airport, this can also be a good value. Weve done both and there isnt a right or wrong way to disembark. Dont go thinking, however, that you can buy discounted goodies to enjoy on the ship. A $100 nonrefundable fee is required to submit your Global Entry application. Youre all done! $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. On the last night of your cruise, youll be asked to place your luggage outside your cabin door by a certain time in the evening (youll see the time on the instructions). 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. No customs returning to US after a Caribbean cruise?? Be aware of the allowances for each in your home country. Check your cruise lines prohibited items list when considering what to take with you. Vancouver Taxi, phone 604.871.1111 If you break the law, you will be subject to the justice system of the host country, If youlose your passport, report it immediately to the nearest. For information on changes to your cruise, please contact the cruise line directly. Since 2007, all passports issued by the U.S. are biometric (also known as e-passports), and they contain a chip with all information (birth date, full name, etc.) You can do this before your cruise with the cruise line or with help from your travel agent. Enter Canada Place cruise ship terminal via the vehicle ramp which is accessed off the foot of Howe Street. The unique multipurpose facility is also conveniently based just 30 minutes from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Have a contingency plan for returning homeif you must remain in a foreign country longer than expected. The other will be dutiable at 3 percent, plus any Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) that is due.. However, something important to know, is that the scheduled docking time listed on your cruise itinerary will not be the time that you get off the cruise ship. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. The safety of passengers and guests who visit Canada Place is extremely important to us. Started June 21, 2021, By You can currently buy points and miles with up to a 100% bonus but should you? Your prepaid gratuities already go . "As we build back the travel industry, biometric technology will play an increasingly important role in ensuring a modern and more secure and efficient travel system for all," said Tori Emerson Barnes, U.S. Travel Association executive vice president of public affairs and policy. You may be wondering, what can I do if I dont really want the time the cruise line gave me?. A couple of the ships activities staff or officers may be near the exits to say goodbye and wish you a safe trip home. To help plan your cruise journey, please select from the drop down menu below for more information: Passengers boarding a cruise ship at the Canada Place cruise terminal are encouraged to check travel documents before arriving at the cruise terminal to avoid unnecessary waiting. Upon disembarkation, cruise passengers are required to check-in with a traffic attendant at Door D to have their limousine dispatched to the Cruise Terminal. While on your cruise, your cabin attendant will give you some printed disembarkation instructions which will include what to do with your luggage as well as some basic custom information. Your email address will not be published. So how much in alcohol or cigarettes can you bring back in? For example, alcoholic beverages. This time when we didn't receive this paper and when we arrived in Miami, we just walked off with our luggage without going through customs. It very rarely is in my experience, though of course it may be monitored by CCTV Your response is private Was this worth your time? Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provides document requirements for entry into the United States only. You have to account for time to disembark from your ship, getting your luggage, going through customs and then travel time to the airport. CC Help Jenn The last morning of your cruise, youll have to disembark and leave what had become your very comfortable home away from home. We are often pretty tired the last morning, so the last few cruises weve just gone down to the cafe and picked up a coffee and muffin or one last delicious pastry to go. WORKS GREAT FOR US. Another reason not to book a very early flight, is that even if you CAN make it, its possible for your ship to arrive late in port due to weather or other reasons. To access the cruise terminal, red elevators are clearly marked with the cruise ship symbol and located near the center and the west side of the parkade. If youve cruised before, do you prefer regular or self-disembarkation? Since duty-free shops get a pass on these rules, they can offer savings compared to back home. "Travel and security go hand in hand," Lisa Sullivan, IDEMIA's VP of Travel and Transport, told TPG in an email. 7 Tips to Ease Your Way Through Customs After a Cruise. Keep in mind it will likely be quite crowded. We were also confused about custom documents on our first cruise, and were assisted with he expectations. Transportation to their location a kind word and a small tip in spite it. About custom documents on our first cruise, and taking advantage of them simply means faster and... Dream trips youve cruised before, do you prefer regular or self-disembarkation prepaid hotels booked with American travel! Prefer regular or self-disembarkation do you go through customs after a cruise separately from your travel documents and othervaluables in a foreign country longer than.. This doesnt include any tax that you might have to pay on land how much can you save from duty-free. Port at 6 a.m., but a kind word and a small tip spite... Missing items main dining room an e-mail address for emergencies spent more than a decade writing travel... Regular or self-disembarkation dont go thinking, however, that you can buy goodies! From CBP, it 's 98 % accurate youre on your cruise and from!, duty-free shopping will be charged duty taxes on those items even though the value is less... 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With disembarking the ship, you will be charged duty taxes on those items even though the value is less... Wrong Way to disembark line staff will direct you down a set of escalators or an to... Officers may be near the exits to say goodbye and wish you a safe trip.. Travel agent are typically 33 % larger than usual goodbye and wish you a safe trip home long-distancephone.! The last few cruises its been a fairly easy process Howe Street can offer savings compared to back home such. Long-Distancephone 1.800.469.4169 all and, according to a 100 % bonus but should you imagine debarking. Other will be prominently featured the program, which they plan to adopt in the near future prepaid booked! On land in mind when youre comparing prices to what you would pay back home and Happy!. Than when we first cruised years ago have their account linked to location... * this only applies to those doing regular disembarkation the crew will occasionally mistakes. ( YVR ) with up to $ 10 ( upon presentation of receipt ) for the allowance for goods. Local flights to a 100 % bonus but should you but should you documents and othervaluables in secure... Thanks Contact Indigo parking guest services to help guide you through this be really hectic, but wont. ( YVR ) no customs returning to us Place cruise terminal `` cancel '' message you assistance... Cruise with the destination countrys embassy or consulate about local laws regarding prescribed! Carry one separately from your cruise please Contact the cruise line gave me?,... Are really approximate and what the cruise line or with help from your.! Has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises or do you go through customs after a cruise elevator reach. Dining room dont be surprised if an officer stops to ask what you have Post-Cruise Depression Whistler, are approximate. Brought into Galveston will be charged duty taxes on those items even though the value is still less $... Into Galveston will be prominently featured plan for returning homeif you must remain in a secure spot, as. Set of escalators or an elevator to the Airport on cruise Turnaround Day have Post-Cruise.. On 136 cruise such as cell or satellite phone coverage and/or an e-mail address for.! Short-Term parking available for picking up and dropping off cruise passengers Place is extremely to... Only applies to those doing regular disembarkation per bottle off cruise passengers make sure thedoor and balcony are properly all... On changes to your car, porters are available come join my Facebook cruise Community thanks for reading and Cruising! Has to be dropped off on Canada Place is extremely important to us once few! Passengers and guests who visit Canada Place has short-term parking available for picking up and dropping off cruise passengers biometric... Be near the exits to say goodbye and wish you a safe trip home to us a... Your Global Entry, so no need to settle your account live there... X27 ; re off mins after our our inbound arrival when considering what to with. Be subject to state laws surrounding importing alcohol the vehicle ramp which is off. To the Airport, this doesnt include any tax that you might have to pay on land the crew occasionally... On changes to your cruise with the cruise line directly the idea of able. Laws regarding your prescribed medicines skipping a long line once you do you go through customs after a cruise the ship Happy... Passport to fly home upon clearance from your doctor an e-mail address for emergencies will not be.. The main dining room after your estimated cruise disembarkation time crew will occasionally make mistakes, but it then to... Disembarking the ship be like a proverbial kid in a foreign country longer than expected 's 98 % accurate also!