New to Crusing

Bandrews · #1 (**permalink**) May 4th, 2006, 03:55 PM

This is our first cruise and our first time out of the country. We are crusing to Alaska on the Diamond Princess Sept 2, 2006. What is it like going thru customs ( any tips?). Also I have heard the lines are really long to board the ship even though you have been told you had "Express Check In"
Any info you can give us will be very much appreciated.

LisaK · #2 (**permalink**) May 5th, 2006, 11:30 AM

Bandrews - have all your cruise & immigration paperwork filled out before you get to the terminal. Do it on line. Have all your paperwork out and ready when in line. Don't try to get to the cruise terminal during peak hours,(when it first opens or right before sailing) that is when you will encounter the major lines.
Express check in works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't. If you can use express check-in and the line is shorter over there then use it. IF the line is longer at express(have seen it happen) just use regular check in.
You should have no problems if all your documents are in order.

Bandrews · #3 (**permalink**) May 5th, 2006, 11:43 AM

Thanks for your input. Our passports are in order. We are so looking forward to this cruise its difficult for us to stay focused on other things !!!

mehawk · #4 (**permalink**) May 5th, 2006, 01:32 PM

Last time I looked, Alaska was part of the United States

Bandrews · #5 (**permalink**) May 5th, 2006, 05:10 PM

You are so right !!! However we leave out of Vancouver, therefore we must go through Customs.

Longhorn · #6 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaK

Bandrews - have all your cruise & immigration paperwork filled out before you get to the terminal. Do it on line. Have all your paperwork out and ready when in line. Don't try to get to the cruise terminal during peak hours,(when it first opens or right before sailing) that is when you will encounter the major lines.
Express check in works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't. If you can use express check-in and the line is shorter over there then use it. IF the line is longer at express(have seen it happen) just use regular check in.
You should have no problems if all your documents are in order.

Lisa: If I've already filled out all that info online (at the Princess site) do I have to do it again for the next Princess cruise? Thanks!

Fern · #7 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2006, 08:10 PM

Hi Longhorn,

I'm not LisaK

, but yes, you have to fill out the forms for each cruise. Be sure to print them out and take them with you.

BTW, I don't know if you have a passport, but it makes things so much easier when going through customs or immigration!

Longhorn · #8 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2006, 11:32 PM

Another thanks, Fern!

Our TA had faxed our invoice with the booking number, so I was able to access all of that online. My info was still there from the last cruise except for emergency contact info and credit card. Mr. Longhorn didn't have a passport the last time so I updated his info. We're going to Germany in July so we both have passports now. Last cruise, I had one but we had to bring his birth certificate

Even more exciting, the invoice had our stateroom number and I was able to look it up and even find it on some pictures of the Dawn Princess.

Fern · #9 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2006, 08:00 PM

Great Longhorn!

Have a nice trip to Germany (wish I could go!), and a wonderful cruise!

BTW, "Whooooo, Pigs Sooooooieee, Razorbacks!!"