Sydney, Australia. Immigration & Customs saga.

White Bay Cruise Terminal at about 3pm this afternoon

Paul was a bit bleary-eyed from being woken up at 4am for arrival preparations but the Maasdam's arrival in sunny Sydney was uneventful.  Being a partial turn-around port, it was 'all systems go'. 

Liz from Shore Excursions had asked me to help her and Janos with tour dispatch even though I wasn't going on a tour.  It is nice to help out and make myself a bit useful whilst on board.    Fortunately dispatch went smoothly.  Liz is going home today - her turn for a holiday and she seemed very happy.  It was sad to say 'farewell' to her but maybe one day we will see her again.

After I had finished helping with tour dispatch Christina brought the rest of her luggage to our cabin and, leaving Paul behind, we headed off the ship.  Going through the cruise ship terminal was a breeze, well signposted and ground staff directing us where to go:  in-transit guests and crew one way, disembarking passengers another way.  Christina picked up some coffee and then we joined a long queue for a taxi into Sydney.  Fortunately we didn't have to wait too long - taxis came and went fairly quickly. 

We got dropped off at Paddy's market and had wander around, taking in the sights and smells.  All sorts of things were on offer - stalls offering fruit, veg and spices, souvenirs, cloths, jewellery, hand made soaps, and much more.  We were part way through our meanderings when I head my mobile phone ring.  I had missed a call from Paul and tried to ring him back.  No answer.  But in the meantime I had received text messages from Paul asking us to come back to the ship urgently.  There was a problem with Customs & Immigration and embarkation of guests onto the ship had been stopped. 

The signposted exit - a narrow passage.  3pm and the signpost is still there.

Christina and I flagged down and caught a taxi as soon as we could.  However, as we were going back to the harbour Paul messaged us to Christina didn't need to come back.  We were still driving through Sydney and she could have got out the taxi and continued shopping.  She wouldn't hear of it though, deciding to come back with me just in case she was required after all.  As we entered the port gate Paul confirmed that Christina didn't need to see Customs & Immigration so at the cruise ship terminal Christina went back into town with the taxi.  I went in search of Paul who was waiting for me near the embarking passenger entry area.  Apparently five people (including me) had walked off the ship without seeing Immigration.  I was the first to arrive, fortunately being a phone call away bu the others couldn't be reached.  At the embarkation entry area Paul explained to staff that I needed to see Customs & Immigration and we were escorted to their desk.  One hour later and quite a bit of questioning....

Officials from Customs & Immigration questioned me as to how I got out of the terminal without being seen by anyone from immigration, let alone stopped and re-directed to immigration. 

I advised that nobody had stopped me or Christina, nobody asked us for our ID cards or any in-transit papers.  We were simply guided to the exit and followed clear signs showing crew and in-transit passengers one way and disembarking passengers another. 

Security, the port agent and ground staff were called to ask their version of what usually happens on an international arriving ship day and what would have happened today.  One lady firmly 'rubbished' my story and that it was a lie;  and that all cards are checked on the way out and people directed accordingly.  Over again I advised that it didn't happen.  I went over the event a few times with different people.  Fortunately Customs & Immigration believed me, and also because there had been other in-transit guests with us who were not directed to immigration.  I was told that my ESTA visitor visa had been cancelled as per regulations even though it wasn't my fault.  But I think it was re-instated in the end because I was allowed to head back into town if I wanted to.  Whew!  Fortunately Paul was with me during my stint with Immigration.  After I had been seen by Immigration boarding of all guests began again.

The ship was blamed for not sending out information and paperwork to in-transit guests and for failure to comply with Australian Immigration policies.  Meanwhile the ship said that it had received no information even though the port agent and cruise terminal authorities said they had sent it.  As far as Paul and I were aware, organisation at the cruise terminal was not as it should have been.  If it was properly organised in-transit guests would have been directed, along with disembarking guests, to see immigration; and signage should have said so too.  But to the contrary.  So there was a bit of a mess.

As it was, the ship apologised to Customs & Immigration as to what happened - to keep the peace and try to maintain good relations.

I decided not to head back into town - it was lunch time and it would cost more time to take a ferry or taxi into Sydney's CBD.  So Paul and I boarded the ship and had some lunch.

After lunch the acupuncturist roped me in to be his demonstration model for new guests as they were given a tour around the spa.  The three hair-like pins he placed on my hands and head didn't hurt.  I felt very relaxed.  Some guests were fascinated, others weren't particularly interested. 

Before the passenger drill Paul and I took a walk to the terminal building and dropped off the post trolley.  He wanted to take a photograph of the sign showing 'crew and in-transit guests this way'.  Head of security came out to talk to him and they had a nice conversation about what went wrong today and bouncing ideas around.  With that done, it was time for Paul to get ready for the passenger drill.

I am very tired and don't think I will stay awake for too much longer.  It's not even 8am...  The Maasdam  has set sail for Melbourne, arriving there on Christmas morning. 

The Maasdam's new cruise itinerary is as follows:

24 December, At sea

25 December, Melbourne, Australia

26 December, Burnie, Tasmania

27 December, At Sea

28 December, At Sea

29 December, Fjordland National Park, New Zealand

30 December, Dunedin, New Zealand

31 December, Akaroa, New Zealand

2018

01 January, Wellington, New Zealand

02 January, Napier, New Zealand

03 January, Tauranga, New Zealand

04 January, At Sea

05 January, Auckland, New Zealand