Clearing Customs

We got signaled to follow our pilot boat in.  You have to maintain a compass direction and there's a range siting that you can line up with.  We were advised not to rely on the actual channel markers because they are not secured to the seabed and can drift a bit.

Approaching the Customs Dock.

Once at the customs dock, it becomes a crazy mess of officials getting on the boat.  I cannot stress how very nice everybody was. I set out some American beer, American soda and American candies. By the time the process was done, it was all gone.  Customs officials are NOT allowed to accept tips anymore. However, the health inspectors and agricultural inspectors may still ask.

First aboard was the doctors, he took our health papers and temperatures.  Amusement started at this point because my crew member James decided that we'd start communicating in Italian which they'd answer in Spanish, and I was trying to translate Spanish to English. (However, they all know enough English for us to conduct our business).

Time to take your temperatures!

  

Tim was in the cockpit with the immigrations folks who did the passport control and vessel check in.  All crew was handed an immigration form and a visa to fill out...right now, quick like.

After the health and passport check was complete, we were taken to have our photos taken and our visas stamped. The visa is a two part form that they take one half at the beginning and the other half on check out.

After the initial process was done, we were led to our slip-I don't know if this was the usual  process or  done like this because of 60 boats coming in.  All slips at Marina Hemingway are side ties. Once we got tied off and the electrician hooked up our power (tip the electrician and dock hands) we got a visit from the agricultural inspectors. I explained what fresh fruits/veggies/meat we had on board and that I have them wrapped and in our refrigerator.  They were quite pleased with that and we passed our agricultural inspection.  We never got a full vessel inspection, but that might be because of the number of boats coming in. The ag inspectors did expect a tip. 

Looking at map of marina while waiting for the pilot boat to lead us to our slip.

Pilot boat leading us to slip.

 

All in all, considering the crowd of boats, I thought things went quickly and smoothly, I think we were fully cleared in 45 minutes.

Clearing the salon table and having an assortment of 'American' goods for the officials to partake of seemed to make the process pleasant for all. I set out small baggies so they could take candies home with them, they asked politely to do this for their grandkids and of course that was no problem. (Easter candy on sale in the states right now, so I loaded up)

The ag officials checking out what is in our fridge and freezer.

Payment of the vessel permit, visas, etc doesn't happen until you check out of the country.  First you'll need to settle with the dock master, and then he'll give you a clearance form that you present to the customs dock.

While the crew got the boat stowed and put away, I ran over to the hotel to buy internet cards before they sold out.  Internet for us this time has been very iffy, won't stay connected.  We had much better luck in Habana Vieja.