# Why is passing Customs soooo much easier coming off a cruise ship than an airplane?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-passing-customs-soooo-much-easier-coming-off-a-cruise-ship-than-an-airplane/1032390>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 18, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-passing-customs-soooo-much-easier-coming-off-a-cruise-ship-than-an-airplane/1032390 "2026-08-18T04:49:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-passing-customs-soooo-much-easier-coming-off-a-cruise-ship-than-an-airplane/1032390/41 "2026-08-19T11:05:27Z")

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> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> The longest I’ve ever waited at passport control was when i took a boat (more an overnight ferry than a “cruise”) to St Petersburg, from Finland.

We went on a Baltic cruise about ten years ago, before the current unpleasantness. Passport control at St Pete’s was horrendous. The staff appeared to be deliberately going as slow as possible.

We had been briefed and carried nothing we didn’t need on the one day we were there, but they examined every passport as if they could identify a spy or something.

Once past the barriers, everyone was friendly and helpful. It is an amazing place with far too many treasures to see in one day, even with a guide.

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**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-passing-customs-soooo-much-easier-coming-off-a-cruise-ship-than-an-airplane/1032390/42 "2026-08-19T17:18:38Z")

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Yes, countries I’ve visited that have this electronic travel authorization requirement include the UK and Australia. Japan has a similar system but when I went there a few years ago but it wasn’t absolutely required. Maybe now it is. Europe is implementing it later this year.

The US and Canada also have this system but as a US citizen I haven’t needed to use them.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-passing-customs-soooo-much-easier-coming-off-a-cruise-ship-than-an-airplane/1032390/43 "2026-08-19T17:36:52Z")

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> [@Whack-a-Mole](#):
>
> Last time I went through immigration/customs at an airport was in Chicago and the line was easily an hour wait or more. Maybe lots of planes landed all at once. I dunno but it was awful.

My understanding – and having flown international flights into ORD twice – is that “prime time” for international arrivals is in the late afternoon/early evening, and that tends to lead to longer lines.

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**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-passing-customs-soooo-much-easier-coming-off-a-cruise-ship-than-an-airplane/1032390/44 "2026-08-20T03:06:56Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> You give your info to their website before departure & you get a QR code which amounts to an electronic visa attached in their computers to your passport number.

In Japan’s case, it’s related to customs and not passport control, so even residents (both Japanese and foreign) also need to fill it out.

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