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Has this happened to anyone else before?


wreckem2013
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So I just completed my first solo cruise.

 

Upon returning, DHS and CPB pulled me to the back to question me and thoroughly search me and my single small suit case for 45 minutes.

 

This basically happened after they asked me who I cruised with and said I had cruised solo.

 

They had no reason to do this and I found it odd I was singled out when dozens of people were flagrantly violating the no agriculture products policy.

Edited by wreckem2013
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I have been asked "you are cruising alone"?......but no, I have never

had my bag opened and searched before. I guess they are allowed to

pick and whoever they want to search.

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No, this has never happened to me. I almost always cruise solo and I also take international (land-only) trips solo. I don't go with organized tour groups, I always plan my own trips. I've never once had any problem at the border.

 

My car was a "suspect" once at the US border (coming in from Canada). Several agents had come out - not with their guns out, but you could tell they would have them out in a split second if they needed to as several had their hand on their holsters. I actually thought I was their focus - and, I was - or rather my car was. I acted very cool and calm because I knew there was no reason for me not to - plus I was very relaxed after an 8 day salmon fishing trip in Northern British Columbia. Anyway when I got to the agent, he looked at my passport and asked me if I had noticed all the agents. I said that I had, and he said, you know they were for you right? But once I had gotten close enough they had realized I wasn't who they were looking for. It was really kind of amusing.

 

About three years ago I signed up for the US "Trusted Traveler Program." I have both Global Entry and NEXUS so that helps me glide thru customs and immigration. Plus, I'm probably tagged in some systems as someone who travels solo pretty exclusively.

 

You didn't mention your age or where you were traveling to/from and that might have made a difference.

 

But, I'm sorry this happened to you. I hope it didn't turn you off to traveling solo - it is a very freeing way to travel.

Edited by TessM
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So I just completed my first solo cruise.

 

Upon returning, DHS and CPB pulled me to the back to question me and thoroughly search me and my single small suit case for 45 minutes.

 

This basically happened after they asked me who I cruised with and said I had cruised solo.

 

They had no reason to do this and I found it odd I was singled out when dozens of people were flagrantly violating the no agriculture products policy.

Has not happened to me on a solo cruise but crossing the border from canada into the US which i often do, they seem to find it odd that i would be traveling solo to Las Vegas for example. I have been searched many times and have never done anything wrong. They even found it odd when they asked me how long i have been a nurse and i tell them 2-3 years but i am 43 years old. They made me pull over after telling them that. Guess I am just "Lucky"

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I haven't been subjected to extensive searching, but I've often been questioned about why I'm traveling alone, whom I met with on the cruise or onshore, etc.

 

A couple of times this questioning went beyond what I considered to be "reasonable," like asking essentially the same question multiple times in an effort to trip me up. :-(

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I have had same problems when alone several times..They look at passport, see its quite full, you are by yourself, perhaps well dressed. I have been taken aside several times, into a private room at least twice. Also have had really extensive luggage searches accompany physical searches. Once almost missed TA run. Last time in Miami, guy accused me of carrying Heroin.I have learned to just shut up. Its happening less now that I got out of Miami gateway.

Edited by zoncom
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Yes I had this happen to me a few years ago. The person kept asking if I was driving home when I said I was flying and never mentioned a car. Other than adding alittle stress and inconvenience it wasn't too bad. It did seam like they were targeting me though after I answered that I was traveling alone.

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Weird stuff happens, and traveling solo is atypical and can be a flag for them. I understand that what I do is unusual (most people don't travel solo), and I don't get upset about them following their gut and looking at atypical behaviours. It hasn't happened to me when cruising solo, but going to Vegas solo caused some extra questions (they were a little better when I explained I was meeting family there for a reunion), as did going on a 4 week solo vacation (both atypically long and atypically solo). Being self employed and going solo to the US also caused some extra questions -- they were worried I was going to want to find a job and stay there.

 

I'm OK with their extra scrutiny because I accept that a lot of what I do is unusual for people (especially middle aged women).

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It hasn't happened to me--guess I should say it hasn't happened to me yet! I travel alone frequently for work--though only throughout the US--and I'm wondering if that's why I apparently don't set off any alarm bells when I travel alone for vacation in Europe. I also get put in the TSA Pre-check lane a lot when I fly, though I haven't applied for the official government designation, so maybe that helps?

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I was also put off by the seemingly rude questioning. One time after confirming I was traveling alone, the guy actually asked, "did you meet anyone while on the trip? " of course, I said yes. To which he raised an eyebrow and asked who. I said several people at dinners, shows, etc. He didn't like that because he realized his mistake. What he meant was did I meet my drug dealer or something nefarious and of course I'd divulge that. He let me pass after he'd realized his ineptitude.

 

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

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What he meant was did I meet my drug dealer or something nefarious and of course I'd divulge that. He let me pass after he'd realized his ineptitude.

 

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

Or maybe he meant did you meet someone you would be bringing back to marry and therefore get residency.

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It happened to me twice when returning to Canada. The common denominator was Jamaica; once after a week at a resort and once after a cruise stop. Single women travellers visiting Jamaica are profiled as drug mules. Unfortunately, it is true. It didn't bother me at all as I had nothing to hide. They were very courteous and thanked me for my patience.

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I'm lucky in that my my usual routine is to fly from Dublin to the US, doing US CBP and immigration in Dublin airport before the flight (so you land in the US as a domestic passenger), then do a transatlantic back to Europe, so I don't have to go through US immigration a second time.

 

I'm lucky in that the US CBP officers based in Dublin seem generally calmer than the ones I've met in the US - you feel they're less likely to pull a gun on you if you blink. That being said, I do get some fairly thorough questioning, but so far always just at the desk - I haven't been brought into a room yet.

 

Questions usually focus on the fact that I'm travelling alone, I bring far too much luggage, I've only got a one way (plane) ticket to the US, so I think in my case they're probably more worried that I'm planning on moving to the US rather than carrying drugs. Once I explain that I'm going cruising (and have my docs with me), and show them the itinerary that I'm coming back to Europe by ship, they generally turn quite pleasant - some of them have previously been assigned to Fort Lauderdale checking the cruise ships. I suspect, given the way the conversations often go, that they use their own knowledge of Fort Lauderdale and cruising to "test" me to see if I really am a cruise enthusiast :)

 

I also get asked if I'm planning on meeting anyone while I'm over there, and I explain Cruise Critic rolecalls to them. I always feel a bit nervous telling them that I'm meeting 100 strangers from the internet :)

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  • 3 weeks later...

I've had it happen twice at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam as I was returning to the US. They asked if I was flying alone and immediately pulled me over for extra questions when I said yes. No invasive searches, but they did look through my carry-on fairly well. They also asked if I'd checked any bags and had me produce the checked-bag receipt for all checked bags.

 

The first time I thought it was random. The second time I realized it was because I was traveling solo - the pullover after that response was immediate.

 

.

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After my Panama Canal cruise my neatly packed luggage was opened and inspected by Customs and border protection (I think that's what the pamphlet they put in said). Not sure if they did it at Fort Lauderdale after I checked it or in NY before I collected it but the way they repacked it was horrendous. All the photos, papers etc that I had neatly placed on the bottom to stay flat were just chucked back in and folded and torn. The clothes were in screwed up balls, presents were damaged. They didn't even bother to do the zips and locks back up properly. The pamphlet did have a number to call if I wished to make any complaints/queries but I can only imagine the reception that would be waiting for me at Customs on future travels if I did so. I get that I'd travelled alone and been to places including Colombia but surely they could've taken better care of my stuff.

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Everyone travelling solo is assumed to be a drug mule.

 

Nothing you can do but grin and bear it.

 

The "who did you meet?" question is hilarious. What kind of reply are they expecting? "Oh, I met my drug supplier. Because I'm smuggling drugs, you see."

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Lots of people think it strange that I'm sailing solo. Like even good friends!! They ask all kinds of questions. My thought is that it takes a strong and self-confident person . I have been traveling worldwide for MANY years with my dear husband. Sadly he passed away several months ago. I will continue to travel. My first solo cruise was wonderful. On a cruise ship you can be alone but never feel alone!

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  • 3 months later...

This topic is hilarious. I've cruised solo on all my cruises except my first one.

 

On my last cruise on the Norwegian Epic I was asked by the officer If i was cruising solo, If I was bring back anything from the islands I visited which Jamaica and Mexico happened to be 2 of them and I told him I had bought 3 Monkeys in Jamaica which I did 3 very small monkeys for decoration from a local hustler :DLOL:D:D and a Mayan Calendar from a store in Mexico. :DLmao:D he thought I actually had 3 real live monkeys hidden inside my luggage and became really paranoid and instantly told another officer to escort me and have my luggage checked...

 

Such a funny experience... I've cruised solo all the time and the only time I've been checked by officers was because I told them I bought Monkeys and Mayan Calendars. Lol:D

Edited by miamicruising1991
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I've run the gamut. When younger, we used to travel to Toronto as a family frequently. Once we were pulled out of the line at the Canadian border, taken into the border facility, and watched our van stripped. Yes, they even took the seats out of it!!! No idea what they were looking for, and our kids were with us! Then for a year I'd be pulled out of the TSA line at airports for a pat-down when I traveled on business. They always said it was random, but I noticed it was always a patdown of my mid-section. Yeah...I'm overweight. Sigh. Now that I'm in my 60's and look like a fat & jolly cookie-baking Grandma from the 1950s, I've realized that I'm zipping through everywhere. In the last year I've traveled out of the country several times on business (including Ireland -- agree their system is very good), and I'm zipping through TSA and customs. My cruise was the exception, and I was asked why I was traveling solo. Duh. My DH died, and my kids didn't have vacation time. Next question? Taking another solo cruise in a few weeks, and I'll be interested to see whether I zip though or not.

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I flew to Portland and took up a bus up to Vancouver for a cruise once (it saved like $400 in airfare last minute). When they asked me why I was entering Canada I said for a cruise, I was literally leaving that day and had my cruise paperwork as proof. When I said I was going solo was told to go to a special room for additional questions. Out of a full bus of 60 only 3 where questioned additionally the rest they took a 3 second look they had a passport and where allowed back on the bus.

 

Did I have a criminal history?

Did I bring any drugs?

Have I ever been to Canada and when and why? Etc Etc.

 

Treated like a criminal :(

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I had completely forgotten about going through security at JFK. Going through one of those body scanners and getting pulled over on the other side for a "pat down" of my midriff. Told the lady it was all fat (which it was). Next time I travelled they pulled me aside, to pat down my ankles. I know they swell a lot on long flights but a pat down?

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On returning from my first solo cruise (to Antarctica), which was my first real venture out of the US, I got pulled aside for further TSA screening in DFW on re- entry. (We had just gone through customs and immigration and was heading through security to get a domestic flight). As I walked from the "Truth in Packaging" scanner, a female TSA agent met me and requested permission to "check me" (sternum). I really thought it was related to having worn the wrong bra. I don't remember being asked if I was traveling with others- but once she checked, (she only felt for the strap), she turned me over to a male agent to swab my hands. I was looking at my carry ons, thinking this was one of the scenarios that had been discussed on CC, and how solos didn't have another to watch their things...... The female agent saw my concern, said to the male that I was solo and only wanted to keep track of my things, and told me to go with him, it was only in the corner, but to keep an eye on my stuff. So she knew I was solo. (THe TSA agents were very professional.)

 

Anyway, got through it fine. I had joked with my husband later that I was especially suspect because I had both a Window8 computer AND an iPad in the same bag.

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