Ret MP

They'll deliver a paper Compass every evening to each stateroom/suite. 😉

In one of Royal's online pages it says that an App is required. But, we all know that that isn't true. Someone in here said that they were in Disney at the time of their post and that it is required to have an app to purchase tickets, or something to that effect. makes me wonder: If a business requires an App to do business with them, what do they do with people with ADA issues and don't own a phone or can't use one? I'm thinking if that is true, they open themselves up to some serious litigation. I'm sure there is a work around than just a simple, "you have to have an App to do business with us".

If the cruise starts in one port and then returns to the same port, it's a "Closed Loop" itinerary, without the intention of dropping off travelers in any other ports of call, and there are certain rules, laws, and procedures involved. And to be honest I haven't researched the rules, laws, or procedures to find out if they pertain to the cruise line, cruise ship/itinerary, passengers, or all the above. It's worthy of research if it is a desire to debark in a port that is not the original embarkation port. I did find this and I don't know if it was/is a COVID thing/leftover rule: https://cruisefever.net/royal-caribbean-stops-downline-embarkation-early-disembarkation/ There is a Jones Act Law but it only pertains to boarding in one U.S. Ports and debarking in another U.S. Port. The Passenger Vessel Services Act, (PVSA), 46 U.S.C. § 55103 (b), places the same restrictions on the coastwise movement of people. It is this act that prohibits commercial vessels such as cruise ships from allowing passengers to board at one U.S. port and debark at another U.S. port. The applicable to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulation regarding penalties for violating the PVSA is found in 19 CFR § 4.80, which provides that "[t]he penalty imposed for the unlawful transportation of passengers between coastwise points is $300.00 for each passenger landed on or before November 2, 2015 and $778.00 for each passenger so transported and landed after November 2, 2015 (46 U.S.C. 55103, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015). See Federal Register. AND this:

SMH

Our next booked Star Class cruise is in Jan 2024. It would be great if she (Marla) is on that cruise with us. Thanks for the tip on Smitha. I believe I've hear of her before, in a positive light, too!

Well, you quoted me and I said a couple of times in this thread that I'm not discussing the policies and procedures of a non-Law Enforcement entity. I don't know their procedures and I don't care about their procedures. And you did directly mention things that only law enforcement, in this event CBP, does, like collecting the taxes and charge people with a criminal act. AND, I'm sure the Royal's crew only did what CBP was asking of them. So, I don't fault Royal or their crew a bit. It seems that we are going around in circles again, repeating the same thing over and over again. I'm sure that if you go back to several other posts, you will find where I answered/explained as best as I can and I think factually. Take it or leave it, period.

BTW, there are currently 330 People on death row in Florida and over the years there has been 30 people exonerated, that's 30 people and that's too many exonerated because of something went wrong, for sure. But there has been a total of 446 executions in Florida and 99 of them were pre-1976, of those some were Federal and Military. And the fact that there are exonerations, means that the system is working, to some degree, in these modern times. Oh well, this is way off subject.

And the rest are innocent, too, I guess. My statement was that if you ask them in jail, a very high percentage of them, they'll tell you that they are innocent, fact, not speculation. And I agreed that not everyone are criminals. However, those that were/are in jail erroneously, they were put their by a jury of their piers and in some cases by a lack of competent legal representation and in some cases by less than stellar prosecution and law enforcement and some by all the above. I'll never deny that. But, none of that has to do with the OP's event. In fact, he was sent on his way without incident or a criminal report being made. And there was no "Perp Walk".

Really? What was said that is based upon first hand knowledge? What was going on behind the scenes? Did he know that it was a stop based of suspicion or was it a random event? Was there a informant tip involved? I don't know and neither does he or you. The only thing I agree with or can say is factually true is, "Not everybody is a criminal". But, we don't know who is until, and I'm saying this for at least the second time, we get inquisitive, following legal bounds, of course. And just because someone says they are innocent, doesn't mean they are. Jails are filled with "innocent" people, just ask them. I'm not saying that this guy, who knows nothing about Law Enforcement, is innocent or guilty of anything. Just that we don't know why the alarm and walking trip, NOT A PERP WALK, to the CBO office was necessary.

We always debate as to the need for our CPAP machines and usually opt out. But, the one and only time we took them, on the Symphony, two bottles of water and an extension cord was waiting on us in our bedroom. No problem! We didn't need the extension cord as there are outlets next to the bed, both sides, on Symphony. So, we used the extension cord for some Xmas lights we brought with us. Came in handy.

Spot on! I find that the ships have major differences, TO ME! May not be major to others. Haven't been on Harmony, yet! Until I do, as of right now, Symphony is my favorite by far.

Been once, once is enough, for me, for a full meal. My once was not a bad experience. Just not for me. I'm not big into Fufu food and venues. Now, I may go back just for dessert, that melting chocolate orb was great.

Well done! this is what it all boils down to.

And: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/customs-duty-info These days with virtually the worlds information at your fingertips (your cell phone) there is no excuse for not knowing what is legal or not, what is the limit or not, if you are interested in taking responsibility for your own actions. All you have to do is type in a question on your favorite search engine (mine is Duckduckgo). The trick is knowing which sites are legit or not. I believe that CBP.GOV is a legit site. I'd also tend to believe that what is in Royal Caribbean's FAQ site is their there official policy. However, Royal isn't to quick at updating certain things.

Let me know what the schedule is for Swahili, please. I'll be there.

If I'm not mistaken, all major cruise lines, now a days, are recycling paper, plastic, cans...., just about everything.

You are right in premise. No doubt. However, there are many millions of people out there that never, throughout their entire life, find themselves afoul of the law and live complicated lives. I'm 71 (yesterday), I've lived a somewhat complicated life dealing with a career in Law Enforcement, U.S. Military (retired), responsible for missile sites,........ will I could go on and on. But, for example, I've always known that I have to pay income taxes on my 401K when I turn 72 (maybe 72 1/2, I don't remember the specifics but will when I turn 72 next year). No, my 401K administrator didn't notify me of it. My job that I retired from didn't notify me, no one notified me. I just researched it in the irs.gov and DHS.gov sites, et al, years ago, there has been some changes. Just like I researched before I ever set foot on a Cruise line about how much liquor, cash, valuables, and such I can bring back to the U.S. As stated, and it's not a holier than thou statement, IT'S EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBLITY TO OBEY THE LAW. Ignorance is not an excuse. A little research goes a long way. I did and apparently the vast majority of folks do. Hence, the jails aren't full of cruiser. And yes, the system is, can be, and should be forgiving. I'm sure that thousands of people go through basically the same thing, as the OP, year after year. But, there are those that go through it and don't go into public forums and complain, make accusations about it, whatever. Some or many may contact the agency and complain, others may write or call their U.S. Congress person and complain. But, all the complaining in the world in a Social Media will accomplish NOTHING! Well, I guess venting has some benefit.

Yep. I was going to address that. You did a better job than I would have. Other than to say, Law Enforcement can request assistance from anybody they want.

You had better notify about 99% of the Law Enforcement agencies in this country of that!

Okay, you obviously have nothing to do with Law Enforcement or Criminal Law. We're just going around and around in circles. Last word, unless you or anybody else comes up with something that is worthy of further discussion, IT IS EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO OBEY THE LAW, "ignorance of the law is no excuse".

I didn't say he was a criminal. I did say that no one knows who a criminal is until we know who the criminal is. We can't find out if a person is a criminal or not until we do something inquisitive, within legal bounds, of course. And I don't believe there was anything done outside of the legal bounds, in this case, as presented. I don't care if you like the process or not. Doing nothing is not an option. Offending innocent bystander's feelings doesn't matter. It's a dangerous and imperfect world out there.

I already answered that! In many ways

You can be detained and you can be handcuffed while being detained. You are not under arrest while they search your belongings either. But, there is a legal right/duty for the CBP to do so, without probable cause, at their discretion. And even if they do have Probable Cause to arrest, search, handcuff, and/or read you your rights, doesn't mean that they will do so at any particular time. Again, in this event, I don't know what the thinking of the CBP was. It could have been a random check, it could have been a tip, it could a have been devine intervention, I don't know. Edited IN: CPB has many many ways that they do their business that is different from non-CBP Law Enforcement entities. When I discuss LE perspectives, that's a general rule/and law that ALL Law Enforcement agencies must fallow with very few exceptions.