Ret MP

The Port of Galveston, when I went through there last, we told the U.S. Customs/CBP what we purchased and what we are bringing into the U.S., including the Alcohol. HOWEVER, there is/was a separate office with many many signs that say that you must stop at the TEXAS Alcohol Control Office (or whatever it is called) and declare and pay the TEXAS tax or duty, I don't remember what they called it. I've never had to pay a tax or duty on anything I've brought back into the U.S. at the CBP check point. Only at the TEXAS control point.

It all boils down to intent. Which I'm not going to offer an educational seminar on here. I will say that I never said that a "watch" was contraband, not until it is entered into a legal issue. It could be a pencil of great value, a marshmallow of great value. The issue is the value of something, not the item and the intent to pay the duty on it or not. The corridor is a courtesy in that they will not place you under arrest, handcuff, and read you your rights unless you try to discard something from your person, resist, and so on. But, like the ship, it's not a safe haven. However, the corridor, which is an inconvenience (as discussed earlier) is an opportunity to watch the subject for body language, listen to words/statements and so on. What gets me thinking about this event is the fact that they did single out, apparently, this one person. I'm not saying that there is/was any suspicious activity by the lady's son. But, I ask myself, does the guy have a record, is he on a watch list of some kind, what was his activity while traveling, and on and on. It could have been nothing more than a random check, just like TSA does with Pre-Check persons or a DWI check-point on the road somewhere.

For sure! It's none of the seller's/ship's business what the purchaser is doing with the item. Only that they must comply with ship and law enforcement requirements

If I'm not mistaken, the customs declaration form hasn't been discontinued and made obsolete. It is still available at the Guest Services. Like I said, many large cases are made from those little things. A burnt out license plate bulb leads to many large drug busts. A child crying and looks to having their hand held unusually hard can lead to a child abduction case. A watch not being declared can lead to controlled substances busts. And on and on! And I'm not going to discuss procedures on a ship, that's a whole different animal of which I have no experience/expertise. AND those aren't my people! I'm discussing Law Enforcement procedures, IN GENERAL. If you don't like it, contact your Congressperson. Don't try to change things thru me, I DON'T CARE how you feel about it.

💯% right-on!

Yep, they do. But, it's the thought that counts.

Of course I'm not considering the CREW as "Official" officer(s)/Agent(s). However, the captain of the ship is the top security official ON the ship and he/she can designate members of his crew to certain tasks that involve security. I don't know if you know it or not, but the Captain has the authority to place someone in confinement/the Brig., but that has nothing to do with the U.S. Justice system. And I don't consider this to be an "argument". I'm merely presenting the Law Enforcement side of the business as I see it. You are welcome to, and have, presented you opinion/side of things.

Technically you violate the law when you enter into American waters if you are in possession of contraband. A ship is not a safe haven. The corridor (whatever that may be) from the ship to the CBP is a courtesy for you to present all items that should be declared. If you do or don't, that's your decision. However, technically you have already introduced items into the U.S. There are many drug dealers/transporters/smugglers that get busted long before they make it to American real property. Yes, I know we are talking about a watch here. But, a lot of big cases are initiated by the small/little thing. I always trained my people, make the small inquiries, there is a decent chance that they will bloom into something substantial.

Yep, we never buy anything of much value in foreign countries that we plan to bring back to the U.S. The most expensive items we bring back is a bottle of Vodka or Rum each. Otherwise, we buy little $3.00 - $5.00 key chains or alike.

Once Law Enforcement gets involved in an official capacity, it's all about safety for EVERYONE, the tactical advantage, the phycological advantage, what ever advantage benefits the situation and officer(s)/agent(s). If the family chooses to follow (yes, I know that there, in this type situation, isn't much option) along, that's their decision. The officer/agent will be as accommodating to the family as possible. But, worrying about convenience to the subject/family/friends is not one of the priorities. In fact, in the security business, inconvenience is generally the desired effect (although it won't be admitted, not publicly). It's like investigators/detectives will always try to conduct interviews/interrogations back in their office, it's their turf/phycological advantage/physical advantage/safety advantage and they don't care about the convenience to anyone else. There is almost always a reason why things are done the way they are done. It's almost always never to make things comfortable or easy or convenient for subjects and for the most part, family/friends don't enter into their equations.

From a Law Enforcement perspective, and I don't claim to know all the particular facts in this event, when you want to talk to someone that there is suspicion (we'll call him/her a "subject") of possible wrong doing, and that subject MAY be involved in a crime, large or small, you give that subject as little information as possible until you get the subject into a controlled location/environment. Why? Because you never know how the subject is going to react and it's better to get him/her into an area where there is a few people as possible that aren't Law Enforcement or support personnel, it's for safety sake for EVERYONE. AND, unless the subject is a juvenile, it's nobody's business what is going on, wife, dad, mom, sister, favorite pillow, nobody's. Depending upon the jurisdiction, even with a juvenile, you move quickly to the "controlled area, what ever that may be at a particular location/situation" without conversation other than maybe passing the time of day type conversation. AND it sounded like the "Officer/Agent" treated everyone with respect. No harm, no foul. Lesson learned: Duty Free doesn't mean limit free. There are always limits!

Yes, I assume that all the activities within the "Venue", "Area" and/or "Neighborhood" would logically be included! "If you leave the area/neighborhood/venue"..............

I just can't see a resolution to this age old problem. Other than, "NO RESERVATIONS", period. If you leave the area/neighborhood/venue for other than to go to the bar to get a drink or use the restroom, your chair/lounger is forfeited at that time. You go to eat at the WJ or MDR, sucks to be you! You leave to go back to the cabin to get your kids moving, you're out. You leave to go watch the show, bye bye. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. ONE AND DONE! YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY PERSON WALKING ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH!

Absolutely, spot on!

Thank you very much!

LOL, that's for sure too. When your 71 (today), there are a whole lot of folks that can be considered "young".

I don't think the young folks will be happy with that!

Thanks, that makes sense.

I understand that and that is generally true. However, there was a thread in here many months ago and in other sites that has had this very subject discussed/debated/outright argument ad nauseum. I don't want to do that all over again other than to say the crew that walk around with a tray full of drinks, the drink of the day, (during the initial embarkation time period, up to sail away) and a note pad and pen/pencil don't have a computer and some bartenders don't go into the computer every time.

I've been using it for a long time now. Incase no one has noticed, I have a distain for Rustbucket Cruise Lines Inc. I tend to get angry when a business leaves a person (me) who happens to be disabled to fend for an elevator for over 2 hours with a suggestion to take the stairs knowing of the disability. So, when it comes to Rustbucket Cruise Lines Inc., I'll be very clever as often as I can.

It won't. I'm all for things that make things better. But, I've been around the Customer Service/Hospitality industry long enough to know that all the new and hi & mighty thing/policies in the world won't work as long as the "Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease". And believe me, the Squeaky Wheel ain't the people that play by the rules. I don't know how long the Rustbucket Cruise Lines Inc., has had that policy, I'd bet a dollar to a donut that if it's relatively new, after a couple Squeaky Wheels get the megaphone, looking the other way will be the order of the day. Once someone gets away with ignoring or defying a policy, it is broadcast/spread and it turns into a thing.

Yep, for sure. The nut that no other squirrel wants.

Wish Royal would adopt something like Carnival's new chair hog policy I seriously hope that Royal Caribbean doesn't do anything like Rustbucket Cruise Lines Inc.

I haven't read post in this thread. So, if I'm repeating anything, ohhhhhhhh well! I/we never purchase a cruise on a brand new cruise ship as we believe the fare is always inflated because of the novelty of the new ship and "everyone" wants to be on her while there is still the new car smell. So, we wait for at least a year after a new ship comes out OR we wait until another new ship comes out. This is my/our mileage, yours may vary.

There is that! However, I don't like the idea of just having someone, possibly, use my cabin # to get a drink or anything else.