nudistcruzer

I always board fairly late. I generally am at a Hotel the night before, I never head to the port until the checkout time at the hotel. Unless I am picking up people that prefer to be the first people to board the ship, (like Carnival Diamond People or HAL 5-star people), you know who you are... I choose my boarding time accordingly during online check-in. I assume that people arriving early have to wait a long time. The goal for any Cruise Line is to not have anyone waiting for too long and to try and limit the chaos at the pier where people are leaving the ship and arriving at the same time. I rarely have to wait to board, I generally don't stop walking until I get to my cabin. That said, anything the cruise line can do to speed up the process at the pier, the better they like it. When I arrive, well before the deadline and after the rush, I am always greeted with friendly staff. I'm so happy I don't have to get tested for COVID-19 any more. Travel seems so care free now in retrospect. Depending on the situation, I am either the first to leave the ship when disembarking or last to leave the ship. If I am driving and parking near the airport, it is usually easier to do "self assist" and be among the first to leave.

My original post was in regards to noticing that "satellite phones" were banned, I never noticed it before. I was looking at the list to make sure my little scissors weren't banned, they are not. They are banned from "Brightline's" train's checked bags though. I had already known that all new iPhones transmit location data to satellites. I am still curious why one device that transmits to "Globalstar®" satellites in banned while another that transmits to the same "Globalstar®" satellites is not. I immediately felt that people were angry that I even started the thread. I always try to provide links of the source of my information.

The idea is it saves time upon embarkation. In the past every cruise ship has taken a photo when you board, so when you return from a port they can verify your identity. In practice, since they seem to have to retake the photo anyway most of the time, taking and uploading a photo during online check-in doesn't seem to be effective.

I know they want a plain background. Like a Passport photo. Here is an example of a passport photo from a photo studio: (my photo is the same but this bloke is a bit more attractive than me. Mine looks more like an autopsy photo.😂)

Certainly every place anyone looks up how a cell phone charger works or an SMPS(Switched-Mode Power supply) works, it clearly shows that it contains a transformer. I can post the many sources of this information or you can just google how an "SMPS" or cell phone charger works.

This was on DEC-02-2023.

No satellite receiving device has been banned, such as a GPS device, only those that can transmit. It is not specifically mentioned but nor are many devices that can also transmit to satellites. If we take every banned item literally, you cannot bring your Cell Phone charger either, since they do contain small transformers. It begs the question why is another device, a "satellite phone" banned when satellite texting devices, (other than iPhones), are allowed, by virtue of the fact they are not mentioned.

Your car can transmit its location or other information to a satellite? What kind of car does that, mine doesn't. Technically, your phone is a cell phone, wifi phone and a satellite transmitting/receiving device, (among many other things) if you have an iPhone 14 or later; you can call it anything you want, but that's what it is...

I bet there are people, that have even read this thread, that have an iPhone 14 or later and had no idea their phone had a satellite capability such as the ability to always transmit ones location to friends and family even when they don't have a cell connection. I think there are many people that don't know of many of the capabilities of their iPhone and/or Apple Watch.

They did not take a photo of me when boarding the Viva... (Though, I've taken my own passport photos in the past and I did also work in a pro photo lab for 10 years...)

You keep repeating the same stuff over and over as well and you continue to belabor a moot point in the same way. Clearly you are saying not all satellite transmitting devices are banned, just the exact ones mentioned. So a device that has a phone number that sends and receives texts via satellites would be allowed as long as the device, that uses the same satellites as a satellite phone, has no voice capability. (I'm talking about a device like the "Spot X" I posted in a previous post. Sounds like you are saying that a "Spot X" satellite texting device is not prohibited based on the fact there is no specific mention.) Transformers on the other hand are on the banned list, although every phone charger has a small transformer. Clearly, they are not talking about these. (In a cell phone's charger, "a small transformer steps the voltage down to a low-voltage high-frequency AC" and "A rectifier converts this to low-voltage DC.")

As far as I know, no one at NCL even knows that new iPhones have satellite capability. Before my cruise last week I happened to look at the prohibited list. I was surprised to see that satellite phones were banned. Before this, I had read that satellite phones were recommended on cruise ships. Since I knew that the newer iPhones had satellite capability built in, I was surprised that this issue hadn't been brought up. Also, since emergency beacons are banned and since the iPhones had similar SOS satellite functions built in it made me wonder the nature of the ban; since iPhones now can automatically, all the time, albeit encrypted and hidden from Apple, send your location to people you have authorized, via the "Find My" app, (via Globalstar satellites). My friends would be able to see where I am at sea, automatically, if the feature is enabled, even when not on a cell or wifi network. It seems that anything that is banned anywhere is banned on cruise ships, regardless of where that particular cruise is going. One exception is camouflage. Camouflage is banned in many countries and as far as I know not banned on cruise ships. It is strongly suggested though not to bring things like even a camouflage backpack. Because you can be arrested for displaying a camouflage backpack on many Caribbean islands. "On iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Pro models, with iOS 16.1 or later, you can use the Find My app to share your location via satellite when you’re outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage." "Note: Sharing your location via satellite isn’t available in all countries or regions. See the Apple Support article Emergency SOS via satellite availability."

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426 4. Satellite connectivity isn't offered on iPhone models purchased in Armenia, Belarus, China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. I assume Apple does not sell iPhones in Cuba anyway. All of these countries ban any device, software that they cannot monitor easily. There is no right to privacy and anyone attempting privacy can generally be imprisoned. https://www.gard.no/web/updates/content/26690148/ban-on-use-of-satellite-phones-in-india-6-years-on-and-violations-still-occur "The unauthorized use of satellite phones in Indian waters is punishable with a fine and/or imprisonment up to three years." Please if you want to test if a texting device, that communicates directly with satellite, is also prohibited in these countries please do so and please report back. Any device or software capable of private transmissions are prohibited in all the above mentioned countries. https://www.phonearena.com/news/apple-iphone-13-illegal-40-percent-world-population-satellite-connectivity_id134667 The above article was premature is so far as the features discussed weren't included until the iPhone 14 in 2022. Since Globalstar's satellites generally cannot be reached in the places where connecting is illegal, Apple may have found a way around the problem. Here is an article that says that Satellite phones are great on cruise ships: https://luxurytraveldiva.com/can-you-use-a-satellite-phone-on-a-cruise-ship/ "Satellite phones are a great way to stay connected while on a cruise ship." So my question is, since NCL and other cruise lines ban devices that can use a "Globalstar®" satellite to transmit voice, why would they not also ban devices, such as an iPhone 14(sold in the U.S.), that can transmit text to a "Globalstar®" satellite.

I've been told that the reasons have to do with the satellite equipment on the ship. If your iPhone uses the same satellite companies and satellites as a satellite phone, why wouldn't they ban those as well. I know of course they never could. But certainly newer iPhones sold in the U.S. are banned in many countries.

True, but you can turn off a satellite phone as well.

Well, if you have an iPhone 14 you have a phone that can transmit to satellites whether you want it or not. How can a knife in a checked baggage, in the hold of an aircraft harm anybody? All right, so we’re going to ban all steak from all cruise ships because nobody’s allowed to use a sharp knife anymore. Scissors also are not allowed in checked luggage on Brightline.

The full list does also have transformers listed, item 26 right after satellite phones. I would’ve called any phone charger a transformer. I am sure they are not talking about these and I am not sure what they are talking about. However, large, especially older, transformers may contain hazardous chemicals such as PCBs.

New Apple iPhones (14/14 Pro & 15/15 Pro), sold in the United States and many other countries, can transmit one’s location and text messages via satellites. I had a 2 inch blade on a pocket knife in a checked piece of luggage that was confiscated when I got on a train, earlier today. On any airplane, in checked luggage and on any cruise ship, this would be totally allowed; I don’t like surprises. Another item has been banned. Although I have never brought a fan on a cruise ship, I know many that use these for sleep. Apparently Norwegian Cruise Lines has banned all fans.

I think I’ve brought my VHF on a ship before, it was fun to listen to port operations at the different ports. I didn’t know there was a ban. My current VHF doesn’t have Specifically an EPIRB device built in, but it has a GPS and can transmit my location via VHF with an ID that corresponds with a record that shows my vessel type. Certainly, there is a good reason for banning VHF radios. Someone could create huge problems with one on a ship if they started transmitting on frequencies used by the ship or port.

Royal Caribbean does not list satellite phones as being banned. I only checked carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean. Satellite phones are banned on NCL and carnival but not listed as banned on Royal Caribbean. It is possible, although I don’t know, that Royal Caribbean does not go to ports in China, or other countries where satellite phones are illegal.

So why are satellite phones allowed on Royal Caribbean?

An iPhone for many years has had a GPS chip. This can be used in airplane mode, because GPS devices do not transmit. If you have a navigation app that can download maps / charts to your phone it can have all the functionality of a handheld GPS device. Typically most nav apps need an internet connection to download maps on the fly. Google maps has a feature that allows you to download certain regions. If you are going somewhere that you know you will not have Internet you can download these maps in advance and still have total Google maps functionality with no Internet or cell phone access.

You cannot use a GPS satellite to transmit your location to someone, you cannot use a GPS satellite to send text messages through the satellite to someone. GPS devices are not illegal in in India, I don’t think. However, an iPhone 14 bought in the United States is totally illegal in India. You can use an iPhone 14 to send your location to somebody through the satellite system. You can also use the satellite system to send text messages through the satellite to someone. Any justification for not allowing “satellite phones” I think would also apply to any device that can send messages and locations through a satellite. Would a Globalstar satellite texting device be allowed? Certainly, a Globalstar satellite phone is not allowed. New iPhones have the same abilities as a Globalstar satellite texting device.

Double post...????

Certainly iPhones with the Satellite capability are forbidden in China, India and Cuba. Why are satellite phones not allowed on Cruise Ships? Some travel websites suggest that satellite phones are great on cruise ships. iPhones communicate through the same satellite network as some satellite phones, "Globalstar". Apple says you can use your phone to share your location with friends and text them via satellite. Generally if something is illegal anywhere they might stop with any ship, it is illegal on the ship. Walgreens CBD ointment that is legal in all 50 states and the Bahamas is not allowed on an NCL Cruise, even when the Cruise only goes to the Bahamas from Miami. Since these iPhones are illegal in a lot of places, I'm surprised that they haven't at least addressed the issue. I don't possibly think they could ban iPhones. But, they have already banned Satellite phones.