no breakfast before getting off ship!

[CWcruisers]

We had the Tom & Cheryl experience also. I bought a ring in the ship jewelry store and put it on my customs card because I know the ship reports their sales. BTW, this was also in Miami and I was under the allowance.

 

So exiting the ship, my card buzzed and I am told to stand aside, but my husband was in front of me, with the customs card, and he was told to continue through. I was detained a good twenty minutes before being excorted to a customs officer who asked where my customs card was and where my luggage was. No one had explained to us what was going on. When I told him my husband had proceeded on, he said we should never have separated. Yeah, well too bad no one told us. So now I was escorted out to the bus where my husband had already loaded our suitcases, and he had to get off, get all our luggage and return to the terminal. The customs officer could not find the card my husband had already turned in, so we had to fill out a new one. Same question, is this all you bought? He did not search our luggage or ask for a receipt. He told me their theory is that if you have bought one expensive item, you've probably bought more.

 

I think this is definite proof that it is not about safety but about money. Completely ruined the end of the trip. I too felt betrayed by CCL, although in hind site, I do understand it was circumstanced beyond their control, but I really feel there could be better ways of handling these situations. A simple phone call to my cabin that morning explaining that they wanted to see my customs card would have been a much happier situation.

 

I learned one thing, never buy jewelry on the ship.

[fan1080]

Well good for you Mr Super Citizen. I hope you are "honored" with a body cavity search on you next cruise. We all need to make small sacrifices to keep us all safe, you know.

 

Me thinks you misread something some where.

 

Apology accepted.

[Salty The Sea Dog]

Me thinks you misread something some where.

 

Apology accepted.

 

Methinks you thinks too much of yourself.

 

No apology necessary.

[fan1080]

do you really think all the precautions that are being done are REALLY protecting us??? Of course, this is a totally different topic and I'm sorry the OP needed to go thru this. Not Fun!

Pat

 

No, completely useless.

 

I say open the borders and let anyone in, with anything they want to bring. :rolleyes:

[Salty The Sea Dog]

No, completely useless.

 

I say open the borders and let anyone in, with anything they want to bring. :rolleyes:

 

Maybe we should close the Canadian Border and watch their economy collapse?

[fan1080]

Methinks you thinks too much of yourself.

 

No apology necessary.

 

lol.

 

Ok, my attempt to point you in the proper direction failed.

 

Since you don't seem to understand what I said, I shouldn't be surprised you are upset. All I can suggest is you go back and re-read what I said, and to who.

 

Cheers, have a great day.

[arpie05]

I am sure it was very scary for you, not understanding what is going on.

 

Customs and TSA need to show a bit of compassion in my opinion - my son was randomly selected almost 4 years ago when we were trying to fly home. Our flights had been canceled and we were airport hoping and we were in Chicago and he was selected for a full pat down - and he was just 10 at the time and quite scared. They were nice about it but I don't know why they couldn't have done it to me as I was the next person in line. They did pull us aside and let me go with him but I doubt he'll ever forget it. And I won't either.

 

And I know there's not to be a "profile" but we're totally got that midwest look not middle east.:cool:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

And I know there's not to be a "profile" but we're totally got that midwest look not middle east.:cool:

 

Part of their training (I hope there is PROPER training!) is watching an old VHS copy of TELEFON ! :rolleyes:

 

Tom

[fan1080]

Maybe we should close the Canadian Border and watch their economy collapse?

 

Yikes, I think I have a stocker.

 

I fail to understand why you are so upset.

[CWcruisers]

Seeing the same story over and over again should convince everyone that this is not about safety, it's about money.

 

The real bottom line is that Customs and CCL could work together to not make innocent people feel like criminals.

 

All I did was contribute to CCL's bottom line, and for that, I was treated horribly.:mad:

[Salty The Sea Dog]

Yikes, I think I have a stocker.

 

I fail to understand why you are so upset.

 

No, you don't. I have no desire to work as a clerk in a grocery store.

 

Where did you get the idea I was upset? It appear you were the one that is/was upset.

[Salty The Sea Dog]

lol.

 

Ok, my attempt to point you in the proper direction failed.

 

Since you don't seem to understand what I said, I shouldn't be surprised you are upset. All I can suggest is you go back and re-read what I said, and to who.

 

Cheers, have a great day.

 

Perhaps you should heed your own advice and re-read what you wrote.

[grumpyjr88]

I am sure it was very scary for you, not understanding what is going on.

 

Customs and TSA need to show a bit of compassion in my opinion - my son was randomly selected almost 4 years ago when we were trying to fly home. Our flights had been canceled and we were airport hoping and we were in Chicago and he was selected for a full pat down - and he was just 10 at the time and quite scared. They were nice about it but I don't know why they couldn't have done it to me as I was the next person in line. They did pull us aside and let me go with him but I doubt he'll ever forget it. And I won't either.

 

And I know there's not to be a "profile" but we're totally got that midwest look not middle east.:cool:

 

Hopefully you were able to reassure him that it was all okay and just a routine check.:)

 

The problem with profiling is that people like my ex-husband get singled out repeatidly and it's embarassing and demoralizing when it happens. Coming back from Germany, on our honeymoon, I - pale, blue-eyed, freckle-faced, sometimes blond with an American name- was sent straight through with hardly question. He - dark hair, dark eyes, tan complexion, Egyptian name - was being questioned for several minutes until I walked back to him and told the agent that he was the husband I had just told him about a few minutes earlier. Agent smiled and said 'Oh, congratulations!' and let him through. E was so embarassed that I'd witnessed it and said that it was not an unusual event. :(

[grumpyjr88]

Yikes, I think I have a stocker.

 

No, you don't. I have no desire to work as a clerk in a grocery store.

 

I'm sorry but that's made me laugh. LOL

[fan1080]

No, you don't. I have no desire to work as a clerk in a grocery store.

 

Where did you get the idea I was upset? It appear you were the one that is/was upset.

 

The "super citizen" and the "close Canadian borders and watch our economy collapse" comments come to mind. Certainly not terms of endearment.

 

Perhaps you should heed your own advice and re-read what you wrote.

 

lol. I don't have to, I know what I said and my intention.

 

I'll do my best to explain.

 

I responded to a post about one-way flights and vehicle pick-ups. Both items are likely red flags for TSA. Those thoughts were not directed at the OP or anyone else discussing Customs problems.

 

One of my comments was in jest, the one about opening the borders. In jest because the post I responded to was a little over the top, so I responded in kind.

 

Nothing I posted was ill-intentioned, or malicious.

 

Have a nice day.

[Salty The Sea Dog]

I'm sorry but that's made me laugh. LOL

 

That was deadpanned and so subtle I was wondering if anyone would catch it.

[gtalum]

The real bottom line is that Customs and CCL could work together to not make innocent people feel like criminals.

 

I doubt Carnival had any say in the matter. More likely, DHS chose random names form the list and told Carnival "get these folks off the boat, NOW". It's all part of the show to keep the sheeple entertained.

[Salty The Sea Dog]

The "super citizen" and the "close Canadian borders and watch our economy collapse" comments come to mind. Certainly not terms of endearment.

 

 

 

lol. I don't have to, I know what I said and my intention.

 

I'll do my best to explain.

 

I responded to a post about one-way flights and vehicle pick-ups. Both items are likely red flags for TSA. Those thoughts were not directed at the OP or anyone else discussing Customs problems.

 

One of my comments was in jest, the one about opening the borders. In jest because the post I responded to was a little over the top, so I responded in kind.

 

Nothing I posted was ill-intentioned, or malicious.

 

Have a nice day.

 

You're the one that suggested closing the borders. I was merely responding to that.

 

It was you that appeared to be hostile towards the OP for complaining about how he was treated.

[Pattyjo9951]

I am sure it was very scary for you, not understanding what is going on.

 

Customs and TSA need to show a bit of compassion in my opinion - my son was randomly selected almost 4 years ago when we were trying to fly home. Our flights had been canceled and we were airport hoping and we were in Chicago and he was selected for a full pat down - and he was just 10 at the time and quite scared. They were nice about it but I don't know why they couldn't have done it to me as I was the next person in line. They did pull us aside and let me go with him but I doubt he'll ever forget it. And I won't either.

 

And I know there's not to be a "profile" but we're totally got that midwest look not middle east.:cool:

We were flying to orlando from st. louis and my son had broke his arm a few weeks earlier and was in a cast. I guess they have to scan your arm and xray the cast and everything before he got to go through. I understand that but they were so rude and rough with him, he was almost in tears and did end up in tears. He was 8 yrs old at the time. It was some young guy and he kept twisting and turning his arm trying to get another xray of it and it hurt him. I finally went over there and said that is enough! He got all work up and told me we could have put something in the cast to hide it and all kinds of things!!! I ask for a supervisor and that guy was not happy that my son had just had to go through all that!! I guess some young guy was trying to show off and thought he could do whatever he wanted. Felt so bad for my son, he was so scared when it was time to fly home! The people in Orlando were great with him!! Had him laughing instead of crying!!! I think they can be a little extreme sometimes!! I am all for safety, I want my family to be protected but come on, Really!!

[Mary Ellen1]

We were flying to orlando from st. louis and my son had broke his arm a few weeks earlier and was in a cast. I guess they have to scan your arm and xray the cast and everything before he got to go through. I understand that but they were so rude and rough with him, he was almost in tears and did end up in tears. He was 8 yrs old at the time. It was some young guy and he kept twisting and turning his arm trying to get another xray of it and it hurt him. I finally went over there and said that is enough! He got all work up and told me we could have put something in the cast to hide it and all kinds of things!!! I ask for a supervisor and that guy was not happy that my son had just had to go through all that!! I guess some young guy was trying to show off and thought he could do whatever he wanted. Felt so bad for my son, he was so scared when it was time to fly home! The people in Orlando were great with him!! Had him laughing instead of crying!!! I think they can be a little extreme sometimes!! I am all for safety, I want my family to be protected but come on, Really!!

 

That is absolutely awful. I'm so sorry they put your family through that! A few years ago my sister was traveling through Atlanta and was singled out for extra screening. Things got bad when they separated her from her 6-year-old daughter, and wouldn't let the daughter anywhere near her. My poor niece was so frightened she burst into tears, and my sister -- told to remain standing, several yards away -- couldn't do anything for her, while her luggage was searched.

 

To those who think these kinds of TSA actions keep us safe, think again. How did the authorities miss that Christmas Day bomber? There were all kinds of issues in his background that should have alerted them (in fact he never should have been on the plane!), but in the end it was other passengers who stopped him from trying to set his underwear on fire! Sheesh. :confused:

[joepeka]

We were HARASSED by customs when we got off the ship in Miami a few months ago....

So what's the deal Tom? First the hassle with Carnival security over your obviously defective and dangerous fan (;)) now a run in with U.S. Customs over a contraband piece of jewelry (;))? Are you leading some sort of double life or are you and Cheryl on some sort of international watch list? :confused:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

So what's the deal Tom? First the hassle with Carnival security over your obviously defective and dangerous fan (;)) now a run in with U.S. Customs over a contraband piece of jewelry (;))? Are you leading some sort of double life or are you and Cheryl on some sort of international watch list? :confused:

 

Upon the advice of counsel, I respectively decline to answer.... :D

 

Tom

[fan1080]

You're the one that suggested closing the borders. I was merely responding to that.

 

No, I didn't. As I suspected, you haven't understood what I posted.

 

I said open the borders, not close:

 

No, completely useless.

 

I say open the borders and let anyone in, with anything they want to bring. :rolleyes:

 

That post of mine, as I explained earlier, was in jest. It was a tongue-in-cheek response to what I considered to be an over the top comment. All in fun, no malicious intent.

 

It was you that appeared to be hostile towards the OP for complaining about how he was treated.

 

I didn't respond once to the OP in this thread. Again, you have misunderstood my intent.

 

Cheers, and good night. I have some packing to finish up for our first cruise this weekend.

[joepeka]

Upon the advice of counsel, I respectively decline to answer.... :D

 

Tom

I knew it! You're that ex-spy guy on the "Burn Notice" TV show! :D

[Cactuscruise]

That is nice :mad: that they "randomly" pick someone to HARASS. I believe your story, but don't like the way it played out for you. Why Carnival was involved in such a way is confusing -- basically throwing you to the wolves. The last morning is not the most pleasant anyway. WOW.

 

We were HARASSED by customs when we got off the ship in Miami a few months ago -- I think it was an NCL sailing. The ONLY thing we bought was a ring for Cheryl in one of the ports. It was something like $1,600. Evidently that amount is very close to the limit two people could claim without duty or something. We handed him the form and he said "is that all you bought"? We replied yes. He said "do you have the receipt". I replied yes. He asked to see it. I indicated that it was somewhere in one of our 4 bags, but was not sure exactly where. He said we must produce it - and that either we needed to get it, or he would search our luggage for it. Fortunately it was in our main carry off bag - the first one we checked. We, no doubt, appeared suspicious :rolleyes:. I asked what would happen if we did not have the receipt, he said he would keep the ring. I asked what would have happened had we not claimed anything - he asked if I wanted to change my customs form... saying that he would still keep the ring. I told him that this is the kind of treatment we get for being honest.

 

Once before I had a guy (customs) say, "nice watch, did you just buy it"? They obviously go fishing from time to time. Am I supposed to carry a receipt for EVERYTHING that we have as PROTECTION... so that we don't have to forfeit whatever it is that they are focused on?? !!

 

I know that they have a job to do, but... ! :confused:

 

Tom

 

 

 

As a world traveler, even before the current restrictions were put into place as a result of the 9/11 attacks, I learned to carry receipts for pricey items I brought from home which could easily have been purchased in foreign countries (or register the items before traveling abroad). I found it easier to just leave them at home. Most customs agents know their merchandise and where it can be purchased. They're just doing their jobs as is the Dept of Homeland Security. It's not a perfect process and from time to time there are problems . It part of the world we live in, just learn to deal with it and stop moaning.