Confiscated walking cane Oasis last week

[Tim,n,Sue]

I think it comes down to the personality of the screener. Sometime, when you give someone the smallest amount of power to a person it becomes POWER to hold over peoples heads and to use or abuse as they see fit.

 

Heck, the coffee in the Windjammer is more lethal than a cane.

[bluefintuna]

I'm wondering if security on all cruise ships has been heightened. We sailed RC in May and had no trouble bringing scissors, but when we went to board NCL in August they confiscated them and said the captain would inspect them (what a croc). When we went to the service desk they said they would be returned when we disembarked. They finally gave them back the night before. Oh, the extension cord went thru.

[Aquahound]

This whole cane thing concerns me. Why in the World would they take a cane? People use them all the time and on the cruise I just got off this past Friday, the entire dining table next to us had wooden canes...6 of them.

 

Firefly, are you sure there was not some sort of compartment inside, or maybe it was one where the handle pulled off to reveal a blade? :confused:

[reallyitsmema]

This whole cane thing concerns me. Why in the World would they take a cane? People use them all the time and on the cruise I just got off this past Friday, the entire dining table next to us had wooden canes...6 of them.

 

Firefly, are you sure there was not some sort of compartment inside, or maybe it was one where the handle pulled off to reveal a blade? :confused:

Exactly my point too. Or was the cane actually purchased at Labadee and was confiscated like a PP experienced.

[torpeedo]

Well, we had an experience in Pt Canaveral a few weeks ago boarding the Monarch. We were going through security and my DH back pack was going through the xray machine when suddenly... the screener called the supervisor over and others studying the picture:confused:Hmm Then they shut the line down and moved all to the other line.. They were almost jubilant with their discovery. A few atta boy's were given to the screener. My DH smokes cigars and had a cigar punch on his keychain that is small and shaped like a bullet. You would think they caught Osama Bin Ladin! They must have studied the picture for five minutes and then scrutinized the bag. We figured out what it was they were doing and quickly explained it was a cigar punch. We were escorted to the side and the bag was searched again, even though it was obviously a cigar punch and not a weapon of any sort. We left the cigar punch behind and picked it up after the cruise. We asked why the cigar punch could not be brought on board we were told it was because it was shaped like a bullet..huh.. it isn't a bullet!

Now when we went to pick up the cigar punch at the end of the cruise, my DH noticed a huge Bowie knife in a sheath on the table! Now that's a weapon!:eek:

[cruisehoppers]

I would understand if security was being heightened across the board, but is there a reason why RCI is reacting more harshly to things being brought aboard (extension cords, fans, canes, etc)?

[boscobeans]

On our 13 cruises ( 1-RCCL, 2-HAL and 10-Celebrity ) I have always taken one of those folding canes along.

 

After two back injuries and several surgeries I usually manage to motivate without it, however after a long day walking and sightseeing I most often have to take out the collapsable and use it to get back on board.

 

I think there would be a real scene if they tried to take it away and would demand to speak to an officer.

 

A set of keys on a lanyard or any number of other things could be used as a weapon.

What's next, naked only may board?

 

bosco

[pollux]

If I needed a cane to walk and they took it away they better get a wheelchair to ride me onboard.

But with my sister we always have problem she has 2 artificial hips .I tell the screener that they will go off but they give her a hard time anyway. About a doctors letter that they don,t want to see maybe most screeners can't read.

I think a wire hanger can do more damaged but everyone take them onboard.

[brmoqueen]

Are you SURE it wasn't a cane that had a sword in it???? We sell those, and let me tell ya, you can't tell the difference between a regular cane and one with a sword in it.

 

I've learned 'don't tick off someone with a cane as it may actually BE a weapon!!!!

[Bigtex1622]

I got a cane from my sister.

Has a horse head that unscrews.

I put a little somethin somethin, to pour into my drinks.

So maybe it was one of those.

 

 

:rolleyes:

[Redtravel]

My spouse uses a walking stick....has traveled all over the world with it...no problem. I use a CPAP machine and use an extension cord to get it to reach the bed. The cruise line provides the extension cord. It has never been a problem. I also use a knife to cut meat. I have not plans for suicide.

[Trainman-2]

A few years ago I took a self defense course called "Cane Fu" which was a real eye opener! I had already thought of several ways that I could use my cane to defend myself but now I am dangerous! :eek:

 

 

We are boarding the Oasis of the Seas Saturday and I will be doing another "Live From..." post. I will be sure to comment on any thing interesting at security.

[joand452]

Just shaking my head in complete disbelief about this. DH was recovering from a broken leg in 2008 and brought his cane without a problem aboard Brilliance.

 

Last March he was having hip problems so brought his cane along on Allure, again without a problem.

 

Fingers crossed, he won't need it next March, but security will hear about it, if he's given a problem.

 

I told him about the extension cord being used to commit suicide. His reply, "Well, people use belts, too." Will they take those from us, too??

 

I wonder what kind of scrutiny I'll be under when I take on insulin pens, pen needles and lancets. Knock on wood, they've never even been taken out of my carry-ons the past few times I flown. I get on a plane on Thursday. I'll be carrying on my prescriptions for the needles this time. BTW, the pen needles are 1/2" long and the lancets are about 1/8".

[cruzsnooze]

I had my little extension cord confiscated and was in the line to retreive items they took. My lighted dial alarm clock could not reach the edge of the desk without it. Like new and its a little 6 footer attached to the clock.

 

They hand searched all the luggage we carried on, and I only did carry ons, so that means they went thru all my underwear and everything else. Just as a warning if you plan to bring anything private. They hand searched everyone's luggage when I was boarding.

 

Their reason was with the extension cord, people might commit suicide. Yep, thats the reason they told me they took the little NEWish 6 ft cord. "people commit suicide with them".

 

... but I think its going a bit far to take away someone's solid wood cane they need for walking. A elderly person who needed it was not allowed a solid wooden cane as it was deemed it could be a weapon. (the guy was in his 70s or 80s and had to do without the support the whole week). So, bring a doctors excuse if you really need your cane.

 

Other than being way too hot for me, and the crazy security at the ship and airport, fabulous cruise.

I can't believe a cane was confiscated, after being screened. There are disability laws that should prevail.

[RLM77]

I travel with a mobility scooter, wooden cane AND syringes. They always put the cane through the scanning machine. If it is a " good" day and I can walk some, they will either offer their own cane to assist me through the scanner, or offer both their hands. On a "bad" day I am patted down and/or wanded. The cane has always (and had better) been returned. The needles are largely ignored.

 

Interestingly, at the Fort Lauderdale airport, I am always flagged for further scanning/wanding/intensive searching as the scooter has tested positive for glycerin. This has become commonplace before our return flights after a cruise. The sanitizing stuff on the ships, Purell goo, I believe has gotten into the hand grips of the scooter. This time we will scrub it down before we disembark. If that works, we'll save a good hour and a whole lot of uncomfortable stares.

[Rancher Dave]

Actually, RCI had better take a good hard look at the liability issue of taking away a necessary walking aid and then having the passenger fall and get hurt.

 

Goldstein, I am becoming more and more amazed at some of the dicisions being made by this company. How about THIINKING before acting?

 

The liability angle didn't cross my mind...but what did was if it were me and that was the only way I can get around then RCI killed my cruise for no legitimate reason...

 

I'd say that was a poor decision on the part of the person who took away the cane.

 

Agree RCI needs to evaluate some of their more recent decisions which tend to hit the press, or is it the fan...

[Shippy]

I was on that same cruise. My carry on stuff was not searched nor was anyone elses around me. I did not see anyones cane taken.

If fact all our booze even made it to the room :O)

 

My camera charger did not fit into the plug right so my cabin lady brought me an extension cord to use.

[FLASHINGLIGHTS83]

really? you cant bring an extension cord because people commit suicide? then i guess RCCL can be sued for enabeling(s/p) those people, because if u call special needs dept and tell them u have a cpap, THEY SUPPLY YOU WITH AN EXTENSION CORD. must of been some new security people getting over excited....

[smoosh21]

Just curious how long hand searching every piece of luggage took.

 

If there are 5400 passengers and each one has just one piece on average that is 5400 pieces to go through. Even if they had 20 screeners taking 30 seconds per bag, it would have taken over 4.5 hours just to hand search the luggage.

 

That doesn't even begin to cover the security inspecting checked luggage.

 

I would hope that they were keeping people in the cruise terminal rather than backed up in line on the gangways.

[cruznbelle]

Last year my DH had a long pair of toenail clippers in his checked bag in a toiletry bag that he normally flys every week with - we had to go to the RCL's 'naughty room' to claim his luggage - along with about 100 other people. Even though they asked us specifically if we had clippers or something like clippers - we were clueless (that bag never gets unpacked so neither of us knew what they were talking about). They finally just gave the bag back to us after finding some of his old airline credentials... it wasn't until we went thru the bag in the cabin that we found the offending article... Needless to say - I'll make sure it's not with us next week!

 

Of all the items we saw confiscated - the most disturbing was fireworks! I simply cannot fathom what person would bring fireworks on a ship???? :eek:

 

I can't imagine taking a cane away though :confused:

[critterchick]

I am not sure that the act applies to foreign registered ships.

 

It does if they sail in U.S. waters. There was a Supreme Court decision in 2005 that said so.

[barbie5401]

We stopped packing our extension cord and now ask for one from the Cabin Steward, it is a thick orange one - but they have supplied one each cruise. !! Maybe if enough people ask for them, they will allow you to bring them on board again.

[Aquahound]

Are you SURE it wasn't a cane that had a sword in it???? We sell those, and let me tell ya, you can't tell the difference between a regular cane and one with a sword in it.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. There has got to be something more to that cane.

 

I am not sure that the act applies to foreign registered ships.

 

It does. It's an American company and venue is the Southern District of Florida, Miami. Flag of the ships doesn't really mean much.

[addicted2]

We were on Oasis last week to. We didn't have our bags searched, and we didn't see them searching anyone elses bags. We saw plenty of people walking with the assistance of canes too. We did see them holding the walking sticks purchased in Labadee until the end of the cruise.

[babs135]

We were on Oasis last week to. We didn't have our bags searched, and we didn't see them searching anyone elses bags. We saw plenty of people walking with the assistance of canes too. We did see them holding the walking sticks purchased in Labadee until the end of the cruise.

 

Just curious, what's special about canes purchased in Labadee?