Allure - Our room was raided and tossed!

[Glide_Path]

19 minutes ago, travelplus said:

I came in through Customs at JFK and the Officer was very friendly. All he asked me was  how is California and that he wishes he could relocate there. Then he said "Welcome Home". Very friendly and cordial.

 

When I encounter a Customs Officer I always say "Good Morning etc" and have my Passport open to the right page. But now with Global Entry it so much easier. I will always keep my GE card because it saves time. 

 

Just be cordial with the officers and they will hopefully treat you with respect.  In another country I use the proper word like Bonjour and have my Passport Photo Page open and ready for them.  

Got off a cruise once at Port of Miami, presented my GE card... the CBP officer would not accept it.  Insisted on seeing my passport, which i had packed away.  I mumbled something like " I thought you can use GE cards at land and sea crossings" as I was fumbling through my carry on bag.  I swear, had I been 5 seconds slower in locating my passport, he would've sent me to secondary.  

[Cruzaholic41]

37 minutes ago, ShillyShally said:

This.  And remember just like any worker, you never know who or what came before you and what may have clouded the mood of the day.  Same can be said for crew members on board, and ourselves at any given time of day depending on what is going on.  

 

Great point. These are regular people who, because of their profession, are constantly falsely accused of framing people, violating rights, and a slew of other nasty allegations seen right here in this thread.  No wonder they sometimes develop unfriendly attitudes. 

[Pratique]

8 minutes ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

 

Great point. These are regular people who, because of their profession, are constantly falsely accused of framing people, violating rights, and a slew of other nasty allegations seen right here in this thread.  No wonder they sometimes develop unfriendly attitudes. 

I admire government employees for their service, it is a tough job, but they are vested with great authority by the government and also generally protected from liability when doing their job. Not exactly comparable to someone working in private industry. Federal agents can make someone's day really bad in a hurry.

[Cruzaholic41]

54 minutes ago, Pratique said:

...and also generally protected from liability when doing their job. 

 

You have no idea how inaccurate that comment is. 

[Pratique]

21 minutes ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

 

You have no idea how inaccurate that comment is. 

Please explain, I am thinking of sovereign immunity. It’s in subsection (b) of the statute I cited earlier.

 

[jimdalva]

On 3/30/2019 at 9:10 AM, Trickie Dickie said:

On February 3rd, 2109, while doing a back to back on Allure.  It was turn around day in Miami.  There was a knock on our stateroom door in the early morning. I was in the shower and my partner was not dressed. Whoever it was, was covering the peep hole so we couldn’t see. We opened the door and It was a customs search team. Nine officers dressed in black with bullet proof vests, a ship security guard and a dog. We were allowed to put on robes and we waited barefoot, under guard in the hallway (on display to the other passengers walking by) while 4 of the officers and the dog ripped our room apart. We each got called in a couple of times to answer questions because they said the dog got a hit in the room.  All I had was prescriptions so there was nothing of course.  I wondered if they say that to everyone to try to get them to crack.   Eventually they left leaving us a mess. All of our neighbours think we’re druglords!

 

At the back to backers meeting area we soon found out that half of them were raided as well.  

 

After 28 cruises this was something new!  Our room attendant told us it happens just about every week.  Just so you know they showed us no paperwork what so ever.  We are from Canada so I do not know the legalities.  It just seemed wrong to me to be raided, accused of hiding something in the room and our dignity taking a hit without direct cause or any paperwork.  I will add that they were all respectful to us, even when they accused me of having "something" hidden in the room somewhere. 

 

At least I have a great story to tell now! Although it was quite disturbing to us on the day it happened.

 

Cheers!

WOW, that's unbelievable . What did the cruise line have to say. We have done B2B many times, why did they target B2B's? PS, we have partied on a cruise with you.

[Trickie Dickie]

3 minutes ago, jimdalva said:

WOW, that's unbelievable . What did the cruise line have to say. We have done B2B many times, why did they target B2B's? PS, we have partied on a cruise with you.

 The cruise line said nothing.   As our room attendant says it happens all the time we just figured it was normal.   People are speculating that because our second cruise was Atlantis is why they targeted the back to backers. 

 

 Your profile picture is blurry so I don’t recognize you guys.   What ship did we party on? 

[jimdalva]

8 minutes ago, Trickie Dickie said:

 The cruise line said nothing.   As our room attendant says it happens all the time we just figured it was normal.   People are speculating that because our second cruise was Atlantis is why they targeted the back to backers. 

 

 Your profile picture is blurry so I don’t recognize you guys.   What ship did we party on? 

We met you and your partner on a BNTT cruise.

[Trickie Dickie]

3 minutes ago, jimdalva said:

We met you and your partner on a BNTT cruise.

OMG!  I’ve been on at least three cruises with you two troublemakers! 😄

We have booked Legend out of Tampa next February.  I bet that you guys are on it too 🤪

[jimdalva]

17 minutes ago, Trickie Dickie said:

OMG!  I’ve been on at least three cruises with you two troublemakers! 😄

We have booked Legend out of Tampa next February.  I bet that you guys are on it too 🤪

We are now, thanks for the Heads Up, we didn't know about that one. See you in Feb.

 

[ShillyShally]

2 hours ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

 

Great point. These are regular people who, because of their profession, are constantly falsely accused of framing people, violating rights, and a slew of other nasty allegations seen right here in this thread.  No wonder they sometimes develop unfriendly attitudes. 

Yep, so true!  There really isn't any group that generalizations can be made about - it's fair to no one as every group has so many individuals who each bring their own strengths and weaknesses.

[ShillyShally]

2 hours ago, Glide_Path said:

Got off a cruise once at Port of Miami, presented my GE card... the CBP officer would not accept it.  Insisted on seeing my passport, which i had packed away.  I mumbled something like " I thought you can use GE cards at land and sea crossings" as I was fumbling through my carry on bag.  I swear, had I been 5 seconds slower in locating my passport, he would've sent me to secondary.  

I have GE and use Clear so am always going through Clear and TSA Precheck - without ever showing an ID so when I get a TSA agent that stops me and wants ID I always have to stop and find it (it's usually close in my bag) but I always chalk it to they have to be vigilant, and ask when the urge/requirement/whatever hits and I smile and go with the flow.  Now when I'm at an airport that doesn't have TSA Precheck and I try to remember what I need to take out of my bag before putting it through the scanner?!?  🙂

[helen haywood]

To the OP I want to say thanks for sharing your frightening experience.  Forewarned is forearmed.  If this ever happened to me then I’ll at least know what I’ve learned from this thread.

 

I was pulled aside at the Barcelona airport once for “enhanced screening.”  I was flying with my DH back to the US from a transatlantic cruise.  In retrospect that was probably what “targeted” me.  All I knew then was I was taken to a room away from my husband and questioned.  Time passed and I began to worry what would happen if I were not allowed to board my flight.  I had no idea what my rights were.  Could I refuse to go with them to another location?  I called my DH and told him which vacant gate I was near and asked him to come sit nearby so he would be there if I were taken elsewhere.  It was very frightening as such a thing had never happened to me.  So, as I say, thank you so much for making me aware of other circumstances for which I would have been unprepared (and possibly hysterical; I’m not Canadian 😊.)

 

And I must say you have the patience and tolerance of a saint to have maintained your equanimity throughout this long thread!!  

[A&L_Ont]

 

6 hours ago, Aquahound said:

 

While it is true that US citizens cannot be denied entry, what exactly are basic Customs questions?  How would a US citizen know what to answer and what not?  I'd be willing to bet the average person does not know you don't have a right to privacy on your phone or computers during a Customs inspection.  

 

Aquahound, I have a question.  What would happen if an non-US individual was denied entry from a cruise ship. Would they be escorted to the airport and be accompanied until they boarded the plane for their flight home?

 

As for the phone, I have no issues with mine being looked at by customs or police.  As a Canadian entering the states if I don’t unlock or let them them see my phone when asked, I would expect NOT to be visiting that day. As a Nexus/Global Entry card holder I do not want to risk losing my visiting privileges.

[Aquahound]

1 minute ago, A&L_Ont said:

Aquahound, I have a question.  What would happen if an non-US individual was denied entry from a cruise ship. Would they be escorted to the airport and be accompanied until they boarded the plane for their flight home?

 

Good evening.  In most cases, they would be locked up on an Immigration hold.  The lock-up could be a facility right there near the port of entry, or actually in the port of entry, depending where it occurs.  They would need to appear before an immigration magistrate who would decide on deportation or repatriation.  Cruise ships are funny because unlike airlines, they can't just return the person from where they came like an airline can.  I have to say though, from what I've heard, its very rare to deny entry from a cruise ship.    

 

[A&L_Ont]

13 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

Good evening.  In most cases, they would be locked up on an Immigration hold.  The lock-up could be a facility right there near the port of entry, or actually in the port of entry, depending where it occurs.  They would need to appear before an immigration magistrate who would decide on deportation or repatriation.  Cruise ships are funny because unlike airlines, they can't just return the person from where they came like an airline can.  I have to say though, from what I've heard, its very rare to deny entry from a cruise ship.    

 

 

Thanks AH, for the explanation.  The flights would be how I expected but I had no idea how the cruise situation would work.  Never plan on finding out first hand either.

 

Even though it is a totally different situation, I have had a flight with prisoner transfer. It was rather interesting to watch from afar. Also not planning on doing that first hand either. 

 

 

[Loucat]

On ‎3‎/‎30‎/‎2019 at 4:55 PM, nelblu said:

Nelblu- What do you have to back up such a claim?  Fake news to me.

 

 

 

Edited April 2, 2019 by Loucat
Incorrect

[cindivan]

This is a super interesting thread.

 

OP, I admire your courage in posting your experience. Inevitably,  someone from CC is going to jump on you about what you don’t understand or what you should have done differently. 

 

I am mostly a lurker gleaning information from the vast resources here,  mainly because I’m a bit scared to ever express an opinion or story.  And sometimes even a question. 

 

Most frequent travelers have a “war story” or two. But this is definitely something I would not have expected.   To be pulled out of your room like that and standing in the hallway in your robes.   Just the shock and length of the process. I can’t imagine.   Thanks for sharing. 

 

Edited April 2, 2019 by cindivan

[tinkr2]

17 hours ago, nelblu said:

 

From personal experience.  What would you suggest?  Maybe getting rid of Customs, ICE and the FBI agents.

 

Don't sweat it as we only have 12 more years before the World ends. 

I was not suggesting that in any way. I said I wasn't a fan of profiling. 

[HBE4]

12 hours ago, cindivan said:

OP, I admire your courage in posting your experience. Inevitably,  someone from CC is going to jump on you about what you don’t understand or what you should have done differently. 

 

I am mostly a lurker gleaning information from the vast resources here,  mainly because I’m a bit scared to ever express an opinion or story.  And sometimes even a question. 

 

Awww, come on and jump in. The water is fine.  Like you, I was a lurker for years...didn't even have an account. I was also a "guest". lol

 

It seems most opinions/stories/questions receive equal abuse so don't take it personally.

 

Besides, everyone has moved over the the Oasis crane accident thread.

[d9704011]

5 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

Awww, come on and jump in. The water is fine.  Like you, I was a lurker for years...didn't even have an account. I was also a "guest". lol

 

It seems most opinions/stories/questions receive equal abuse so don't take it personally.

 

Besides, everyone has moved over the the Oasis crane accident thread.

Speak for youself!  I’m working out a new twist to resurrect the ‘removal of the barrel chairs’ on Princess ships.

 

[Aquahound]

3 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Speak for youself!  I’m working out a new twist to resurrect the ‘removal of the barrel chairs’ on Princess ships.

 

Ha!  Or the $10 MDR charge on Holland America.  

[ONECRUISER]

On 4/1/2019 at 1:53 PM, sparks1093 said:

I had to pick my future former daughter in law (long, long story) in Montreal. She had flown from there to Turkey to meet with her fiance (did I mention long story?). We were coming through the check point and when the CBP officer asked me where I was coming from I told her, the airport where I picked her up (pointing to ffdil). She leaned down so she could see the passenger seat and asked, "where did you arrive in Montreal from". She said Turkey. CBP officer, "Why did you go to Turkey?" to which she answered "Personal reasons." I could see the CBP officer's body language change and I knew what was coming. FFDIL spent 50 minutes or so in secondary inspection answering many more questions. They did stop short of the cavity search though.

Though was quite while ago had some my Employee/friends went to a Concert in Detroit MI, not me. They smoked few Joints in car before and after Concert they decided to go for Canada see some International "Dancers". Unfortunately they'd left joint and a MJ pipe on back window sill. They were stopped on Canada side, pulled out, stripped down to Underwear, car door panels removed among few other items.. After nothing else was found they were released without charges and car not put back together with a great story the next morning at work

Edited April 2, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[ONECRUISER]

On 4/1/2019 at 3:26 PM, Pratique said:

Sometimes it's "SSSS" for secondary security screening selection.

Agree, have had that on mine Multiple times. Always was traveling Solo, male, buying tickets last minute. Not so much last couple yrs

[chengkp75]

6 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Agree, have had that on mine Multiple times. Always was traveling Solo, male, buying tickets last minute. Not so much last couple yrs

Until TSA Pre-Check came along, I was "randomly" selected for secondary screening virtually every time I flew to join/leave a ship.  One way ticket, bought within the last week, paid for by third party was a 100% trigger.