Group of Passengers on world cruise robbed at gun point in Africa

[MomC]

I need help from anyone on the part of the world cruise in Africa.  I just heard from my daughter that her tour group was robbed at gun and knife point somewhere in Africa today.  Phones, passports, etc. stolen.  I am traveling and her itinerary is in my suitcase somewhere between Amsterdam and the US.  More information PLEASE???

 

Worried Mother!!

[goaliedad30]

Sojourn is in Port Elizabeth, South Africa today. We just returned from our tour (a game drive at a private preserve), so have not heard anything relative to this. If I hear something this evening I am happy to provide an update.

[florisdekort]

It was a Seabourn walking tour of Port Elizabeth. I understand everyone is OK, just shaken up. 
Very sad. 

[MomC]

Just talked to my daughter.  They are all OK but very shaken up since both a gun and a knife were brandished at them in order to get I phones, purses, etc.  Considering how it turned out, they realize they were fortunate not to be physically hurt.  Seabourn handled the bad situation very well, getting them to a safe place (a museum) as soon as the thieves left.  From there they were escorted back to the ship where they were greeted by the captain and other officers and staff.  The police took statements on board to document the robbery.

Just a reminder that traveling anywhere in the world comes with certain dangers that are unavoidable.  Thank God they were on an official ship excursion.  They have done some private tours while on this cruise.

[Rothko1]

How scary and traumatic.  Just a terrible thing to happen on what should be a relaxing and safe cruise.

 

Yes, things like this can happen anywhere, even in the US (and sometimes especially in the US).

 

I'm just pleased to hear that everyone is OK.

[MBP&O2/O]

Never had a problem in PE .... Durban could be a bit iffy at times😵‍💫

The WC thread states SA requires you carry your passport? Is this  new thing? We never had to.

[markham]

I find it hard to believe that a cruise ship’s organized tour would be subject to such a regulation. Everyone probably has a passport image on their cellphones or could carry a paper copy of the passport’s signature page. And, should questions be asked, the cruise line could do what is necessary such as delivering the passports for any inspection.

 

Maybe this rule is useful to the Authorities for campers or workers or a group they have reason to monitor. Cruise passengers are in another criteria since by definition they are in-country relatively briefly and have passed immigration checks before they touch land.

 

i await more information as to what is what.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[saminina]

For USA passport holders, get a passport card.   I'm guessing stolen passports was not part of the ordeal.  Picking on a tour group of foreigners.....not cool by lowest of government standards.

[SLSD]

44 minutes ago, saminina said:

For USA passport holders, get a passport card.   I'm guessing stolen passports was not part of the ordeal.  Picking on a tour group of foreigners.....not cool by lowest of government standards.

I've read that stolen passports WERE part of the robbery.  

I've read a list of countries that accept a passport card--and no African country is on the list.  

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/card.html

 

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by SLSD

[Mr Luxury]

1 hour ago, markham said:

I find it hard to believe that a cruise ship’s organized tour would be subject to such a regulation. Everyone probably has a passport image on their cellphones or could carry a paper copy of the passport’s signature page. And, should questions be asked, the cruise line could do what is necessary such as delivering the passports for any inspection.

 

Maybe this rule is useful to the Authorities for campers or workers or a group they have reason to monitor. Cruise passengers are in another criteria since by definition they are in-country relatively briefly and have passed immigration checks before they touch land.

 

i await more information as to what is what.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

This rule is useful to criminals.

It is never a good idea to carry your passport ashore.

I never do and have an image of it on my phone which has been accepted by anyone that need my passport details ie when buying things to get tax free.

The cruise card should be enough to get you on and off the ship and not worry about walking around town or on a ships guided tour.

If I came across the situation that required me to take my passport off the ship,I wouldn't go.

Hope everyone is OK after this dreadful ordeal 

[SLSD]

18 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

This rule is useful to criminals.

It is never a good idea to carry your passport ashore.

I never do and have an image of it on my phone which has been accepted by anyone that need my passport details ie when buying things to get tax free.

The cruise card should be enough to get you on and off the ship and not worry about walking around town or on a ships guided tour.

If I came across the situation that required me to take my passport off the ship,I wouldn't go.

Hope everyone is OK after this dreadful ordeal 

I totally agree with you.  Curiously, we were told to take our passports when we were in Alaska--and we are Americans.  I scoffed.  I can't remember now what we did.  Perhaps they neglected to exclude Americans from the announcement.  

Edited April 24, 2023 by SLSD

[florisdekort]

 

[markham]

The Seabourn Herald is hardly an authoritative reference. For that matter most every issue is rife with inaccuracies and spelling howlers, and sometimes the Herald does not synchronise with the Source. You make your own choices.

At the risk of being robbed of my passport I am of Mr Luxury’s mind. I would not get off the ship.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[florisdekort]

1 hour ago, markham said:

The Seabourn Herald is hardly an authoritative reference. For that matter most every issue is rife with inaccuracies and spelling howlers, and sometimes the Herald does not synchronise with the Source. You make your own choices.

At the risk of being robbed of my passport I am of Mr Luxury’s mind. I would not get off the ship.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

I’m not sure what the debate is. I bet everyone prefers to leave their passport on the ship. However, when you get a letter delivered to your suite telling you that you must carry your passport on shore in South Africa, when Source tells you the same thing and when the Cruise Director every morning in his “the gangway is now open” announcement says “don’t forget to bring your passport”, then I don’t think anyone should be surprised that these poor passengers were carrying  theirs. 
 

Floris

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by florisdekort

[markham]

Who you gonna believe, is that it?

 

Sorry about the CD et al, but the UK Foreign Office states on their website that in South Africa passports should be left secure in travelers’ hotel safes and that only a photocopy of the signature page should be carried about.

 

That is all I need to hear and want to hear. Especially now.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

 

 

[Mr Luxury]

38 minutes ago, markham said:

Who you gonna believe, is that it?

 

Sorry about the CD et al, but the UK Foreign Office states on their website that in South Africa passports should be left secure in travelers’ hotel safes and that only a photocopy of the signature page should be carried about.

 

That is all I need to hear and want to hear. Especially now.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

 

 

Yes,this is the correct procedure.

Immigration is mostly done on the ship but can be done in a port building if the authorities don't want to or can't be bothered to come aboard.

In this situation I would have to go and get my passport looked at and verified at the port building but I would want to get back on the ship and put my passport in the safe or give it to the pursers office.

I would then take a paper copy of my passport ashore if I could get past security/Immigration without too much hassle.

I had dinner with Handre on Saturday evening before he ran the London Marathon.

He flew out to Cape Town on Monday evening to attend a Seabourn event.

I bet he's devastated.

 

[florisdekort]

1 hour ago, Mr Luxury said:

….  or give it to the pursers office.

It’s the Purser’s Office / Documentation Officer who is instructing everyone to carry their passport on shore. (In South Africa only; in all previous ports that the world cruise visited, the ship kept the passports.)

[Mr Luxury]

1 hour ago, florisdekort said:

It’s the Purser’s Office / Documentation Officer who is instructing everyone to carry their passport on shore. (In South Africa only; in all previous ports that the world cruise visited, the ship kept the passports.)

Perhaps the Purser could be shown the instructions and recommendations from the UK Foreign Office website for British travellers.

After yesterday's incident the Purser might not be so hot on the idea of passport carrying ashore.

Head office might have another plan for the Purser to implement. 🙄

Edited April 25, 2023 by Mr Luxury

[SLSD]

35 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

Perhaps the Purser could be shown the instructions and recommendations from the UK Foreign Office website for British travellers.

After yesterday's incident the Purser might not be so hot on the idea of passport carrying ashore.

Head office might have another plan for the Purser to implement. 🙄

I recall having our passports with us in both St. Petersburg and again in Russia on the Kamchatka Peninsula.  Otherwise, we could not have entered Russia.  It was enough of an ordeal to go through with our passport.  I'm quite sure we could not have gone back to the ship and then back through immigration without it.  

[markham]

Russia is Russia and has always had such restrictions for foreign tourists. You want to go to Russia? Then you abide by their rules or else…

 

Further, Russia and South Africa have different requirements. The UK Foreign Office’s advice on South Africa would certainly not contradict Pretoria’s own requirements.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[Isklaar]

58 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

Perhaps the Purser could be shown the instructions and recommendations from the UK Foreign Office website for British travellers.

After yesterday's incident the Purser might not be so hot on the idea of passport carrying ashore.

Head office might have another plan for the Purser to implement. 🙄

 

 

U.S State Department also advises citizens to carry a copy of their passport and to keep the original in a 'secure location'.  

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/south-africa-travel-advisory.html

 

 

We were on Sojourn holiday cruise Cape Town to Cape Town back in 2014. I can't recall if we were advised to take our passports ashore but having experience of SA previously I would not have taken  mine off the ship. 

Edited April 25, 2023 by Isklaar
added link

[SLSD]

37 minutes ago, markham said:

Russia is Russia and has always had such restrictions for foreign tourists. You want to go to Russia? Then you abide by their rules or else…

 

Further, Russia and South Africa have different requirements. The UK Foreign Office’s advice on South Africa would certainly not contradict Pretoria’s own requirements.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

And we won't be returning to Russia during our lifetime probably.  

[saminina]

I'll stick with the passport card.  It works fine inside South Africa.

 

 

 

[Mr Luxury]

1 hour ago, Isklaar said:

 

 

U.S State Department also advises citizens to carry a copy of their passport and to keep the original in a 'secure location'.  

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/south-africa-travel-advisory.html

 

 

We were on Sojourn holiday cruise Cape Town to Cape Town back in 2014. I can't recall if we were advised to take our passports ashore but having experience of SA previously I would not have taken  mine off the ship. 

I also did Sojourn Cape Town 2014.

We didn't take our passports ashore.

[Mr Luxury]

1 hour ago, Isklaar said:

 

 

U.S State Department also advises citizens to carry a copy of their passport and to keep the original in a 'secure location'.  

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/south-africa-travel-advisory.html

 

 

We were on Sojourn holiday cruise Cape Town to Cape Town back in 2014. I can't recall if we were advised to take our passports ashore but having experience of SA previously I would not have taken  mine off the ship. 

If I was one of the unfortunate guests that were robbed I would think that I might want some questions answered by Seabourn as to why passports were required ashore clearly against the advice of my Government.