Freedom running late this afternoon.

[Hypo]

Freedom is running late today, they are about 40 minutes behind schedule, so far. Muster drill didn't occur until 5.

 

Hypo

[nanfromatlanta]

Maybe due to some late arriving passengers??

[nlcentralchmps03]

Still in port as of 5:55.

[rcicruiser]

They are still there because disembarkation was delayed because something was found in luggage being taken of the ship. Check out the Miami Herald website.

[Hypo]

Thanks for the info

[nlcentralchmps03]

I was not aware of that.

Thanks for the heads up!

[Hypo]

This is a link to the Miami Herald news story.

http://www.miamiherald.com/459/story/223604.html

[Hypo]

Freedom is casting off lines now. almost two hours late due to a toy grenade on some kids belt buckle.

[we b cruzin]

She's pulling away now.

[cruiseman_tx]

Watching her leave on the web cam.

 

http://live6.truelook.com/face/newface.jsp?func=live&name=/ecodb/wachovia/camera1&pan=16.656319&tilt=-0.43072677&panfov=2.0748296&tiltfov=1.5561222&overlay=default&skin=WachJan2005&useapplet=true&time=1188774959222&width=640&height=480&quality=65&catalogname=catalog&zoom=20.001642&imagemap.x=109&imagemap.y=274

[Coralc]

Thanks for the article, but I am confused.....Why were they screening luggage coming OFF the ship? :confused:

[chicagojayhawk]

Seriously...can someone explain to me when children's grenade belt buckles came into fashion?

 

C'mon parents...use common sense.

[megr1125]

Yeah, why screen it coming off?? Oh well......

[sf2]

Yeah, why screen it coming off?? Oh well......

 

 

uhhh . . . drugs? kind of a problem with caribbean runs . . .

[cusyl]

Yeah, why screen it coming off?? Oh well......

Maybe to keep people from removing the family silver and china off the ship. LOL

[chicagojayhawk]

Maybe to keep people from removing the family silver and china off the ship. LOL

 

 

They're keeping tabs on who's stealing the beach towels.

[cruiseman_tx]

Yeah, why screen it coming off?? Oh well......

 

Cruise ships returning to the USA, can and have been used by people to smuggle drugs. These days, there's also the possibility of weapons or explosives being brought in.

[Coralc]

Well yes, but dogs are better than xray for finding drugs. According to the article, the screening was conducted by TSA. I was surprised to learn that our luggage is being xrayed again as it leaves the ship. If there were items of an explosive or dangerous nature, they are being REMOVED from the ship. And then our luggage is scanned yet again when we get to the airport.

 

I don't have issues at all with safety, I was just curious about the reasoning. :) It doesn't seem like all that effort would be really productive.

[Sea Island Lady]

it was determined the grenade, spotted inside a suitcase being screened, was really a toy -- a child's belt buckle shaped like a grenade.

Who in their right mind would buy a child a belt buckle with a grenade on it? :eek:

 

Reminds me of the time we were stopped in the airport because of a suspicious object in the side of my carry-on. Turned out that the "objects" were 3 small bottles of bubbles for blowing off a Disney ship. The security guy said that they looked like bombs.

 

I guess we should be thankful for the extra measures that security take. ;)

[cruiseman_tx]

Keep in mind that there now is the luggage service that allows you to have your luggage sent directly from the ship to the airport. That could be why the TSA would be involved in the baggage screening at the pier.

[Coralc]

Thanks Ron, that is kind of what I was wondering. :) Not routine, but possibly screening for direct airport/airplane delivery. That would make more sense. The grenade belt buckle makes no sense. (especially if they were flying!) :D

[cruiseman_tx]

Yep, and I'm with you on the belt buckle thing.

[wrp96]

And it's things like this that make me book a late afternoon flight...I can already hear somebody demanding money from RCCL because they missed their morning flight.

[megr1125]

uhhh . . . drugs? kind of a problem with caribbean runs . . .

 

duh....silly me..........guess i need cake! chocolate cake really helps the brain.

[Coralc]

Congratulations on passing the Bar exam Wrona!:D :D :D