WARNING! dangerous experience on Radiance Cruise!

[Coralc]

I don't think anyone has been mean or critical, and I don't think danceman thinks we are either. :rolleyes:Theft of all your travel funds and passports is an awful thing. In addition to all of the delayed baggage. I think we all appreciate the warning and the reminder of diligence.

[Guest shaverg]

I don't think anyone has been mean or critical, and I don't think danceman thinks we are either. :rolleyes:Theft of all your travel funds and passports is an awful thing. In addition to all of the delayed baggage. I think we all appreciate the warning and the reminder of diligence.

 

I didn't mean to offend you, but there were some people on this thread that were extremely mean and judgemental. I didn't say all.:(

[GoodAsGold]

Better yet, don't carry a purse. Simply put your ID, etc. in a money belt and wear it close to your body under your blouse or shirt. Or if you need more space to carry larger items, wear a small front pack that you always keep in front---never wear it as a fanny pack. Make sure the zippers are closed at all times and keep your arms and hands over it in crowds. Never take it off. And make sure the plastic snap buckle isn't exposed where someone can pop it off. Keep it covered. I wear mine under my shirt with just the pack barely showing in front. Oh, and backpacks aren't always safe because they can be broken into from behind.

 

I travel often all over the world for work. No matter where I am - either in the US, Europe, Asia, Middle East, etc, I always exercise extra caution with my personal belongings.

Ladies - never hang your purse over the back of your chair, or even sit it down beside you. Always keep it on your lap where you have control over it. Not the most comfortable thing to do - but well worth it when compared to the risk of having it stolen. Also - when you are walking around, keep your purse close to your body - not just slung over your shoulder. Don't be an easy target.

Men - move your wallets to your front pockets. Not as easy to be pick-pocketed this way. Also - if you are walking with women, walk on the side that they are carrying their purses - this makes it more difficult for someone to steal your ladie's purse.

 

Just my 2 cents and information gathered from reading MANY international travel books.

[kooljamming]

I am really sorry this happened to you. Anyone can make a mistake. And so sorry about your Inlaws, I know how scarry it is in a foreign port when something bad happens.

 

I can't believe how mean and judgmental some of these people can be. they are usually know it alls. Just because they have elite status or have cruised a few times, they know everything.

 

One of the points of these boards are to make people be aware. They should appreciate the info and maybe they won't make the same mistake. Although I will say that little evil part of me almosts that it does happen to those that are so mean and critical.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience, those of us that are willing, will learn from it.

 

Thanks.

I couldn't agree more. One has to wonder what went so wrong in 'some' of these posters life's that make them sooooooooo unkind. They see the worse in everything and learn nothing from anything. Worse they get in the way of others sharing and the less traveled learning. I wonder if they ever had a moment of kindness when they simply want to say, thanks for sharing. Some use the board for research and hope others share their experiences, good or bad.

 

OP- I travel with kids, so a lesson well learned. I am far from an experienced traveler so I appreciate the information. Just sad that the know it all, might one day get in the way of the ones who need to know, finding out.

[abridalmaven]

So sorry for your experience. When we did a cruise in the Med, the first thing I did was research about each city/port. Then I invested in a PacSafe bag which is slash proof. I wear it across my chest, I figure I already look like a tourist, so be dammed with how I look.

But I also grewup in NYC and know how to act and how to watch people, and to always be aware of what is going on aroundme.

When were on Las Ramblas, it amazed me how many people were watching the shell/card games. I know there are shills in the audience that do the pickpocketing.

[TahoeBob]

WARNING! dangerous experience on Radiance Cruise!

 

this is how you started your post, really now I did not read one thing that was RCI fault. not one thing happened on the ship. Could you please tell me one thing that happened on the cruise. yes your parents had a run of bad luck, but none of it was RCI fault.

[JsMom2]

Thank you for the posting. I do think that RCI should have had their port agent assist when your in-laws joined the cruise. In the past, when I've had lost luggage sent to a port, the cruise line has gone to the airport to pickup my bags for me (even though the airline lost the luggage, not the cruise line). I don't think it would've been too much to ask to have someone meet your parents and escort them into the port area.

 

Also, I'd love to hear your triplets' impression of the cruise. I have a 10 year old DD, and we've been thinking about sailing South America.

 

Good luck to you!

[hellosailer]

Reminds me of what happened to us a few years ago in San Diego. We went on the tram to Tijuana and my mum won't eat in places that she doesn't trust, so we took some fruit etc. with us.

 

On the way back, we stopped in customs and they examined her bag. She had an apple left in there - the customs officer grabbed the apple and started shouting to his colleagues!!!

 

We stood there a bit stunned!! Then one of his colleagues grabs the apple, turns it over and points out the US sticker!!! They all started laughing.

 

Thing which I don't understand, is that people are smuggled over the border in their thousands and presumably bring sustenance with them. I would think there is far more risk in that situation!! In Europe we have the same laws with sniffer dogs etc. and fruit, meat etc. is confiscated. I really don't think that we arrest people for it though. Smuggling large quantities - yes, but otherwise? Anyone know of arrests in Europe for a piece of fruit or similar?

 

As far as pickpockets are concerned - Barcelona is really bad. But in all the big cities in Europe, it is a big problem. YOU have to be vigilant!! My elderly mum in London has had her purse taken twice when going to the supermarket!! She no longer carries a credit card or much money. Sad isn't it?

 

However, blaming RCCL is unfair - they have laws to obey and rules to follow. And none of this is of their making.

[ChipLondon]

Your Post title is very unfair

Of course I sympathise with your situation, and feel for your families stress, BUT, this was not a dangerous situation ON a Radiance cruise. More of a dangerous situation prior to joining a cruise. Royal ( or any other cruise line ) cannot be held responsible for the activities of locals that pray on tourists. It happens everywhere, and from your history, you are clearly well travelled, and therefore I would expected your own knowledge to have given you a better sense of watching belongings. I also have my own way of dealing with elderly parents, which is different from yours.

 

You made a terrible decision to leave them to deal with the embassy, and continue on your enjoyment of a cruise, I would be ashamed of myself for even thinking of such a thing, and I am surprised your family aloud you do do that, especially as you had already discovered the potential dangers in the area, so anything that happened after you sailed away, you really must accept responsibility for. We all know that cruise ports are only places visited by ships, and in the control of the local authority, you did not even have the decency to to forego a stupid tour, to ensure they were greated at the airport and escourted to the ship by a family member. Well done Royal for treating them so well with such a fab upgrade. I am sickened to hear how much you enjoyed your cruise, hang your head in shame...................

[danceman]

WARNING! dangerous experience on Radiance Cruise!

 

this is how you started your post, really now I did not read one thing that was RCI fault. not one thing happened on the ship. Could you please tell me one thing that happened on the cruise. yes your parents had a run of bad luck, but none of it was RCI fault.

 

 

No, none of it was RCI 's fault.....but by putting that as a heading it made you all read it which was the idea as i knew the 'defenders' would leap to read someones post that might dare be negative about RCI!!

I actually like RCI as one of my favourite cruise lines and the point of the whole post was to make people more diligent when travelling abroad and for them to learn from our experiences.

[80sramfan]

Hilarous! The OP openly and brazenly breaks the law himself and then cries when he gets robbed. Sounds like karma to me. RCI had nothing to do with any of this.

[tomjohnsonjr]

Just awful...and unnecessary.

 

But what about the laws and rules????????????

[Janice M]

no, honestly we had no idea she had not eaten the apple! I didnt even know my wife had bought her an apple at the sandwich bar, my wife had given it to her, she had taken 2 bites out of it and our daughter put it back in the ruck sack! It wasnt that we knew we had it and wanted to get away with it. But had more been made of the announcement, it might have prompted my wife to say 'did you eat the apple'....but as it was, she forgot about it.

 

I feel so bad about your in-laws experience. We will be on the Radiance starting April 26, but will be in Santiago 1 day and we will be very careful with our belongings. Happy to see you got your luggage. That is always my biggest worry. About the apple, there are so many things going on at that time it is easy to forget something like that.

 

Jan

[50cruiser]

I dont want to be critical but I dont see where RCI had anything to do with this . You hadnt checked on the ship . Losing passport was your responsability. Fruit NO_NO going into any forign country . I would have stayed with my parents and took care of the problem . I wouldnt have LEFT tHEM to fend on their own. OLD people need help . I dont see where RCI was responsable for getting them pasports you were . I go back to the adage NO ONE TAKES RESPONSABILITY FOR THERE OWN PROBLEMS EVERYONE ELSE IS AT FULT . Im going to EUROPE ON JEWEL IN 3 WEEKS and its good to be reminded to take precautions but I do that even here at home. Putting purse on back of chair is a no no anywhere not just overseas. I really comend RCI for giving a free HUGE upgrade to a SUITE from a inside, what an upgrade. CARL

[tomjohnsonjr]

Exactly! thanks for that.

Weird how so many people focus on the apple when the point of writing was to make people aware of how their holiday can be ruined by not being vigilant.

 

What is so unsafe about the ship? You like the ship but...... I dont get why you titled it that way?

Your title is way off base!

[MAZANDSTEVE]

that part alone says enough for me...you thought you were one that the laws meant nothing too...that it was no big deal UNLESS you got caught, and you did!!! I am glad you had to pay the fine, maybe next time you will listen and now have learned that they mean business!!

 

:eek: Thats just plain nasty and uncaring. If you read it all , it seems like a genuine mistake which can happen when you have children and elderly people with you and you are trying to take care of them all. I know rules are rules and she was fined, but to make that remark after all they went through??? was that neccesary? you just poked at one point and not anything else.

 

To the op, I am so sorry these things happened to all the family, elderly people can take ages to get over these things, it really upsets them.

[twoputt.plusone]

Anyone know of arrests in Europe for a piece of fruit or similar?

 

Yes they do have the same laws in Europe..... and the Caribbean.... and in CANADA! As others have posted before, it isn't just one piece of fruit. How would you feel if you were a farmer and had your crop wiped out by a pest that was carried into your country on a single piece of undeclared fruit? I'll wager you'd be singing a different tune. :rolleyes:

 

2P.P1

[rool]

I am just off the brilliance eastern Med and had a failed pick pocket attempt on the Athens Metro. I was very lucky actually.

 

I was wearing a bum/fanny bag/pack :D round the front as mentioned up above. The metro was extremely crowded and my wife and I and our two boys were just in the doors. A young guy in a smart suit just behind us started waving two large guys on the metro urgently as if the metro was about to depart. These two guys shoved onto the train making everyone unbalanced. I had two thoughts in my head, keeping balance and watching out for my boys so my hand moved away from my bag. In the few seconds it took for everyone to sort themselves out I looked down and my bag was open and wallet was gone.

 

I just looked at my wife and just said it's gone and was just resigned to the fact. At that point I remember hearing something drop and there was silence on the train as everyone looked at one another. I looked down and saw my wallet at the feet of the guy in the suit and just bent down and picked it up. It didn't even occur to me to confront the guy, I had my posessions back and didn't want to endanger myself or the family. He intially put his hands up as if to say 'it's nothing to do with me' and then stood there for a minute or so then just huffed and left the train just as the doors closed.

 

The only disappointment to me was when I relayed the story to the Shopping coordinator on Brilliance as a warning to future passengers he couldn't have been less interested if he tried.

[jmf123]

We will be on the Radiance starting April 26, but will be in Santiago 1 day and we will be very careful with our belongings. Jan

 

It is very unfortunate that you had these incidents happen prior to your cruise. My aunt and uncle were cautioned by Tauck tour reps about pickpockets on their South America tour this year. They are world travelers and were cautious, removing cash and cards from their wallets, and keeping their passports in the safe back at the Ritz.

 

As they gathered to board the Tauck motorcoach in Santiago, my uncle took a map from his pocket...and a boy ran by and snatched his wallet. My uncle was able to grab his arm, but not hold on. Then the boy's friend tripped my uncle and the wallet was lost.

 

They had a Travel Guard policy which covers replacement of driver's license, etc. but unfortunately no coverage for loss of money. After hearing some stories from the TG rep regarding robbery claims, I was just glad that my uncle wasn't injured worse than his scraped elbow.

 

And for the record, the Ritz Carlton could not have been more pleasant and helpful in assisting my family and translating with the local police. Hopefully the OP's story will at least remind others to use extra caution wherever they are in the world.

[MAZANDSTEVE]

It is very unfortunate that you had these incidents happen prior to your cruise. My aunt and uncle were cautioned by Tauck tour reps about pickpockets on their South America tour this year. They are world travelers and were cautious, removing cash and cards from their wallets, and keeping their passports in the safe back at the Ritz.

 

As they gathered to board the Tauck motorcoach in Santiago, my uncle took a map from his pocket...and a boy ran by and snatched his wallet. My uncle was able to grab his arm, but not hold on. Then the boy's friend tripped my uncle and the wallet was lost.

 

They had a Travel Guard policy which covers replacement of driver's license, etc. but unfortunately no coverage for loss of money. After hearing some stories from the TG rep regarding robbery claims, I was just glad that my uncle wasn't injured worse than his scraped elbow.

 

And for the record, the Ritz Carlton could not have been more pleasant and helpful in assisting my family and translating with the local police. Hopefully the OP's story will at least remind others to use extra caution wherever they are in the world.

 

 

It amazes me that these places dont but a heavy presence of police about the areas where tourists are, they could seriously lose a lot of tourist trade, who would want to go back if you got attacked, I wouldnt.

[kooljamming]

WARNING! dangerous experience on Radiance Cruise!

 

this is how you started your post, really now I did not read one thing that was RCI fault. not one thing happened on the ship. Could you please tell me one thing that happened on the cruise. yes your parents had a run of bad luck, but none of it was RCI fault.

 

The PURPOSE of the title was clearly to get readers attention, (how did you miss that) which it DID. From reading many were educated by it, while others are and always will be defenders who are merely road block in the way of sharing. Did the heading get your attention and get you defending......IMOP, yep! Do you think we all can read and draw our own conclusion about fault? If the title is not labeling your child or spouse does it matter? I know RCI is like family to some so we should speak/title accordingly:rolleyes: IMOP the thread IS NOT about the cruise, but to inform others about what can happen when you least expected, which IMOP is more important. The title is an effective attention getter which worked, MSSION accomplished. RCCL repuation of care is still in tact, still not to the Diamond+ members:D Without that title how else are we reminder who are true RCCL- Royal Caribbean Chairleaders Club. If you really want to know what happen on any cruise, please try the review section or webshot for pics.

[missbogota]

Firstly, before you all lynch me....let me just say that i really love this ship!...the Radiance really is one of my favourite ships!...but i feel i should make everyone aware of our the horrible situation experienced on our 14 night Valparaiso to Buenes Aires cruise which departed on 28th March 2009.

The story starts quite light heartedly but read down to get to the really serious bits.........!!

We flew from London UK to Madrid and then changed and flew Madrid to Santiago all with Iberia (before you ask, no, i wasnt impressed with the airline.) I took a group of 33 with me for a Dancing Cruise...something i organize frequently on cruise ships. It was all packaged by RCI so all hotels and transfers were included and handled by RCI. After a 2 hour delay at Heathrow airport, we finally arrived at Santiago, very weary and with no luggage....this was still in Madrid as had not made the connecting flight.

Now, before i go on, all of the RCI staff were indeed absolutely brilliant....apart from 3! ....2 of which were the RCI reps at the airport who told me to go to the Iberia desk and fill in claim forms for the whole of my group of 33 (not something i am used to doing) which involved writing long serial numbers from small stickers still partially stuck to our boarding cards....not only for my group of 33....but for the whole of the passengers who had lost luggage...think there was about another 20!

To be honest, i think the RCI reps could have done this or at least helped rather than leave us all to fight it out ourselves!

At the same time, my wife was arrested as a sniffer dog found an apple in our hand luggage which one of my 9 year old triplet daughters had put in.

 

My wife was taken for questioning for just over an hour where the apple was weighed and she was fined $300!! To be fair, there had been an announcemnet on the plane that no fruit and veg could be taken in but it hadnt sounded a big deal and no mention of a fine was made....my wife and i hadnt realised our daughter had not eaten the apple or that the rules would be applied so forcibly to just one apple....a suitcase full of apples might have seemed more suspicious!

 

We eventually arrived at our hotel in Santiago and was met by a very efficient RCI rep who turned out to be very helpful later.

 

Its now about 1pm in the afternoon and 9 of us decided to walk out around the town and to eat out at some quaint roadside cafe. No one warned us of the dangers.

We found a cafe about half a mile from the hotel on a lively, typically Chilian street and ordered our food and drinks.

Unknown to me, my mother in law (aged 74) foolishly had £1000 cash in her handbag in dollars, chilian pesos, argentinian pesos and sterling along with her and her husbands passports, her reading glasses, hearing aid, tablets, mobile phone and my childs ipod. (She later said that she hadnt been able to work out how the safe in the room had worked and so had hurried down to reception to join us on our stroll)

Having my own children with me to look after and my own bag, i never really took much notice of my in laws and what my motherin law was doing with her handbag.

We sat at the cafe chatting and waiting for our food. My mother in law had placed her handbag on the back of her chair (i know thats a foolish thing to do but i couldnt see it from where i sat and so was unaware she had done this)

A largish Spanish looking lady came and pushed behind her and sat at the table right behind her. I looked straight at her as it seemed an odd thing to do when there were other free seats in less crowded sections and so i watched her closely thinking that she looked a little suspicious (i still couldnt see that my mother in law had placed her bag on the back of her own chair). The Spanish lady (ill call her that cos i dont know what she was...er Hispanic?) got out her mobile phone and made a call. I still watched her. Suddenly, to my right a phone started to ring and another lady started to make a commotion and jump about. We naturally all looked to our right to see. When we looked back, the Spanish lady was gone! 2 Minutes later i heard the dreaded words ' i cant find my bag'!

 

After waiting in vain for the police to come for 40 minutes, we returned back to our hotel.

The hotel staff were now quick to tell us that no one should go out in this area with money, jewellery or passports as the area is known for crime. Another of our group returned from their walk having had their necklace snatched from their neck. The hotel said someone (not in our group) had also been mugged walking out of the hotel! To be fair to the hotel, many of our other group members had been warned by the doorman and reception not to wear jewellery or take money out....but sadly, we had not been told.

 

My wifes parents were very shaken and upset. The RCI rep went with us to the police station to translate which was very kind. She then informed us that RCI would not allow them to join the ship next day! Today was Saturday, the ship leaves Sunday and the Embassy didnt open until Monday. The ship would then be at Sea until Wednesday.

 

They tearfully waved myself and my wife off, their 3 grandchildren and the other members of our group now totalling 31. I gave them all of my cash (so we had none) and instructions on how to get to the embassy on monday....not easy for upset people of their age.

The RCI rep obviously had to leave with us and so they were left alone. They were scared to go out, had to make 4 visits to the Embassy, get passport photos taken, be interviewed seperately by the commissioner of the police and endure a number of other unpleasant things. It was of course their own fault, not Royal Caribbeans and im not saying it was but i think its important for people to be aware of how this situation would impact if it happened to you.

They had to pay 3 extra days to stay in the hotel, for food and had to book flights and pay for those so that they could join the ship in Puerto Montt.

I was surprised to see that RCI offered no facillity to help them book flights or give advice on how to obtain new passports.

 

They eventually got their passports on Tuesday evening and so confirmed their flights and caught the 90 minute flight to the ship next day. Of course, there was no rep to now meet them at the airport so they caught a taxi to the ship. Myself and my family were out on a pre booked tour when they arrived but were dismayed to hear they had been refused entry to the secure compound surrounding the ship and had been made to stand for almost an hour in the pouring rain with their suitcases by their side and no shelter.

I complained to the hotel director that they should have at least been given shelter and somewhere to sit and that it was unacceptable for them to be made to wait so long. He said it was the Chilian authorities who had kept them waiting but said he would look into it.

He later offered to upgrade them to The Grand Suite from their inside cabin. It was a really lovely cabin which my in laws accepted but they were now so upset that they just wanted to go home. It was a feeling they kept for the whole of the cruise and were never their normal selves for any of the remaining days.

 

It was a sad lesson to learn and i hope you all learn from this experience. I think RCI could have handled it better though. There were apparantly 10 others who lost thier passports in Santiago! 2 got to the ship to find they could not find their passports but were allowed aboad as their passports were alledgedly in their cases.

My in laws are platinium members and have sailed with RCI a number of times.....does anyone know if there was any other way they could have joined the ship rather than be left behind to fend for themselves?

 

All that aside, everything else on our cruise was excellent, ...and i agree with what everyone says....the staff really are fantastic on this ship!

Flavia the group co ordinator was awsome and Matias the acting coach was brilliant!

 

Thank you DanceMan for reminding us all how important it is for us to take extra care when traveling!!! I admire your honesty and am so happy you and your family are safe...

 

Thanks again!

[WooWooGirl]

I *really* hope I didn't come across as "one of those people who can't look past their own judgments."

 

I travel to some really "outback" parts of the world... as well as scuba dive in these places... and the ONE thing I've learned from this is that when going anywhere, I don't rely on anyone else to assess my risks for me.

 

If you want to travel safely, you have to accept that it's your responsibility to research and understand the rules and the risks of the places you plan to visit. If you think that this is the responsibility of your travel agent or anyone else, you're eventually going to get burned.

 

IMHO, you should invest the time to research the places you want to visit (and things you want to do), and decide whether or not you're okay with the risks. If you're okay with the risks, you should cover your butt with enough insurance to handle unexpected contingencies.

 

Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

 

Well said :)

 

Hilarous! The OP openly and brazenly breaks the law himself and then cries when he gets robbed. Sounds like karma to me. RCI had nothing to do with any of this.

 

That was my point too...

[WooWooGirl]

:eek: Thats just plain nasty and uncaring. If you read it all , it seems like a genuine mistake which can happen when you have children and elderly people with you and you are trying to take care of them all. I know rules are rules and she was fined, but to make that remark after all they went through??? was that neccesary? you just poked at one point and not anything else.

 

To the op, I am so sorry these things happened to all the family, elderly people can take ages to get over these things, it really upsets them.

 

 

No it isn't (a genuine mistake)!! I have kids and I watch what they do when they travel...if you read what he wrote he seems to think the law wouldn't pertain to him!! I read his story but chose from his first statement NOT to reply to the rest....now you are poking at me, yea, you are SO much better than I

[uksimonusa]

:eek: Thats just plain nasty and uncaring. If you read it all , it seems like a genuine mistake which can happen when you have children and elderly people with you and you are trying to take care of them all. I know rules are rules and she was fined, but to make that remark after all they went through??? was that neccesary? you just poked at one point and not anything else.

 

To the op, I am so sorry these things happened to all the family, elderly people can take ages to get over these things, it really upsets them.

 

Not wanting to seem mean or rude, but if the OP were taking care of the in laws, then surely they would not have abandoned them is a foreign country and gone on to enjoy their cruise. At the very least, if the inlaws insisted they go on the ship and leave them, they could have cancelled their excursion and greeted them when they finally made the ship