security when returning from excursion in MoBay - truth????

[dodygirl]

Hi all... quick question or 2 for whoever can help me out that has cruised here recently..... :confused: I wonder if it is true that when you re-embark the ship after visiting Jam. do they strip search the younger kids (16 - 25 years). I read on a thread that they did this to a few teens. I just worry as I am planning on the Zip line there and going with my brother and 2 nephews and they would be devastated if this happened and I don't want to get off there if they will do that to them... If anyone can help me out that would be great thanks.

[superjerryw]

That's absurd. A cruise line would never have the nerve to do something like that. The only time I can imagine a strip search is if they were looking for drugs. In that case I am sure they would turn the matter over to the local police. If a cruise line tried to strip search a passeneger for no reason they would be out of business overnight.

[howard6933]

I agree with Jerry. If a cruise ship did a strip search on anyone, that would be the media's delight and word would spread so fast that you couldn't believe. A cruise line that would resort to such behavior could pack up their lifeboats and close the doors to their offices. :eek:

[Langley Cruisers]

I can't imagine there being even a grain of truth to this. This is how rumors get started and grow and grow - it's pretty sad.

 

Think about it - when does a person get strip-searched? After they have been arrested by the police and there is a suspicion or reason to believe they are carrying something on their person. A non-warranted strip search is a violation of a person's rights and I agree that the cruise line would be out of business in a second.

 

I think you can relax... sounds like a vicious rumor to me.

[BobBeaSea]

If, and I mean if, a strip search is carried out it will be probably be for a good reason although I have never heard of this happening in MoBay. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, just that I am unaware. Chances are heavy that it won't be ship personnel, more likely Jamaican authorities whom you do go through at the port when returning to the ship. Jamaica is FIRM about the smuggling of drugs on and off the island. At your resort or away from airports/ports etc. they don't care much about what you do, just don't go anywhere near the airports/ports with drugs on your person or in your bag.

[crusingdave]

We were on the Freedom on the 7/9 sailing and Montego Bay was a port of call. We are in our 50's and were not stopped by Jamaican authorities. There were 3 teenagers behind us in line and the were stopped by the Jamaican authorities, not RCCL and they made them empty out their pockets. However, there were some very upset people who said their teenage sons were stripped searched by an armed female customs agent and three teenagers were put in jail over-night for drug possession. They missed the ship and had to find their own way back to Miami. The one boys father said his wife stayed in Jamaica. There was only a $20.00 fine according to one of these people. RCCL did hold the ship for about an hour trying to get the teenagers released. And some people stated the drugs were planted on the teenagers but I cannot make a fair comment about this. Whether this happens regularly I don't know.

[Terpnut]

We were on the Freedom on the 7/9 sailing and Montego Bay was a port of call. We are in our 50's and were not stopped by Jamaican authorities. There were 3 teenagers behind us in line and the were stopped by the Jamaican authorities, not RCCL and they made them empty out their pockets. However, there were some very upset people who said their teenage sons were stripped searched by an armed female customs agent and three teenagers were put in jail over-night for drug possession. They missed the ship and had to find their own way back to Miami. The one boys father said his wife stayed in Jamaica. There was only a $20.00 fine according to one of these people. RCCL did hold the ship for about an hour trying to get the teenagers released. And some people stated the drugs were planted on the teenagers but I cannot make a fair comment about this. Whether this happens regularly I don't know.

Still, the strip search by Jamaican law enforcement has nothing directly to do with a cruise. In any country, if local law enforcement or customs officials think you are carrying/smuggling something illegal (e.g. drugs), this can happen to you at a point of departure (cruise ships, airports, etc.). The bottom line for the OP is, if your nephews stay clean, there should be no probable cause for a strip search.

[dodygirl]

Thank you... yes they will I am sure of it... it is just that we are doing - well planning on doing the Zip Line and I wondered if they give you a hard time when you go out and back with a tour group. I have never been on a cruise before so I don't even know what to expect as far as how the leaving/returning thing goes and if you are taken from the ship and brought back to the ship by the tour. We will be booking our excursion through RCCL and doing just the one excursion. Thank you so much for your input.. I have been looking for that post again that made me want to inquire about this and haven't found it yet.. if I do I will copy it to this thread and show you why I was concerned. I just figured if we went with a group tour and returned with them that we would be okay.

:D

[nrdsb4]

We were on the Freedom on the 7/9 sailing and Montego Bay was a port of call. We are in our 50's and were not stopped by Jamaican authorities. There were 3 teenagers behind us in line and the were stopped by the Jamaican authorities, not RCCL and they made them empty out their pockets. However, there were some very upset people who said their teenage sons were stripped searched by an armed female customs agent and three teenagers were put in jail over-night for drug possession. They missed the ship and had to find their own way back to Miami. The one boys father said his wife stayed in Jamaica. There was only a $20.00 fine according to one of these people. RCCL did hold the ship for about an hour trying to get the teenagers released. And some people stated the drugs were planted on the teenagers but I cannot make a fair comment about this. Whether this happens regularly I don't know.

 

I could see how drugs could be planted in a beach bag perhaps, or maybe even pockets of really baggy shorts, but if drugs were discovered only after a strip search, it's hard to imagine how someone could pull that off without the kids being aware. Sounds like something a parent in denial would say.

[RammerJammer]

I thought Carnival Conquest was the only ship visiting Montego Bay:confused::confused:

 

I'll tell you this, though. I had not reached the taxi when we disembarked before 3 different guys offered me smoke. Only the most ignorant person on earth would buy dope there and try to bring it back on the ship (not referring to anyone in particular - just an observation). Insane.

I don't even know why they visit there anymore. Many, many much better POC they could go to.

[superjerryw]

Thank you... yes they will I am sure of it... it is just that we are doing - well planning on doing the Zip Line and I wondered if they give you a hard time when you go out and back with a tour group. I have never been on a cruise before so I don't even know what to expect as far as how the leaving/returning thing goes and if you are taken from the ship and brought back to the ship by the tour. We will be booking our excursion through RCCL and doing just the one excursion. Thank you so much for your input.. I have been looking for that post again that made me want to inquire about this and haven't found it yet.. if I do I will copy it to this thread and show you why I was concerned. I just figured if we went with a group tour and returned with them that we would be okay.

:D

 

If you book an excursion with the ship you will be told to meet at a specified time on the pier. Someone will escort the group to a bus that will take you on your excursion. At the end of the excursion you will be brought back to the pier.

[caribbeanfever]

We were also on the 7/9 Freedom of the Seas cruise with our 19yo son and we did the river tubing in Montego Bay, and when we returned to the port we saw no one there being searched.

[Micknmin]

I thought Carnival Conquest was the only ship visiting Montego Bay:confused::confused:

No, the Freedom of the Seas goes there too. It is their third port of call. We were on the July 16th voyage with our two daughters, ages 18 & 21, and no one searched them or even questioned them in any way. Maybe they just don't look like the type, or maybe it was because they were with us.

[rosie40]

Hi all... quick question or 2 for whoever can help me out that has cruised here recently..... :confused: I wonder if it is true that when you re-embark the ship after visiting Jam. do they strip search the younger kids (16 - 25 years). I read on a thread that they did this to a few teens. I just worry as I am planning on the Zip line there and going with my brother and 2 nephews and they would be devastated if this happened and I don't want to get off there if they will do that to them... If anyone can help me out that would be great thanks.

 

On our Freedom sailing in June, 3 of us, myself, Grandma, and "tweenage" daughter walked through a typical line w xray machine, etc, in Mobay when returning to the ship. Upon the return of my DH and my teenage daughter from their zipline tour (which they loved!!), he felt as though they were definitely profiled and directed to particular line w/ many other teens. The line moved extreeeemly slowly because they were going through everyone's items very thoroughly, emptying pockets, etc. Some were patted down. No, they were not strip searched. (Oh my gosh, I would have come unglued if that had happened to my daughter!!) I asked DH if he thought it was b/c of the type of tour they were on that they were "targeted", but he thought not, b/c he didn't feel like they would have known where they were coming from. I think they just seemed to fit one of the the demographics they were looking at.. teen. With regard to something having been planted on those teens.. I mean really, who knows?? That is another reason it just really creeps me out to have our luggage in the ships hallway all that time waiting to be collected for departure. You just never know what crazy stuff could happen with all those passers by when it is out of your possesion :eek:

[nrdsb4]

With regard to something having been planted on those teens.. I mean really, who knows?? That is another reason it just really creeps me out to have our luggage in the ships hallway all that time waiting to be collected for departure. You just never know what crazy stuff could happen with all those passers by when it is out of your possesion :eek:

 

You can minimize the risk of people messing with your luggage if you lock it before putting it in the hallway. They might cut your bag open anyway, but it would be obvious that it was tampered with.

[rosie40]

You can minimize the risk of people messing with your luggage if you lock it before putting it in the hallway. They might cut your bag open anyway, but it would be obvious that it was tampered with.

 

Yes, very true. However, some bags have so many extra little exterior pockets to slip things in/out of that you can't really seem to lock, you know?? In any case, I just do my best to have all the zippers closed down toward the floor, and don't put them out any earlier than we need to... We're usually still up around the the time they are picking up, anyway. I'm not that paranoid in other areas of my life, but the fact of the matter is that it's a very different world we live in these days.:( I think you need to be aware and vigilant, particularly in a foreign country.

[Cassandra]

Jamaica is a 3rd world country - that's no secret. Their so-called police is a joke and are paid off to keep their mouths shut and their eyes adverted. It's dirty politics all around.

[Merion_Mom]

Hi all... quick question or 2 for whoever can help me out that has cruised here recently..... :confused: I wonder if it is true that when you re-embark the ship after visiting Jam. do they strip search the younger kids (16 - 25 years). I read on a thread that they did this to a few teens. I just worry as I am planning on the Zip line there and going with my brother and 2 nephews and they would be devastated if this happened and I don't want to get off there if they will do that to them... If anyone can help me out that would be great thanks.

 

note: This happened in Ocho Rios.

 

Fact: The Jamaican police control the security checkpoint before you go out on the pier to re-board your ship.

 

Fact: On my Crown Princess cruise, FRIENDS of mine (not hearsay, not rumor, not third party story) were stopped and hand-patted. Her BROTHER was taken into another room and STRIP-SEARCHED. (he didn't have anything, but he sure fit the "profile")

 

Fact: On my Crown Princess cruise, two (3?) young men bought MJ, brought it successfully back onto the ship. (21-22 year olds). They were SO pleased with their smuggling ability, they went BACK onto the street and bought some more. This time, they were caught and thrown into Jamaican jail. This was on a late Saturday afternoon, and they had to sit in jail until Monday for a hearing. Their parents left them money to fly home. They told them to deal with the consequences of their actions.

 

(Princess was willing to let them reboard in Port Canaveral, but the parents said, No, fly home, and we'll deal with you there)

 

(of course, we ALL ended up getting off in Port Canaveral, but that has nothing to do with this story :))

 

Moral of the story: Don't be stupid. You're not in the United States, and you have no U.S. citizen's rights. Their country, their rules.

[wrp96]

Moral of the story: Don't be stupid. You're not in the United States, and you have no U.S. citizen's rights. Their country, their rules.

 

Carol, there you go again being logical and reasonable.:D

[flagger]

Frankly the bill of rights not only does not extend to foreign countries, it does not extend to cruise ships as well. They sail under a foreign flag. Furthermore, the bilk of rights applies only to the government or in effect agents of the government.

 

I can strip search anyone who enters my house and am in violation of no one's rights.

[phopte]

Think about it - when does a person get strip-searched? After they have been arrested by the police and there is a suspicion or reason to believe they are carrying something on their person. A non-warranted strip search is a violation of a person's rights and I agree that the cruise line would be out of business in a second.

 

 

Without commenting on if it happened or not since I don't know, I would offer that US and Canadian rights don't apply when in another country. Jamaican laws and enforcement policies can and are much different than what most of us are used to. As someone said, their country - their rules. At best, the US State Department can respectifully request consideration for US citizens if something happens but it is a request - not a demand. Now having said that, I do recognize all of the other factors that can come into play such as economics and all, but it is stil best to remember that you are "not in Kansas any more" while cruising, something a lot of people forget.