Don't FaceTime while you are waiting to get off the ship

[kybluecruiser]

Okay, on the ship. ICE isn't usually ON the ship so something else was going on and probably nothing good (for someone).

 

They were on the ship on my last cruise on the fantasy. I had a cabin on empress deck the same deck you disembark. I walked out of my stateroom to get breakfast and saw several agents standing at the end of the hall with dogs. They were just standing there talking.

[sailinglisa]

When I disembarked the Breeze yesterday, the whole area of deck 3 near the gangways was off limits as it was a customs enforcement area. We were allowed to move around the perimeter of the area but we could not linger or talk on our phones. Seems like the OP was near the customs enforcement area and she was caught not once, but twice using her phone next to an enforcement area....which would alert the agents. You can be on the perimeter of a restricted area and still take pics. That is why the no cell phone/cameras are allowed.

 

Do I think it should be better communicated about not using cell phones in that area, yes. Should the agents ignore someone who does not follow the rules, no.

Edited May 12, 2014 by sailinglisa

[valentinebaby1]

I don't recall seeing any signs posted or hearing that photos are not allowed in customs areas while embarking or disembarking, and of course was taking pictures while embarking on our cruise last year. It was our first cruise ever, and our first experience with anything customs related. Someone quickly told me no photos, and I put the camera away, end of story.

 

More recently, and slightly unrelated, the same thing happened while getting off the plane on a recent trip to Cozumel. Since I don't have a lot of experience flying, and this was our first trip out of the country that wasn't on a cruise, I was excited to be taking pictures, especially because I thought it was cool that the plane didn't have a jetway to the airport. We had to exit from the plane outside, and I turned around quickly to take a photo of the plane with the stairs down. I was very quickly told to put the camera away, no photos were allowed in customs! I didn't really think about it being customs at that point, I was just excited to be in Mexico! But now I know lol

[chengkp75]

The reason for no phones or cameras in customs and immigration areas is so that CBP and ICE agents cannot be photographed. Since ICE was apparently onboard, the ruling applied there, but Carnival should have announced it, or had it in the daily. Unfortunately, CBP and ICE tend to be able to make up the rules as they go along, and "customer" relations is not in their training syllabus. The ICE agent may have just come off an undercover job, and been having a bad hair day, and really didn't want to be photographed or questioned. They do tend to be rude and impatient, as it is virtually impossible to pursue any action to a supervisory level without expensive legal action and future harassment.

[CruiseFan3035]

The reason for no phones or cameras in customs and immigration areas is so that CBP and ICE agents cannot be photographed. Since ICE was apparently onboard, the ruling applied there, but Carnival should have announced it, or had it in the daily. Unfortunately, CBP and ICE tend to be able to make up the rules as they go along, and "customer" relations is not in their training syllabus. The ICE agent may have just come off an undercover job, and been having a bad hair day, and really didn't want to be photographed or questioned. They do tend to be rude and impatient, as it is virtually impossible to pursue any action to a supervisory level without expensive legal action and future harassment.

 

 

 

We've been on 6 cruises thus far and most of our experiences with the ICE agents haven't been too bad. We did encounter a grumpy gut this past September when my husband, who is a total people person, was trying to make small talk with an agent. We walked up with our info in hand like we always do. He didn't say a word, took our papers and was looking them over with this sour look on his face. My husband said "it can't be that bad, the day is just beginning"... Next thing I know the agent was all over us with attitude. He said "you don't know my life or me to know what kind of day I've been having...." Needless to say we won't make that mistake of trying to be personable again.

 

 

 

Me 😃

[cruizinisthebest]

I've never run across a rude customs agent. In fact, we when we disembarked last year, the agent's helping us were very friendly. I don't see what there is to take pictures of anyway during debarkation. Sure the guy didn't have to be as rude as he was. Passenger also could have just put the phone away. If they were actually on the ship, there's a reason. Sometimes it's not worth the hassle just to have your way.

Edited May 12, 2014 by cruizinisthebest

[chengkp75]

I've never run across a rude customs agent. In fact, we when we disembarked last year, the agent's helping us were very friendly. I don't see what there is to take pictures of anyway during debarkation. Sure the guy didn't have to be as rude as he was. Passenger also could have just put the phone away. If they were actually on the ship, there's a reason. Sometimes it's not worth the hassle just to have your way.

 

Most times passengers are dealing with CBP agents for disembarking, not ICE agents. ICE is the enforcement branch of Customs, and as you've said, there is a reason they are there, though it may be just a random inspection.

[CrusinCyndi]

A few cruises back we had an agent that questioned why we had purchased 2 cartons of ciggs and I would need to pay tax on one of them..I declared them on 1 customs form like you are suppose to do when traveling with a family....anyhow I told him 1 carton per person, No Tax, DO THE MATH...he didn't say anything further and let us go....duh

[PaulMedik]

With technology advancing as it is they are going to be photographed and have video all the time while not noticing. I cruised with my GoPro last month and it was on and running quite a bit when I thought it was off. I have seen glasses that look just like sunglasses that captures HD video as well as blue tooth ear pods that capture video / audio as well.

 

Regardless of the OP's intent, they did get a Faster FTTF debarkation at no extra charge. :)

 

In my experience an interview such as the OP went thru is designed to ellicit a certain response; if the wrong response is received, then the interview escalates. I have also seen interviewers escalate for no reason other than to have a different day than yesterday.

[Tapi]

So basically you're suggesting that instead of paying for FTTF, if someone wants to get off the ship quickly, all they have to do is take some photos or videos during debarkation? Thanks for the great tip! :D

 

Seriously, I deal with various customs agents on a regular basis because of my job, traveling internationally. Even in full uniform, they've occasionally treated me like a drug smuggling criminal more than once. I've learned to smile, keep my mouth shut and let them enjoy their little power trip.

 

Although it sucks for law abiding citizens to occasionally get singled out by customs, I do appreciate what they do. These agents aren't there to smile, provide great customer service, or enhance our cruise experience. They are there to monitor our borders and keep us safe.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[PaulMedik]

So basically you're suggesting that instead of paying for FTTF, if someone wants to get off the ship quickly, all they have to do is take some photos or videos during debarkation? Thanks for the great tip! :D

............

 

 

 

Tapi,

 

:D Sounds like the plan eh.

[Big_G]

So basically you're suggesting that instead of paying for FTTF, if someone wants to get off the ship quickly, all they have to do is take some photos or videos during debarkation? Thanks for the great tip! :D

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Careful, you might end up embarking on a different trip complete with free bracelets? :D

[LzyCruiser_NWA]

The main issue is that they're trying to prevent people from video taping procedures that would aid in smuggling.

 

Also, they also want people to move quickly through customs, not fiddle on their phone and holding everyone up.

[lady_cruiser]

I'm wondering if there is more to this story that the OP isn't aware of. It sounds like somewhere or somehow they were flagged. And in defense of our government, ICE personnel aren't paid to be friendly. They have to take their jobs seriously. Just putting in my penny's worth.

Edited May 12, 2014 by lady_cruiser

[pbmsmile]

Never FaceTime while you are waiting to leave the boat....

 

 

Lesson learned today while we were waiting to get off the Conquest this morning. I was FaceTimeing my oldest child at home and was walking around with my phone around the main lobby. Guess that I stood there too long b/c I was soon met by a very, tall, and not so nice ICE man. He demanded to see all the pictures that I had just taken. I tried to explain to him that I was talking to my daughter and even told him that I would call my 10 year old back on FaceTime. He still wanted to keep my phone as I was trying to explain to him the concept of FaceTime. Guess he didn't have an iPhone ever.

 

 

I went back to sit in the hall way waiting patiently for the self-assist to get off the boat. We had FTTF, so we were in group one to get off. Well I wanted to stretch my legs, so I was walking around the lobby and this ICE man comes charging over to me demanding to know what I was doing. There were 5 other people standing in the same place that I was. He then asked who I was with. I showed him my husband who was sitting in the hall with our backpack. The guy yelled at my husband to get up and come with him. He told me that we were getting off the ship right then and there.

 

 

 

Then we heard one last bing with no good-bye. We were leaving with the ICE man. We were then put up on the wall of the ship hands up and all. The dog got to sniff both of us and then our bag got sniffed THREE times. I was a little in shock. I don't even drink! much less smoke anything and the best drug that I take is a Tylenol here and there. I guess after the third time that the dog sniffed our bag that was good enough for us to be let go. So it was a fun morning that turned out to be Faster to the Fun with ICE today.

 

 

 

So lesson of the story: don't facetime and don't walk around when you are waiting to get off the ship.

Wow! That is just awful and totally overzealous! I took a picture of the sign that said WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES and they didn't think that was very funny either. They very sternly told me to erase it immediately (which I pretended to do) because it affected national security..??? I am still not sure how, but I won't take any more pictures thats for sure!!

[stevenr597]

United States Cusotms and Immigration does request that you take no photographs of the Customs and Immigration Set-Up and Procedures. They also request that no attempt be made to take photrapghs of any of the security personal. The reasons for this is quite obvious. Waling around with a cell phone taking photographs probably triggered off some security alert. Be happy that nothing more serious occured.

[SUSIEK]

[quote name='wrigley80']It's probably why there are signs all over not to have your phone out during embarkation. Never been at a port yet where there weren't signs posted alerting passengers to keep their phones put away until you are past customs[/QUOTE]


Aren't the signs past the gangway before you get to customs? You are actually off the ship at that point. I know you can't use your phones there... signs everywhere.
But this person says she was still on the ship. I have never seen signs on the ship.

[DGP1111]

[quote name='PaulMedik'] . . . Regardless of the OP's intent, they did get a Faster FTTF debarkation at no extra charge. :) [/quote]

[COLOR=darkred]I'm calling that my free humor to start off the new week.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkred]Thanks for the chuckle, Paul[B][I]!![/I][/B] :D[/COLOR]

[COLOR=white].[/COLOR]

[JerseyHorseLover]

Since 9/11, there are many rules to follow in specific areas & places of the country. Just remember,we as citizens do not know everything about what our gov't is informed about with terrorists. I am former law enforcement here in NJ, and just wanted to give you all a heads up why you cannot take photos & things like that in specific areas. To the poster, so sorry to hear how it was handled.

[aaron3219]

I don't know what port you were at but the only place I was annoyed and hassled(not to that degree) was in Florida.

We picked up a case of water to take back on the ship with us. The woman at Security picked it up, shook it and slammed it down on the counter so hard she broken 3 bottles of water open. I was slightly angry. I stood there, opened up the pack, took the three bottles out making certain I gave them a good squeeze as I was throwing them in the trash to get as much water all over her counter, and floor by the trash can awhile staring at her intently. When I squeezed the first bottle and it sprayed all over the counter and floor she was squinting at me. I think if she could of gotten away with it she would of punched me in the face.

Don't know if my behavior was necessary but it sure felt good. She was obviously a very miserable person but doesn't need to take that out on me.

Then every 5 seconds someone was asking to see my ID or sign and sail card. I was ready to strangle someone by the time I got out of there. We would go up a set of stairs, someone at the bottom would ask to see our card, then we would get to the top and they would ask again! They could see us at the bottom show our card, then ask again at the top. I must of handed that card to someone 50 times getting back on the boat. I was pretty annoyed. Edited May 12, 2014 by aaron3219

[boaterette]

I have never seen ICE on a ship even after 25 cruises. Weird.

[dljones]

Wow!

....Best to keep your head down and mouth shut around enforcement officers of any persuasion.

[Fitzget]

We were once on a RCI ship, on a 3 day weekend cruise. Someone must have thought a weed smell was coming from our balcony, and complained. Wasn't us, but on the morning of debarkation, ICE came knocking on our door before the sun was even up, and escorted us to the hallway where we were detained while they searched our cabin, bags, balcony, etc.

Obviously we had nothing, since it wasn't us smoking. But the ICE agents did find some Cuban cigars in my bag. They asked what they were, and when I said they were Cubans, he took the Cuban label off, handed them back to me, and said "they aren't Cuban any more". They felt really bad for putting us through all that, and ended up being really nice guys.

To this day, it's given us a great story to tell.

[shredie]

[quote name='cruizinisthebest']I've never run across a rude customs agent. [/QUOTE]

You have been fortunate. I have seen a few not-so-nice customs people, and I think it depends on the port. The ones who stick out in my mind were in Florida and California. The nicest I remember were in Seattle and New York.

A woman in line in front of me last week was doing Face Time with someone, and the people who were monitoring the lines asked her to stop. We were off the ship by that time. The lady complied, and there was no drama. I guess there's really no predicting how things will go.

[Monarch523]

Holy Crap thats scary!!! Glad you're ok though PHEW!!