Medications on cruise.

[iancal]

I cannot even recall ever being asked as we entered any country if we had any scripts.  We have entered the US countless times by land, air, and sea.  Never, ever been asked the question.  Nor can we recall seeing it on any entry forms from any country that we have visited.  

 

I have no doubt that most countries have regs that the can enforce when officials feel the need.  All of the countries that we have visited understand the benefits of tourism and appear to do their best to strike a balance between enforcement for the sake of enforcement, common sense, ,manpower issues, and their tourism industry.

 

Really, who are they going to hit on.?  In our case  two travel weary tired looking seniors each with a tattered carry on or someone whose suitcase is of interest to the dog or whose suitcase shows signs of tampering as it goes through the Xray machine?  Or someone  who has a suitcase full of banned fruit, and meat products, plant material,  or an excessive amount of cash but yet failed to indicate this on their entry card.

Edited September 3, 2019 by iancal

[Randyk47]

Like iancal we have never been challenged and never had any issues with an of our domestic and International travel.   I will say a friend who was a TSA regional official up until a couple of years ago recommended we travel with our medications in their original bottles.  His point was that especially with our foreign travel it is better to be safe than sorry.  He said they have tried to train TSA security checkpoint personnel but there’s always somebody who doesn’t get the message so he wouldn’t go as far as saying we’d never come up against an overzealous agent.   

[AncientWanderer]

I'm sure that if one wanted to slog through them all, every single travel book ever written recommends traveling with meds in original RX bottles.  So why fight it?  Why have worries?  You're on vacation!  

[Mackie2u2]

Because total number of container would be 20.  Do not want to drag around that many if I don't have to!

[*Miss G*]

1 hour ago, Mackie2u2 said:

Because total number of container would be 20.  Do not want to drag around that many if I don't have to!

 

I would list them like you do at the doctor’s office.  Create a document with the medication name and dose then print it out and bring it with you.  They are easily searchable online if your trustworthiness comes into question.  You can also add the prescription and pharmacy # just in case you/they need to contact someone about them.

[GeezerCouple]

11 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

I would list them like you do at the doctor’s office.  Create a document with the medication name and dose then print it out and bring it with you.  They are easily searchable online if your trustworthiness comes into question.  You can also add the prescription and pharmacy # just in case you/they need to contact someone about them.

 

If you really do not want to bring originally labelled bottles, then at least also have printed copies of the scripts and perhaps a letter from your physician stating that you take "the following medications as prescribed" or such.

 

Or scan copies and keep them accessible on your mobile phone as scans or from the cloud.

 

GC

[sail7seas]

51 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

If you really do not want to bring originally labelled bottles, then at least also have printed copies of the scripts and perhaps a letter from your physician stating that you take "the following medications as prescribed" or such.

 

Or scan copies and keep them accessible on your mobile phone as scans or from the cloud.

 

GC

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Randyk47 said:

Like iancal we have never been challenged and never had any issues with an of our domestic and International travel.   I will say a friend who was a TSA regional official up until a couple of years ago recommended we travel with our medications in their original bottles.  His point was that especially with our foreign travel it is better to be safe than sorry.  He said they have tried to train TSA security checkpoint personnel but there’s always somebody who doesn’t get the message so he wouldn’t go as far as saying we’d never come up against an overzealous agent.   

 

 

For the ship, I fill my day by day pill case and it has alwyas been fine  with no issue.  When I fly, I bring pharmacy bottles in zip lock bag and  more than once, TSA agent when opening my carry on to check some  thing  else.    (my jewelry case)  they saw the  zip lock and said 'good thing' I  carried the pills that way.  From then on I never took a chance to travel with filled pill case.  When I get to my destination, I then fill  my daily pill holder.  I  must have those meds and if they were confiscated, I'd have  to go home.  I have no family to send replacements to me.

 

For the ship, no one has ever had a comment about my meds.

 

My pharmacy provides a  prescription information paper  for every Rx  It has name of med, description, doseage  etc as well as my name etc  I carry those papers in case I need refills, replacement,

 

 

Edited September 3, 2019 by sail7seas

[AncientWanderer]

3 hours ago, Mackie2u2 said:

Because total number of container would be 20.  Do not want to drag around that many if I don't have to!

 

I think sail7seas has the right suggestion as to how to travel with meds.  

 

We just put them all in the bottom of our roller carry-on.  Not heavy, no muss, no fuss.  They are there for us when we need them.

[sail7seas]

20 hours ago, cormike1 said:

I am not positive but I think in Canada they say your pills have to be in their original container.  That being said, my husband does up his "1-week plastic container" with his pills and puts the originals in a baggie and that goes in his carry-on also.  He has never been asked to pull either out going through security or customs going in or out any country including our own, Canada.

 

  Yet

😫

 

 

[creel5857]

I have heard from many who never have a problem and we didnt either on the first 8 cruises and then on cruise 9 there was a breach of security at the cruise port and it was a long and they were checking all carry on bags and even people’s med bags and planners??.  When they saw ours in our original bottles they immediately sent us on through.   So between that incident and unforeseen issues with airport security I will take my med bottles just to be safe.

[TAD2005]

I always had a good laugh way back in the 80's and 90's when cruise directors were giving the stock standard speech to a show room full of guests who were about to disembark in a US port.   He would say "As you leave the ship and enter the terminal, you will see lines and lines of luggage.   You will also see US Customs agents with their drug sniffing dogs going up and down the lines of luggage.   If you see one of the dogs stop at your bag, you better hope and pray that the dog simply lifts his leg and pees, and moves on".    That was always good for a good laugh, especially on cruises returning from Jamaica.

[AncientWanderer]

2 hours ago, TAD2005 said:

I always had a good laugh way back in the 80's and 90's when cruise directors were giving the stock standard speech to a show room full of guests who were about to disembark in a US port.   He would say "As you leave the ship and enter the terminal, you will see lines and lines of luggage.   You will also see US Customs agents with their drug sniffing dogs going up and down the lines of luggage.   If you see one of the dogs stop at your bag, you better hope and pray that the dog simply lifts his leg and pees, and moves on".    That was always good for a good laugh, especially on cruises returning from Jamaica.

 

One time, at the end of the day in Jamaica, we watched from our deck as a passenger was escorted onto the dock, where he was allowed to wait for his luggage to be taken off the ship and delivered to him (well, okay, thrown at him) and the ship left him there standing on the dock and sailed away into the sunset.  Whoah!  

Our scheduled departure was only delayed 15 minutes or so.  

 

Sorry to go off topic.   🙄

[mamaofami]

After calling customs in Canada today, I have taken my meds out of the daily pill boxes and put them back into their original containers. Hubby did the same, protesting all the while, but better safe than sorry when leaving the country. I have to have my meds and would have to turn around and miss my ship. 

[Mackie2u2]

Are you flying into Canada?  We are leaving Seattle on Eurodam, seven night cruise with all stops in Alaska but the last one in Victoria BC.  Hoping to leave containers at home...

 

[Randyk47]

11 hours ago, mamaofami said:

After calling customs in Canada today, I have taken my meds out of the daily pill boxes and put them back into their original containers. Hubby did the same, protesting all the while, but better safe than sorry when leaving the country. I have to have my meds and would have to turn around and miss my ship. 

 

Obviously Canadian officials advised or recommended  using original containers.   Can you share their specific reason or reasons?

[iancal]

We cross the border multiple times in a year.  Plus we do several out of country trips each year.  We have never, ever been asked about our prescriptions drugs by Canadian customs and immigration folks.  We have been asked about liquer, cigarettes, cash money, and firearms (especially at land crossings).

 

We have been told that the focus on airport entry is typically cash money, meat and plant products, and narcotics/illegal substances.  At land crossing the focus is very much on firearms and illegal substances.   

 

It is fairly obvious to the border inspection folks that tourists on their way to cruises etc.  They want to get the processed and on their way so that they can deal with the real threats.  I suspect that if you check with any country their border folks will give you very similar advice. 

 

I cannot see any border inspection folks having the time or the inclination to ask Ma or Pa Kettle, on their way to a cruise or a trip through the Rockies,  about their blood pressure pills, *****,  or whatever.  As long as it is not five years worth.

 

The only exception might be if it is a slow day (highly improbable)  and  you are caught with items such as undeclared cash in excess of $10K or firearms, or if you are extremely rude and obnoxious from the word go (highly unlikely and within your control).  Or if the screen lights up with your criminal record.  Again...highly unlikely.

Edited September 4, 2019 by iancal

[whogo]

I would leave any prescribed narcotics or other abuse-able drugs in their original containers.

[RocketMan275]

19 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

If you really do not want to bring originally labelled bottles, then at least also have printed copies of the scripts and perhaps a letter from your physician stating that you take "the following medications as prescribed" or such.

 

Or scan copies and keep them accessible on your mobile phone as scans or from the cloud.

 

GC

Most physicians now electronically transmit prescriptions to the pharmacy, written prescriptions are pretty much a thing of the past.  There is no copy to scan.

[Randyk47]

Luckily we only have three prescription medications and none of those are close to being controlled substances.   It would not be immediately life threatening or cause any significant or immediate issue if we didn’t have them.  Even with that in mind we take them in their original containers.   If your medications are absolutely necessary for your well being then I can’t understand not taking as reasonable as possible steps to make sure they aren’t lost or confiscated.  Why risk that even as unlikely as it might be you’ll be somehow relieved of them?  

[mamaofami]

1 hour ago, Randyk47 said:

 

Obviously Canadian officials advised or recommended  using original containers.   Can you share their specific reason or reasons?

There really was no reason. That is what they said their policy is. I don't want to take a chance.

[Randyk47]

7 minutes ago, mamaofami said:

There really was no reason. That is what they said their policy is. I don't want to take a chance.

 

That’s their policy so enough said.  That is their reason.  Whether it’s evenly or always enforced doesn’t matter.  

Edited September 4, 2019 by Randyk47

[GeezerCouple]

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

Most physicians now electronically transmit prescriptions to the pharmacy, written prescriptions are pretty much a thing of the past.  There is no copy to scan.

 

A copy of that from the pharmacy serves precisely the same purpose.  It's the same thing, conveyed differently.

 

ETA:  And I'm sure the physician can provide something similar as well.  You wouldn't be the only person to have some sort of need for this documentation, often for traveling.

 

GC

Edited September 4, 2019 by GeezerCouple

[1of4]

I have had to transport injectables across the boarder before so brought a letter from my doctor as I would have lost my pregnancy without the daily heparin injections.  Everyone read that letter, even the ship.

 

Most pharmacies now will put prescriptions in daily blister packs for you with the Rex attached.  Why don’t you request that service for the duration of your trip?  It is free, or is here.  It made life so much easier for my mother as she just opened one blister package a day.  Much easier to transport.

Edited September 4, 2019 by 1of4

[RocketMan275]

36 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

A copy of that from the pharmacy serves precisely the same purpose.  It's the same thing, conveyed differently.

 

ETA:  And I'm sure the physician can provide something similar as well.  You wouldn't be the only person to have some sort of need for this documentation, often for traveling.

 

GC

We use express scripts, a mail order pharmacy.  

Considering the fact that we've yet to be asked, I'm not going to the trouble.

[RocketMan275]

30 minutes ago, 1of4 said:

I have had to transport injectables across the boarder before so brought a letter from my doctor as I would have lost my pregnancy without the daily heparin injections.  Everyone read that letter, even the ship.

 

Most pharmacies now will put prescriptions in daily blister packs for you with the Rex attached.  Why don’t you request that service for the duration of your trip?  It is free, or is here.  It made life so much easier for my mother as she just opened one blister package a day.  Much easier to transport.

I've not seen where Express Scripts offers blister packs.  I'll check.

 

Evidently Express Scripts doesn't offer that service.  Since they send prescriptions in 90 day increments, it would be no help for a near term cruise.

Edited September 4, 2019 by RocketMan275