:ban:Royal Caribbean will CONFISCATE my machine!:ban:

[goutsideandplay]

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line told me over the phone that they will NOT allow any beach hunting metal detectors ABOARD any of their ships.

They said they would CONFISCATE my metal detector at the port of departure and will return it to me when I return from my cruise.



They did not ask my name.

They did not say thank you for booking with us.

They WILL NOT send me a confirming e-mail IN WRITING of their list of restricted items.

They said a metal detector is NOT ON THE LIST of restricted items to bring aboard the ship.

This is just another one of our freedoms that are lost.

All I wanted to do was to scan the swimming beach as my excursion while in port.

Is this all about making money on their pre-packed excursions?

My ports of call are Labadee (Labodi) Royal Caribbean's private beach, also St Thomas USVI (Virgin Islands), and St. Kitts.

ARE ALL the cruise lines restricting bringing aboard hobby metal detectors?

If you are not mad you should be.:veryangry:

Maybe some of the beach enthusiasts who are on this forum could contact the cruise industry and get something in writing and see if the answers are consistent.

Perhaps some of you might enjoy bringing your beach detector aboard a cruise in the future.

Maybe you didn't know you have to leave your machine at home.

Does anyone know a metal detector dealer who would rent me a machine for a day in St Thomas? How about a dealer in St Kitts I could rent from?

If anyone has any input on this, please help ASAP. My cruise date is approaching soon. Thanks so much!



You can e-mail me at: goutsideandplay@comcast.net

 

[John(Tx)]

Some cruise lines do allow taking metal detectors on board. There are too many beaches here to worry about going on board royal carribean, they would never get my business. That would upset me to have mine machine confinscated by those idiots. HH

 

[goutsideandplay]

Royal Caribbean already got my money. I cruised with them before in 2001 way before I ever started metal detecting, so can recommend the food. It was a relaxing vacation.

As a community of enthusiasts, do we fight this? Spread the news? Start whining to get what we want? Or do we let it go?

 

[nikandr23]

what do you expect from totalitarian (Royal) society ?

what do you expect from 3rd world governments? (Royal Caribbean are Panama territory are they)

 

[rehless]

This just recently came up on another forum(Treasure Depot). Not sure what cruise line. One of the fellows named Casper got involved as he writes for a treasure magazine. The cruise line changed the policy.

 

[Crenman]

Yep my wife had me talked into a cruz. NOT NOW.
We will fly to a resort. I just can not see going to any beach with out my detector.

 

[mham2]

last Nov. I contacted royal Caribbean about taking my detector.on board and the person I talked to said there was no policy against taking a metal detector on the ship but she said she did not recommend it.I did take it with me in a hard case golf case. I did not check it with the luggage and kept it with me to put in my cabin.I used a soft carry case for my detector and scoop when I went ashore. I was never questioned about the golf case and was never questioned at there island beach of coco key (Bahamas)I had also checked with the gov. in the Bahamas and they said all there beaches were open to detecting.maybe you talked to the wrong person or they could have changed there policy.I found three nice rings one two with diamonds in about 2 hours. good luck

 

[Willee - Texas]

Royal Caribbean already got my money. I cruised with them before in 2001 way before I ever started metal detecting, so can recommend the food. It was a relaxing vacation.

As a community of enthusiasts, do we fight this? Spread the news? Start whining to get what we want? Or do we let it go?

We ???? How many here do you think have booked a cruise and have that problem?

You are the one booking the cruise.
Fight them by spending your money elsewhere.

I would rather drive to Florida coast spending my vacation money where I could use my detector.

 

[Bell]

I am fairly sure some folks from the forums have gotten that policy reversed in the last few weeks, but it is just another example of the ridiculousness we are encountering these days. We have to start organizing and speaking up, or our hobby will be gone. Plain and simple.
.

 

[Ivan]

..................from detector users stating that they won't go on their cruises due to this policy. Only if money is at stake, do changes get made.I for one will send such a message and if others do so you can bet they will take notice.Stand up for your rights ...because if you lie down..... your half way to being dead!!!!! LOL

 

[VBDave]

Won't affect me. I'm newly retired and certainly don't find enough gold locally to ever afford a Caribbean cruise.....

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Bell, you say: "We have to start organizing and speaking up, or our hobby will be gone. Plain and simple." Others say similar things.

But the problem is, I bet this is the origin of such rules, TO BEGIN WITH, is people making themselves a target, asking for sanctions, and getting a rule to "addresss their pressing concerns".

I mean, honestly, ask yourself, why would the cruise line, have this policy, to begin with (that you now think you must "fight")? It's because, I bet, people years ago, getting ready to cruise with these folks, pick up the phone, call ...... and ask! Now think of it: would you "ask" to take your tennis racket on board? Your PDA? Your electric shaver? etc... No, of course not. So what's the implication of asking if you can take something (a metal detector, in this case): "there must be something inherently wrong, or illegal, or else the inquirer wouldn't have asked, to begin with". With that inference in mind, I bet the next thing that happens (because, no doubt, this is also a part of the inquirer's question/asking), is that the cruise line inquires, at their beach destinations "is metal detecting ok there?". And we all know the psychology of that, right? It just snowballs, where some travel consulate, or desk-bound govt. bureaucrat, perhaps with ship-wreck salvor or export type things in mind, also says "no". So the cruise line, thinking they would be condoning an "illegal activity", says "no metal detectors on board". Imagine the surprise of the tourists, when they see that metal detectors are a common site on the beaches down there? Doh!

This pyschology of "no one cares till you ask", was seen back in the early 1980s, when Fisher Co. used to have a monthly (or quarterly?) periodical. In the newsletter thing, there was a Q&A column, where readers would send in questions. One month, a letter appeared to the editor, asking if metal detecting were legal in Mexico (apparently they were getting ready to go to one of the vacation beaches down there, so they wanted to "ask ahead"). The answer to that reader, in that Q&A column, was titled something to the effect of "when going to Mexico, leave the detectors at home". It went on to detail how md'ing was illegal there, etc.... In the NEXT edition of that same periodical, several readers had written in to take exception to Fisher's answer. They asked things like "since when?", and "who told you this?" Insisting they'd gone down, for years, without ever having a problem. Fisher's defense was, that when they had fielded the earlier inquiry, they figured the best way to get to the root of that question, was to ask border consulate types, mexican bureaucracy, or whomever. They were told "no", so they merely passed on the answer to their readers. I mean, sounds logical right? Who better to ask, than Mexico themself, right? Doh!

But here's where the pyschology kicks in: perhaps whomever Fisher talked to, couched their answer in terms of raiding historical sites (pyramaids, antiquity laws, etc....). Or perhaps they couched it in terms of shipwreck salvor type stuff (ala mel fisher legal hassle kind of stuff, gold bars, etc...). Who knows? The same answer might be forthcoming too, if you asked enough USA legal beaver lawyer bureaucrats too, because perhaps they'd have ARPA in mind, or exporting of treasure across border type stuff, etc....

But the odd thing is, detectors (as was pointed out to Fisher) are a common site down there. There are dealers down there in the bigger cities (including Fisher dealers, doh!). Certainly they can't be selling, if it's illegal, right? So the whole thing was a joke. No one cares about the casual fumble-fingers loss-hunter on the beaches, yet when you ask, they must tell you a technical answer. Kind of like park hunting here: it can go on for years, and no one cares less! But then someone takes it upon themselves to waltz into city hall, and "ask permission". Some desk-bound person tells them "no".

I can't help but think this is the origin of a cruise line saying this (because why, would they otherwise have cared?). Someone, years ago, asks questions, so he gets an answer, to an answer to "address his pressing question". So to me, "making a big stink" is NOT the solution for us all. All that does, is simply perpetuate the "something must be wrong", and "let me see how many things I can morph to apply to you" psychology. Honestly, sometimes I think we can be our own worst enemy.

 

[goutsideandplay]

Everyone assumes cell phones, laptops, ipods, Nintendos, etc. are ok to bring. Maybe one day the airlines and the cruise industry will take those too. Maybe they don't know what category a metal detector would be. Maybe they don't know it's just for fun to look for lost coins and jewelry in the sand. How can that possibly threaten anyone?

With regards to bothering people at the beach, I go all the time to a very populated beach. I don't bother people as I don't go near their spot on the beach. But they sure do have alot of questions. They follow me around to see what I have dug. I really enjoy talking to the people with questions.

I did talk to the security department of Royal Caribbean and they put me on hold to talk to their boss. Very emphatically they came back on the phone and said they would definitely take my machine and leave it at the home port under their care.

Without releasing names I did hear of a dealer going on a cruise and the security people confiscated his metal detector and his iron. The iron could start a fire, I understand that. But what threat is a beach detector? I guess he assumed he could take his machine aboard just like everyone else brings all those electronics mentioned above.

To be positive, I would like to know in writing which cruise line will actually let you bring aboard a beach detector. Hello to Princess, NCL, Holland America, Carnival. I am a consumer ready to buy your product. I love cruising and metal detecting and traveling. Sell me my next cruise and make me a happy customer. I will spread the good news, for I am in contact with thousands of people.

 

[Neil]

Royal Caribbean already got my money. I cruised with them before in 2001 way before I ever started metal detecting, so can recommend the food. It was a relaxing vacation.

As a community of enthusiasts, do we fight this? Spread the news? Start whining to get what we want? Or do we let it go?

Sounds like the whining has already started with you

 

[goutsideandplay]

The problem is we all assume we have freedom when we really don't.

 

[goutsideandplay]

-- moved topic --

 

[Neil]

youve got the freedom to pick another cruise line, the freedom to just go enjoy the cruise without a detector, plenty of freedoms.

stop focusing on what you cant do or have, and look at what you can do and do have, be thankful.

 

[Willee - Texas]

If you have enough money to take time off earning a living, go on a cruse, buy an expensive detector ... then you should not be whining about coins on the beach.

We have become a nation of spoiled softies taking for granted the things we expect as freedoms.
This is what happens when the "American Dream" becomes a demanded entitlement for everyone.
No wonder people are willing to risk their life to sneak into America and get on the welfare dole.

If you do have some money then spend it with the cruse line that lets you do what you want to do and in places where they let you detect their beaches.
Do not spend one dime elsewhere.
That is the only "power" you have.

 

[Larry (IL)]

You are right Willee, we all have the power of choice. If enough of us refuse to patronise Royal Caribbean or at least let them know we will not go on their cruises because of their policy, they might change policy. (someday). It was prior to 9-11 but when I went on Royal Caribbean, detectors were no problem.

 

[snoopythebeagle]

If the cruise line acted the way you describe (provided no explanation, would not provide in writing and was dismissive of you), then it seems to me that they are a bit arrogant in their attitude and perhaps a consideration for you and other forum members as to where to take future business. From RC's standpoint, they have the right to allow/disallow items and they do not necessarily need to provide a reason why - it is THEIR boat. I wonder if they think it's the kind of detector a security person uses vs. one that is used on a beach. Anyhow, as stupid as the rule is, probably not going to change their mind.

One way to get to the bottom is to have an attorney send a letter to the security person with whom you spoke asking for their justification. RC Security has no obligation to respond, but I would say you'd have a good case for a full refund because RC did not provide any written limits prior to booking and had you known you would not have booked. Again, the lawyer will be happy to write that in the letter too. I think RC will respond because they rather not have this issue get too much traction and they don't know if you'll go to a news organization or post it on an internet forum. Well, too late for one of those....

Reality is that once the boat is out 5 miles (or is it 25 miles) they are in international waters and the captain rules. So, basically, once you get on the boat, kiss your constitution goodbye.

I found this on Wikipedia, but I believe it to be accurate:

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is a Norwegian / American company based in Miami, Florida. It is the world's second-largest cruise line operator, after Carnival Corporation & PLC. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd fully owns five cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisi