Have you ever had anything confiscated? (Fess Up!)

[Girls Scout Leader]

I know many people that think it's a game to swipe the towels ( and anything else that's not nailed down) from resorts. But since your luggage is in the Cruise Line's hands beginning at 11 pm the night before disembarkment, do they search the luggage for stolen items, or illegal stuuf through customs? Does anyone want to fess up and admit something that was confiscated at the end?

 

[wovenwonder]

I would hope that especially with all the 'families' on board that this would not be a problem on DCL.

 

[atigeg]

We just got off the Wonder and according to Cruise Director Rick's disembarkation talk. They do not search your luggage when they take it off the ship. Customs does do random searches (in front of you, since you have to remove your locks)after you pick up you luggage and pass the custom's agents. (unless they do this in a back room we have never seen a search) He (Rick) said that DCL does get back items including towels and dishes. But the number one item is the salt and pepper shakers you get on your tray with room service (very small non refillable clear platic). Remember NO food, fruit, plants can be taken off the ship. There is a $100 fine per item. The exception being unopened package food (crackers, cookies, candy).

 

[mrsltg]

I've been on several cruises and I remember vividly one cruise director saying, "If one of the dogs from customs stops in front of your bag, pray it's to lift his leg". Each cruise that I have been on has had the dogs walking the terminals through the luggage. I'm not sure if they have them doing this before anyone is off the ship, but I do know for sure that they are not looking for towels and other "hot" items. But please, don't take stuff like that... it just raises prices that much more!

Erin

 

[LarryGadget]

How about Cubans?

 

[grandmalinda]

What, no food? I had planned on bringing back some of those delicious cookies I hear about. Can those dogs smell chocolate?

 

[LenDVC92]

The Agriculture dept. uses dogs to sniff for fruit, etc., and Customs has dogs that sniff for illegal drugs and other contraband.

At his disembarkation talk on the Magic last Friday Cruise Director Jim made a comment about "towel sniffing dogs". At the time I thought is was a joke, but now I'm not so sure.

 

[rcostello1]

Unless I've been crusing on another DCL...are there any towels someone would *want* to take? I don't find them to be oh-so-wonderful to want or need to have them. Not even the WDW concierge rooms meet my level for towel-snatching.

However, my dog does *love* the little blue airline blankets <g>

 

[3cheers4DIS]

this might sound really silly, but after reading this thread I'm not sure if you can bring rum cakes back from the Caymans? I was thinking of bringing these back as gifts for friends.

 

[Samsma]

You can bring back the rum cake, and I would recommend filling a suitcase, as long as it is not opened.

 

[3cheers4DIS]

thanks samsma

why can't you open the case....is it so you don't eat all the cakes yourself?

 

[skuba]

Ooooh---rum cakes. They are sooooo good. Just so you know, they do ship them very easily also. Grand Cayman is one of our favorite destinations and I am always buying the rum cakes thru the mail. They can be very bulky to bring home.

You can bring them back obviously unopen. I would count on buying a few extra to eat. Once you taste them, you won't be able to resist. They have two sized---I am talking only Tortuga. Never bought the others. Large and small with 3 flavors I believe. I believe they are original, coffee and chocolate--but I am not sure of the latter flavor.

One more FYI on Cayman, they do take American money but they give back Cayman money. There may be exceptions, but I wouldn't trust it. I even believe cashing in American Express travelers checks will get you Cayman money. Just to help you plan out your wallets.


DG

 

[grandmalinda]

I know all about those dogs! I was returning from South Africa and at the Chicago airport, was picking up my luggage to fly to Calif. A specialty in So. Africa is Biltong (beef jerky). There are Biltong stores everywhere. I thought a nifty souvenir would be to bring back ostrich and kudu (antelope). I had it stuffed alll throughout my luggage. Definitely not allowed. As I was walking along with my bags, this little beagle with a green jacket came over and went crazy over my bags. I knew I was in trouble! The officer asked was if I had any fruit. FRUIT?????, I exclaimed. I looked so guilty. No, no FRUIT!. Whew. No inspection.

 

[MarkRG]

The only confiscation happened on the way onboard, as my parents, who didn't know any better when we took them cruising for the first time, pre 9/11, tried to bring a miniature ornamental sword from Japan in Epcot with. Customs held it till we got back and then returned it to them, no hassle, other than one of them had to come down and open the luggage for them to confiscate it, before they'd release the bag.

The rule with food coming back, it must be in an unopened container, no half eaten boxes of cookies, no opened bottles of liquor(which there is limit on how manyof those, I believe) as you could possibly bring foreign pests back from other countries that way. All this is covered onboard in the talks done by the cruise director at the beginning and ending of the cruise. Don't panic or anything, nothing nasty.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Something they <i>don't</i> mention in the disembarkation talk... <i><b>you are not allowed to take photos in the Customs Area!!!</b></i> I'm lucky I didn't have my camera confiscated.

 

[disney6]

On our last cruise we didn't have anything confiscated coming off - just going on. We had just grabbed our dive bag (wanted our own snorkeling gear) and forgot our dive knife was in it. They just sent a note to our cabin saying they had it. We forgot to pick it up on the way off but they were kind enough to send it to my in-laws in FL at no charge (we didn't ask them to send it to Canada - not sure it would have made it through customs!).

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Interesting about those swords and diving knives. Is this just post- 911? What about jack knives, etc? Is it becoming more regulated like the airlines?

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I always like to bring snacks with me on the airplane. When I went on the December cruise I took some dried pinapple from NJ with me to Florida. I never ate it and certainly didn't need to eat it on the cruise!

I had it in my carry-on bag as I got off the cruise ship. As I passed the table and the man standing there showing the things that weren't allowed I got nervous. They did say no fruit after all. I stopped, pulled out the still sealed package of dried pinapple and showed it to the man just in case. He told me it was fine and sent me on my way. Better safe than sorry I thought.

 

[Tluvs2talk]

I am alway's amazed at the food on the table as you go through customs. Why would anyone take a chance on paying a hefty fine for a banana or piece of meat from breakfast. I think some people just want to see id they can get away with something.

 

[ruvidu]

On our first cruise my wife picked up an apple at our disembarkation breakfast to take with her. She has been in the First Place weight program for about 6 years and they encourage apple and grape eating. She always keeps an apple with her when traveling to keep from having to snack on less healthy foods. When she saw that table and sign she was really taken back. I wish you could have seen her tearing through her carry on bag trying to find that apple so she could put it on the table. I would guess that most first timers have no idea of the rules regarding fruits and veggies leaving the ship until they see that table.
We learned our lesson but still look for that table each time we disembark to see how many others have learned their lesson.