Prohibited from taking pictures

[brookmey]

Last year my then 9 year old daughter was taking pictures with her new camera as we were going up into the terminal at Port Canaveral. I can't remember if it was a mural or rocks or the Dream docked outside that she was taking pictures of, but security told her she needed to put her camera away. He was very nice about it, and took the time to explain why to her when she asked him why she couldn't take more pictures. Of course, that made us lose our place in line, so I was getting very impatient. But she got a mini lesson in national security and now she polices the rest of us like we're suspected terrorists.

 

[lbgraves]

Now that you mention that, we were told not to take pictures one time when in the terminal waiting for friends. They were leaving security and coming up the escalator. I simply wanted to get a picture of the kids smiling and waving at us. Didn't think of the fact that it was a secured area but understood once something was said.

 

[time4dis]

in my experience, when ever security or TSA tell me to do something, they don't often do it 'politely'. i don't take it personal because I think it's their job to leave no doubt that this is the rule and not up for debate or discussion. I just choose to interpret it as them just being 'very clear' about their request.

 

[gotomu212]

No phones or cameras in customs is common around the world. Last month we saw 5 people lose their cell phones in Australia and at LAX they did take someone's camera when they didn't stop taking pictures.

I think sometimes people don't view port customs the same way they view airport customs and get confused by the strict security.

 

[DizMagic]

I did not realize that the luggage area was Customs after my first ever cruise (DCL Dream) in 2011. I got really excited when I saw the cute "See ya Real Soon" sign and took a pic. Very quickly thereafter a ~nice~ officer came and explained I could not take pictures there and also made me delete as she watched. I honestly did not see the "No Pictures" sign which she referred to. I did comply and have never tried again. I am sure they probably used to inform guests politely but after about the billionth time, they probably get a little edgy - i know I would.

 

[SuperDry]

There are two things going on here: there's general post-9/11 "port security", which may vary from place to place based on the port, and may preclude you from taking pictures on the gangplank, to/from the ship, or at any other place in and around the port that the port or DHS officials decide is off-limits. Dedicated cruise terminals tend to be more lenient about pictures outside of the ship of the dock areas than ports that also have commercial shipping.

Separate from that, there's the "customs hall" rule. This far predates 9/11, and includes the immigration, baggage claim, and customs check areas of international ports of entry (including land borders, cruise terminals, and airports). Photography has been prohibited in these areas for decades, and it's more or less a universal rule anywhere in the world. The US also enforces a "no cellphone" rule that prohibits talking, texting, or any other form of electronic communication while in the customs hall. And, unlike the private port security or even the TSA, the CBP officers in the customs hall are actual police officers, and they definitely have the authority to confiscate your equipment (or arrest you) if you don't comply.

I think why it's often an issue with cruisers is that so many of them have little to no international travel experience, other than cruises. Just look at how many threads there are about people going on cruises without a passport - for the most part, these people have zero international travel experience. Anyone that has traveled internationally by air is likely to recognize the customs hall for what it is, and know about the "no photography" rule.

 

[Blondemonkey76]

As pretty as Disney has tried to make the luggage area, it is still a luggage area, nothing to see there folks! Just the same as going through airport security I have seen TSA's confiscate cameras from people who continue to take pictures.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

There are two things going on here: there's general post-9/11 "port security", which may vary from place to place based on the port, and may preclude you from taking pictures on the gangplank, to/from the ship, or at any other place in and around the port that the port or DHS officials decide is off-limits. Dedicated cruise terminals tend to be more lenient about pictures outside of the ship of the dock areas than ports that also have commercial shipping.

Separate from that, there's the "customs hall" rule. This far predates 9/11, and includes the immigration, baggage claim, and customs check areas of international ports of entry (including land borders, cruise terminals, and airports). Photography has been prohibited in these areas for decades, and it's more or less a universal rule anywhere in the world. The US also enforces a "no cellphone" rule that prohibits talking, texting, or any other form of electronic communication while in the customs hall. And, unlike the private port security or even the TSA, the CBP officers in the customs hall are actual police officers, and they definitely have the authority to confiscate your equipment (or arrest you) if you don't comply.

I think why it's often an issue with cruises is that so many of them have little to no international travel experience, other than cruises. Just look at how many threads there are about people going on cruises without a passport - for the most part, these people have zero international travel experience. Anyone that has traveled internationally by air is likely to recognize the customs hall for what it is, and know about the "no photography" rule.

I found this out at age 23 (loooong time ago) travelling to Italy with a classmate from college, long before 9/11. In the airport in Milan getting ready to fly home, we were fascinated by armed guards with automatic weapons drawn & ready, & wanted to get a picture. Boy did they jump at me to stay in line but they let me go with my picture.

Ever since then I completely "get it" when they say no pictures in a secure area. Customs/immigration depts. don't fool around. Anywhere.
As pp mentioned, people shouldn't have to be told more than once.

 

[Beermam42]

I work at a port facility. It's Homeland Security guidelines that are enforced by Customs and Border Protection. All of this started after 9/11 and truthfully it's for your own safety and protection, as you never know who is taking pictures of the "secure areas" and what they may be attempting to do (looking for flaws that can be compromised). It would be nice if they would explain that rather than being rude, but......................

If someone wants photos of that area, they would have them. It would be to easy to do. If 911 taugh us anything, it can be done. These are fell good rules. I have had to deal with this in photo shoots around trains. We went though a period that they were picking people for photo graphing trains.

 

[Beermam42]

X

 

[woody73]

No phones or cameras in customs is common around the world. Last month we saw 5 people lose their cell phones in Australia and at LAX they did take someone's camera when they didn't stop taking pictures.

That's been my experience as well. For example, on our second trip to the Cook Islands, I took photos of a cute sniffer dog in the security area. I was told to either delete the photos or they would confiscate my camera. Lesson learned.

Woody

 

[Iceman93]

Wow, not a warm and fuzzy Dis response. I am very familiar due to my occupation with security rules.

Really? Do you repeatedly violate the security rules at work because you don't think they're that big a deal, or you think they don't apply to you, or whatever?

Honestly I'm not sure what you were looking for by starting this thread. You said that you repeatedly violated the no-photo rules and were repeatedly corrected not to do so. And asked what other peoples' experience was, which it sounds like (for those who either didn't see the signs or chose to disregard them) was exactly the same as yours. To come back and get mad because people didn't pat you on the head and tell you everything is okay seems pretty silly.

 

[fnrsgrl]

Really? Do you repeatedly violate the security rules at work because you don't think they're that big a deal, or you think they don't apply to you, or whatever?

Honestly I'm not sure what you were looking for by starting this thread. You said that you repeatedly violated the no-photo rules and were repeatedly corrected not to do so. And asked what other peoples' experience was, which it sounds like (for those who either didn't see the signs or chose to disregard them) was exactly the same as yours. To come back and get mad because people didn't pat you on the head and tell you everything is okay seems pretty silly.

I'm pretty sure the OP was wondering more about the gangplank area, where it has generally been okay to take pictures. I know I have pictures that I took the whole way going up from Mickey's head right through to the atrium of the ship, and as others have said, I wasn't trying to hide the camera. Possibly the OP has cruised from a port other than Port Canaveral, and the rules were different there?

As to the customs and security areas, I am a little surprised that anyone would not realize that you are not supposed to take pictures there. The signs are large, clear and easy to see.

 

[MillauFr]

How on earth are they going to know that you are filming when you are wearing Google Glass? Not like they have a big sign on the glasses saying that I am filming.

The no filming policy seems ridiculous since they are easy ways to discretely film now days.

 

[momof2n2]

I work at a port facility. It's Homeland Security guidelines that are enforced by Customs and Border Protection. All of this started after 9/11 and truthfully it's for your own safety and protection, as you never know who is taking pictures of the "secure areas" and what they may be attempting to do (looking for flaws that can be compromised). It would be nice if they would explain that rather than being rude, but......................

It is NOT my intention to disagree, but we disembarked on 9/9/01 from the Wonder and I was told to put my camera away. : goodvibes:
As a matter of fact, disembarking last month the overriding feeling I had going into customs was not "boo-the trip is over"; it was "I am not going to get in trouble this time."

 

[ilovetexas]

Separate from that, there's the "customs hall" rule. This far predates 9/11, and includes the immigration, baggage claim, and customs check areas of international ports of entry (including land borders, cruise terminals, and airports). Photography has been prohibited in these areas for decades, and it's more or less a universal rule anywhere in the world. The US also enforces a "no cellphone" rule that prohibits talking, texting, or any other form of electronic communication while in the customs hall. And, unlike the private port security or even the TSA, the CBP officers in the customs hall are actual police officers, and they definitely have the authority to confiscate your equipment (or arrest you) if you don't comply.

I think why it's often an issue with cruisers is that so many of them have little to no international travel experience, other than cruises. Just look at how many threads there are about people going on cruises without a passport - for the most part, these people have zero international travel experience. Anyone that has traveled internationally by air is likely to recognize the customs hall for what it is, and know about the "no photography" rule.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Anyone with experience flying internationally looks at airports/customs/etc in a whole new light. In ATL, I'm simply irritated by the TSA employees who can't keep a line moving to save their lives. In Madrid, the third degree we got while standing in line just to check in for our flight was pretty darned intimidating. Luggage sniffing dogs with armed handlers coming back from Cuba (and often from London these days according to DH). Nothing warm and fuzzy about flying in and out of Prague. Etc., etc.

At no point in any of those places did it occur to me that having a camera or a cell phone out would be a good idea.

 

[~Tinkerella]

WOW Iceman93 ~ I don't usually post stuff like this, but back off, you are really being rude. The name Iceman fits!!