I know that in my early years of visiting cruise ships, I had always wanted to go on a cruise, but didn't have the opportunity or the money...so it was kind of a fantasy to pretent that I was about to cruise, along with all the other passengers...even though I had to disembark just before the gangway was taken away.

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:

Has anyone else had similar experiences where you engaged in conversations with a passenger, but neglected to say that you were just visiting the ship?

---

When visiting a ship, you have to wear a badge, mostly with 'visitor' on it and most of the time you belong to a group, so there is little chance to act being a passenger.

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
Has anyone else had similar experiences where you engaged in conversations with a passenger, but neglected to say that you were just visiting the ship?

---

We always ate the embarkation luncheon and hung out by the pool until it was time to go...the only bad part was not being able to partake in drinks by the pool....

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
My experiences happened years ago. For the most part yes you need to wear a badge that says "Visitor", but those badges can be removed and tucked in your pocket. I rarely ever visited a ship with a group. I can only remember once or twice where I had to be in a group for a tour of the ship. The norm is, however; that you must be escorted in a group, but I usually didn't board the ships under those conditions.

---

Well, that's how it works here in Holland.
You can visit a ship either on invitation of a travel agent (and than you are in a group) or on invitation of a crewmember (than you have to be accompanied by that crewmember).

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
What are the new IPS regulations?

---

[ 02-18-2005: Message edited by: LeBarryboat ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
...Turned out I was able to walk right past the security and onto the ship. "Don't try this at home, however, because I'm a pro at getting on ships."

---

[ 02-18-2005: Message edited by: LeBarryboat ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
Tell me about the Kokomo Dentist situation?

---

Here's the story.

quote:

---

Kokomo dentist faces teeth of law

Associated Press
January 26, 2005

KOKOMO, Ind. -- The state attorney general's office has asked that the medical license of a dentist who is charged in Florida with trying to bring drugs onto a cruise ship be suspended.

Matthew D. Pate, 38, of Kokomo was arrested earlier this month in Jacksonville, Fla., on charges he tried to smuggle 18 hits of Ecstasy and marijuana onto a cruise ship. He faces a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.

The State Board of Dentistry scheduled a Feb. 4 hearing on the suspension request. The suspension, if approved, would be for 90 days until a full hearing can take place, said Staci Schneider, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office.

The petition from the attorney general's office said Pate's drug use presented an immediate danger to public safety.

Pate's attorney, David Jose, said he had received much support from his patients.

"We expect to work through any questions or concerns that the dental board may have, and Dr. Pate looks forward to continuing to provide pediatric dental care for his patients," Jose said.

Ken Jefferson, a spokesman for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Department, said Pate was arrested as police dogs were used to search passengers boarding the ship after investigators saw several online posts that people would try to bring drugs onto the cruise.

---

I think the key point is that making online postings about about one's illegal activities - and yes, "sneaking" aboard a cruise ship is against the law - is probably not a good idea...

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
Security was a little shocked to see the wrong passenger card (and passenger) departing the ship...I'm sure they wondered how the heck I got onboard in the first place. As I was leaving...I said..oh oh...I got on the wrong ship.

I would be interested in reading about IPS and the regulations.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Onno:

It aren’t the terrorist that make security take paranoid measures (a terrorist is invisible if the wants to do harm), but acts like these create the paranoid policy of today’s security and create a surrounding in which ship lovers can’t even get close to make a decent picture.

---

In Nov '03, before the latest ISP rules, walking around the Port of Marseille, I came across Princess Danae. Took a few photos, and noted there was no-one at the gangway and she looked fairly devoid of life except for a couple of workmen on deck. I debated walking up the gangway and sticking my head inside, but alone with 3 kids over on Lirica, I didn't think it was too good an idea in case I did get arrested.

I kicked myself a few weeks later when I got an email from the receptionist aboard. She'd seen my photos online and said she'd wished I had walked up, as PD was being prepared for her forthcoming Transat, had no pax aboard for a week, and she [the receptionist] being a bit bored, would have loved to have shown me around. One can't win!

Pam

[ 02-16-2005: Message edited by: PamM ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by PamM:
...but alone with 3 kids over on Lirica, I didn't think it was too good an idea in case I did get arrested.
[ 02-16-2005: Message edited by: PamM ]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeBarryboat:
...I don't know about being arrested...it could come across as an honest mistake...oops I got on the wrong ship..sorry.

---

Ok, Mr. LeBarryboat (...or whatever your real name is) we've got you on our watch list so next time you try any shenanigans like that we'll be hauling you off to the hooskow.

Some of you will know that I organise Ship Visits for the UK 'Ocean Liner Society', and it's very hard work.