Cruise ships are not airports.

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Which is to say, while they DO have x-ray inspection (potentially every time you step on board!), they are apparently NOT subject to the federal laws requiring hand inspection on request.<BR>
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As a result, I had to live with one roll of 800-speed film getting three separate passes through the x-ray machine. (I think I probably could have avoided the one that was courtesy of the Vancouver, BC Port Authority, but that possibility didn't surface until too late.) Cursory inspection of the prints showed no sign of fog, but I wouldn't want to have had to chance even one more.<BR>
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Kind of reminded me of how U.S. airport baggage screening was. Just before the atrocities of September, 2001. Lots of passenger intimidation, but very little actual Threat management. Yeef!<BR>
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--<BR>
JHHL

[BobF]

I'm a little surprised at your experience with the cruise line. Was this a major line? I'd contact their customer service department and ask what their policy is. If it's different from your experience, make sure to let them know. If it's consistent, ask them why and why they don't follow the same guidelines as the TSA. It should be especially important to them given that everyone on board is a tourist and there will be plenty of rolls of film being carried on and off.<BR>
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If it's one thing the cruise lines are good at it's customer service so it would surprie me if a major line had a policy in effect that was not customer service oriented.

[MStephan]

<b>Date:</b> 6/6/2005 9:44:00 PM<BR>
<b>Author:</b> BobF<BR>
If it's one thing the cruise lines are good at it's customer service so it would surprie me if a major line had a policy in effect that was not customer service oriented.<BR>
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I agree, that is pretty suprising. Did you actually request that they do it and they told you flat out no? Or did you just ask if it was part of their policy and you left it alone. I would find it hard to believe that under those circumstances, where probably 75% of the people have cameras, that they would directly deny the request for hand inspection to someone. I would definately put in a call.

[hbquikcomjamesl]

<b>Date:</b> 6/7/2005 11:07:01 AM<BR>
<b>Author:</b> MStephan<BR>
. . . Did you actually request that they do it and they told you flat out no? Or did you just ask if it was part of their policy and you left it alone.<BR>
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At the Vancouver (BC) Terminal, it appeared to be the Port Authority that was doing the screening, and AFTER I'd already let my camera bag, film and all, go through the machine without comment, I noticed that the contents of my pockets had been simply given a quick look (though I did have to demonstrate that my cellular phone and GPS navigator were real), so I have only myself to blame there.<BR>
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At the various ports of call, though, ship's security was involved, and screening was another matter entirely: at Ketchikan, the line to reboard was evidently backed up a bit, and (lacking any bags) I was sent through an "express" metal detector line, with NOTHING x-rayed, or even given more than the most cursory inspection. At Juneau, however, there was no "express line," and when I requested hand inspection, I was refused outright, with such claims as "we'd have to open the camera to inspect it" (tell that to the TSA, or the inspectors at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, or the seamen inspecting visitors to the U.S.S. Constitution, in Boston!) and "the ship's photographers'cameras go through x-ray" (maybe so, but with 800-speed film that's already been x-rayed at least once?).

[with_elan]

That's unfortunate. On a cruise recently I got fed up with my camera going through the machine at every port of call. However, when I finally protested, the staff was very nice about it and handchecked my camera and film from then on. Wish I had spoken up earlier!<BR>
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Perhaps a letter to the company explaining what happened to you might get you some satisfaction.

[hbquikcomjamesl]

<b>Date:</b> 6/7/2005 2:41:34 PM<BR>
<b>Author:</b> with_elan<BR>
That's unfortunate. On a cruise recently I got fed up with my camera going through the machine at every port of call. However, when I finally protested, the staff was very nice about it and handchecked my camera and film from then on. Wish I had spoken up earlier!<BR>
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<b>Perhaps a letter to the company explaining what happened to you might get you some satisfaction.</b><BR>
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Already drafted. And it also includes another major complaint, about their mishandling of a delicate financial situation, and minor complaints about pushy onboard photographers and about the whole cruise industry going out of its way to keep passengers from seeing any more of Seward than the cruise ship dock.<BR>
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It's just waiting for the bill to arrive, from the aforementioned delicate financial situation.