So I will be going on a cruise with Royal Caribbean this upcoming week, and I was wondering if anyone has taken their own Spark on board to fly around port.
On the Royal Caribbean website, it states that they are not allowed to be used on board, but I am interested in flying it on the shore.
Has anyone done this before, or know someone that has? Any input is appreciated!
Seems to me that you need to check the regulation at the various ports you will be visiting. You can't fly on the boat, but that doesn't mean you can't fly at the various ports of call.
I know a lot of cruise lines won't even let them on the ship...even if you give it to security as you board and only use it once you arrive in port and give it back to them when you come back on ship. NCL is one that will not even let the drone on the ship. I checked on a cruise in January and they said it would be confiscated by port security and disposed of. Go to the Royal Caribbean's website, sign in to your account, and do a search for "prohibited items" or look at FAQs.
The RC Saylors, over on Youtube, went on a cruise recently and took a drone with them. I don't believe any of the cruise lines allow drone flying on board, but the Saylors took theirs with them on some port calls, and got some nice footage from the island locations.
Edit: The Saylors have a LOT of videos up on youtube, so I searched and found the one I was referring to:
They seem to be a nice couple, that enjoys being together and having fun with radio-controlled toys of all types (cars, boats, planes, helis, drones, etc), and their reviews are honest. If they don't like something about what they're reviewing, they will say so.
Grmachine Posted at 2018-2-24 18:49
Seems to me that you need to check the regulation at the various ports you will be visiting. You can't fly on the boat, but that doesn't mean you can't fly at the various ports of call.
My question is will they even let me get it on to the boat
Rustic17 Posted at 2018-2-24 19:17
I know a lot of cruise lines won't even let them on the ship...even if you give it to security as you board and only use it once you arrive in port and give it back to them when you come back on ship. NCL is one that will not even let the drone on the ship. I checked on a cruise in January and they said it would be confiscated by port security and disposed of. Go to the Royal Caribbean's website, sign in to your account, and do a search for "prohibited items" or look at FAQs.
Hoomi Posted at 2018-2-24 20:00
The RC Saylors, over on Youtube, went on a cruise recently and took a drone with them. I don't believe any of the cruise lines allow drone flying on board, but the Saylors took theirs with them on some port calls, and got some nice footage from the island locations.
Edit: The Saylors have a LOT of videos up on youtube, so I searched and found the one I was referring to:
Posting here so I can see what happens. Please post your findings. Especially if you take it on the cruise and they let you have it/confiscate it/hold it while you're on board/or if you hide it really, really, really well so you can use it.
Getting it on ship in the bags the porters take from you at the curb is not that difficult depending on how you pack it. The problem is if they do find it and they have a published no drone policy, what are they going to do with it and will you ever see it again. The second issue is if you get it onboard and then take it with you in port, how do you get it back onboard...they always xray bags when you come back on and it would be harder to hide a drone in a backpack. The cruise I took in January was in Hawaii so I mailed my drone to the one port I really wanted pictures of (Maui)...I mailed it to the rental car company I was using, called them before hand, and they were cool with it. Then when done I went to a Post Office and mailed it back home. You could also mail it to General Delivery to a US Post Office and Uber or taxi to the P.O. once in port. If the cruise ship doesn't make the port (weather, etc.) the car rental just writes return to sender on the box or if you sent it General Delivery, after a certain number of days the P.O will send it back to sender. Keep the batteries as they don't want them in the mail.
One other argument you can use if they find it is that the cruise is an extension of a land vacation you were on and that you used the drone during that time. Then ask to have security keep it for you until the cruise is over.
Hoomi Posted at 2018-2-24 20:00
The RC Saylors, over on Youtube, went on a cruise recently and took a drone with them. I don't believe any of the cruise lines allow drone flying on board, but the Saylors took theirs with them on some port calls, and got some nice footage from the island locations.
Edit: The Saylors have a LOT of videos up on youtube, so I searched and found the one I was referring to:
Rustic17 Posted at 2018-2-24 22:10
Getting it on ship in the bags the porters take from you at the curb is not that difficult depending on how you pack it. The problem is if they do find it and they have a published no drone policy, what are they going to do with it and will you ever see it again. The second issue is if you get it onboard and then take it with you in port, how do you get it back onboard...they always xray bags when you come back on and it would be harder to hide a drone in a backpack. The cruise I took in January was in Hawaii so I mailed my drone to the one port I really wanted pictures of (Maui)...I mailed it to the rental car company I was using, called them before hand, and they were cool with it. Then when done I went to a Post Office and mailed it back home. You could also mail it to General Delivery to a US Post Office and Uber or taxi to the P.O. once in port. If the cruise ship doesn't make the port (weather, etc.) the car rental just writes return to sender on the box or if you sent it General Delivery, after a certain number of days the P.O will send it back to sender. Keep the batteries as they don't want them in the mail.
Thank you for the advice! I will probably contact Royal Caribbean and ask them some ways I can cheat the system, if they are willing to cooperate with me!
Bing Err Posted at 2018-2-24 21:14
Posting here so I can see what happens. Please post your findings. Especially if you take it on the cruise and they let you have it/confiscate it/hold it while you're on board/or if you hide it really, really, really well so you can use it.
I will be sure to keep you updated. Are you sailing with Royal Caribbean?
Does anyone know why the cruise ships are so militant about this. I don’t have an issue with them saying you can’t fly it on/from the ship. But why can’t you take it with you to fly on land ? Airlines let you caarry drones (in check in luggage). What’s the difference ?
I was thinking about a cruise now I am retired. It seems that most cruise lines that sail from nearby ports will not let me take my mobility scooter with me and obviously my drones. They would also not let me take any of the tours as I cannot get in and out of a bus. WTF, might as well stay home and read National Geographic and fly my drones when I want.
Cookster670 Posted at 2018-2-25 23:29
Does anyone know why the cruise ships are so militant about this. I don’t have an issue with them saying you can’t fly it on/from the ship. But why can’t you take it with you to fly on land ? Airlines let you caarry drones (in check in luggage). What’s the difference ?
I guess you can't really trust anyone that has a drone to not fly it on the ship. It seems cool, but extremely dangerous. I understand why they have such a rule, but I just wish it wasn't in place.
embayweather Posted at 2018-2-26 06:13
I was thinking about a cruise now I am retired. It seems that most cruise lines that sail from nearby ports will not let me take my mobility scooter with me and obviously my drones. They would also not let me take any of the tours as I cannot get in and out of a bus. WTF, might as well stay home and read National Geographic and fly my drones when I want.
tvon Posted at 2018-2-26 09:03
A bit off topic, but the Copter Tube channel "chases" cruise ships coming out of port in Ft Lauderdale Florida.. Cool channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nYh6UafGXo
That is sweet! I will actually be going out of Ft. Lauderdale when I leave for my cruise! Super cool.
I have been watching a lot of YouTube drone videos. People are saying that the number of countrys that are banning drones is growing very fast. Permits are hard to get. Tourist areas that were great to video are now off limits.
midwest Mike Posted at 2018-2-26 19:31
I have been watching a lot of YouTube drone videos. People are saying that the number of countrys that are banning drones is growing very fast. Permits are hard to get. Tourist areas that were great to video are now off limits.
Wow that is really too bad. Maybe it is because people are taking the next step of making them dangerous. If they just followed regulations, then it would be totally fine.
Grmachine Posted at 2018-2-24 18:49
Seems to me that you need to check the regulation at the various ports you will be visiting. You can't fly on the boat, but that doesn't mean you can't fly at the various ports of call.
This is the answer, if Royal Caribbean will let you bring it, you'll just need to check on the local regs. I know that the Bahamas requires that you register, carry insurance, and also pay a 50% import duty to bring your drone in.
nmac Posted at 2018-2-27 13:17
On Royal Caribbeans site they say what you can and cannot take and sadly no drones. I also want to go and bring mine but did check.
Yeah but I'm known to break a few rules ;) I guess we'll see what happens!
Okay...be that way!!! Remember, getting it on board the first time may not be as difficult as getting it back on board in port. You'll have a smaller bag in port (like a backpack) and they do x-ray every bag coming back on board. My one and only time getting one on board, I left it in the bags that the porters take from you at curbside. I packed the Spark on it's edge in the suitcase. That is, with the suitcase lying on its back (like it would be when you're packing), put the Spark in on its side or edge...not flat. My assumption is that the x-ray looks downward as the bag passes through the machine and if they don't see an outline of a drone, it might get through as some other bulky item. Finally...practice, practice, practice your clueless facial expression that you will display to security...expressing that you had no idea drones weren't allowed on board!!! If they do find prohibited items and they think you knew it and were trying to trick them, you might find yourself in security and worse case escorted off the ship without your drone to find and pay for your own way back home. Do you really want to risk that???
Rustic17 Posted at 2018-2-27 14:08
Okay...be that way!!! Remember, getting it on board the first time may not be as difficult as getting it back on board in port. You'll have a smaller bag in port (like a backpack) and they do x-ray every bag coming back on board. My one and only time getting one on board, I left it in the bags that the porters take from you at curbside. I packed the Spark on it's edge in the suitcase. That is, with the suitcase lying on its back (like it would be when you're packing), put the Spark in on its side or edge...not flat. My assumption is that the x-ray looks downward as the bag passes through the machine and if they don't see an outline of a drone, it might get through as some other bulky item. Finally...practice, practice, practice your clueless facial expression that you will display to security...expressing that you had no idea drones weren't allowed on board!!! If they do find prohibited items and they think you knew it and were trying to trick them, you might find yourself in security and worse case escorted off the ship without your drone to find and pay for your own way back home. Do you really want to risk that???
you are so right as they are like the airlines today. from how this world is to day the checks are very thorough and if something found its gone and so are you..
Of course I was just kidding. I did bring my P3(now I have a Mavic) on Royal Carribean back in June 2016. It is not allowed to bring on the cruise. I have to check in/out at the security at each port. They keep my drone when I am on the cruise. Here is the video I took during that trip Not sure if they are still doing the same or not.
Of course I was just kidding. I did bring my P3(now I have a Mavic) on Royal Carribean back in June 2016. It is not allowed to bring on the cruise. I have to check in/out at the security at each port. They keep my drone when I am on the cruise. Here is the video I took during that trip Not sure if they are still doing the same or not.
jfu Posted at 2018-4-11 20:57
Of course I was just kidding. I did bring my P3(now I have a Mavic) on Royal Carribean back in June 2016. It is not allowed to bring on the cruise. I have to check in/out at the security at each port. They keep my drone when I am on the cruise. Here is the video I took during that trip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMRsl1CB9DM Not sure if they are still doing the same or not.
Yes, that is what they are still doing. I didn't feel it was worth it to leave it and pick it up at every port, so I just left it in the car park on shore in Ft. Lauderdale.
You can see the thread I started after my trip in the link below, and it will explain what I did and why https://forum.dji.com/thread-141352-1-1.html