Went on a cruise to The Canary Isles a couple of weeks ago with a well know Norwegian cruise line (the pink rinse brigade, if you know what I mean !).
Got to Southampton departure terminal, and the Port Security seized my Phantom 4 in it's case and said "We will have to see if the on board ships security will allow it on board"
I showed him the Phantom in it's case, with each battery safely stored in a fireproof bag.
As usual, the Wife went nuts!, "I told you not to bring that thing", (blah, blah, blah !)
At 5.30pm (ship sailing time) I go to SEACO (ships security) at the Gangplank, and was told my drone was being held at the Ships Reception Desk.
Great !, I thought we are on our way !!.
2 days later, while we are at sea on our way to Funchal.
I get a letter attached to my cabin door addressed from the Guest Relations Manager on board.
I straight away went to his office, introduced myself ,shook his hand, and was amazed that he had over the past 2 days, had contacted ALL the relevant countries/islands we were going to visit over the next 2 weeks of our cruise!!!.
ALL the written responses he had from each of the countries had refused to allow permission for me to fly my drone ANYWHERE !!.
Reading each of the email responses he showed me (I have copies) I pointed out that I was not a Commercial Photographer, and that all the responses he had were worded such that they ASSUMED that I was going to use the drone for commercial use.
"Not relevant in my case" I told him !, the letters that he had showed me looked as if they thought I was intending to fly over populated areas of each country/island !!.
I pointed out that I was going to use the drone for my own personal use, nothing more simpler.
Rather than "rattle his cage" I agreed that my drone would stay in my cabin and would not be taken ashore at any of our ports of call (which, hand on heart, I did).
He did say to me that he "Cannot not stop me from taking it ashore" but would not be responsible for anything that could happen ashore, and should I have a problem, the cruise line would not want to know!.
Why did this "jobs worth" stick his trunk into my business, (probably thinking he was doing some good !!!)
It would have been nice for him to ask me first what my intentions were in using the drone,
before going off and asking the authorities.
Beside,I had my insurance policy with me, printouts of ALL the no-fly zones of each island, etc, etc, etc
So, be warned cruisers of the world !!
I later found out that certain cruise lines do not even allow drones on board ship, WHY NOT !!.
If anyone has had previous experience of this type of problem on board a cruise, PIPE UP !"!!
I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter !!
P.S. I should add that this cruise line actively has used drones in the past to "promote" itself
and it's Company, AND, have actually allowed a Inspire pilot to take off from the deck of its flag ship, while moving at sea !!.
HOW MANY OF THE PASSENGERS DID YOU ALERT THAT THIS EXCERCISE WAS GOING AHEAD, I WONDER !!!