Onboard Security

[TheBigErn]

We know that in the parks there are different levels of security. Security in uniform that are clearly visible and those not in uniform and not so visible. But what is the security on the ships? What happen to an unruly passenger or if a fight breaks out; or worse? I've never noticed security or seen them in action so I was curious.

 

[daedelus]

DCL has uniformed security - you see them every time you board or disembark the ship. They even have badges! I've seen them walking the halls from time to time onboard in uniform, but they're usually much more subtle.

On our March cruise (the infamous WBPC '20) there was a pack of juvenile delinquents stealing pins and FEs. My daughter heard them talking in Vibe about "hitting deck 7" one night and told me. I reported this to guest services and they told me that they were aware (many complaints) and were keeping tabs on the pack, all of whom had been identified. I don't know how, but DCL does take your photo when you board... That said, I know I saw a couple of crew members who I'm pretty sure were security types dressed in other uniforms and even street clothes. So my assumption was they were "undercover" keeping an eye on things. Never heard what happened to the "pack."

Plus there are literally 10,000 cameras on the ship. I'd love to see their security watch room!

I have heard about a couple of incidents where guests were involved in altercations or were rip-roaring drunk. They are handled quickly and as quietly as possible. Each ship has a "brig," which is a room that cannot be opened from the inside with minimal furnishings. I've heard that they try to get the drunks back to their rooms to sleep it off, but the truly unruly can be "locked up" at the captain's discretion and even booted off the ship at the next port.

 

[TheBigErn]

Ha! I forgot about the guys when you board and disembark. But that's the only time I see them

 

[T & R]

Security has the "whites" uniform but they have black shoulder epaulettes with a thin red stripe on them. Would be easy to not notice that if you weren't looking for it. We spend most of our time between the Fantasy and the Dream, so not sure about the classic ships but I have noticed that a lot of the security staff are from Nepal. Not sure why. Kind of like when we had nursery age kids we noticed a lot of the nursery staff onboard were from the UK. Not sure why, maybe they recruit heavier in certain countries for specific jobs onboard or something.

 

[princessmommyx3]

I have seen security waiting for someone as we left the WD theater after a show. They were not wearing a uniform. I don’t remember exactly what they were wearing - maybe polo type shirts? They blended in and it was not obvious they were security.

 

[Naeher]

so not sure about the classic ships but I have noticed that a lot of the security staff are from Nepal.

All ships have mostly Nepalese security teams. Have always found them very friendly.

 

[drclaws]

Did a Bridge tour on RCCL ship and the number and coverage of security cameras was amazing.

 

[PurplePencil]

There most certainly are security crew onboard on the ship. On two separate cruises I have had interactions with security as a result of other guests behaviors. My understanding is that they are stationed in a crew area and are summoned via other crew members (they have crew wave phones they use). All of the interactions I’ve had with them have been positive, and they’re discreet and swift in their actions.

 

[T & R]

On two separate cruises I have had interactions with security as a result of other guests behaviors

Do tell?

 

[DisneYE]

Do tell?

Yeah! Spill the beans!

 

[T & R]

Yeah! Spill the beans!

Yes, love drama, just not if it's my drama. I'm an expert on other people's drama. There was a thread a while back about crazy behavior observed onboard. It was a super long thread. I spent a ton of time reading that one. Love all those crazy stories about what's gone on over the years. Some people are unbelievable. I always tell my kids that when you're in public, you have no expectation to privacy, so just assume you're always on camera.

 

[DisneYE]

Yes, love drama, just not if it's my drama. I'm an expert on other people's drama. There was a thread a while back about crazy behavior observed onboard. It was a super long thread. I spent a ton of time reading that one. Love all those crazy stories about what's gone on over the years. Some people are unbelievable. I always tell my kids that when you're in public, you have no expectation to privacy, so just assume you're always on camera.

I love that thread... I participated in it with something that happened to me... great entertainment.. there needs to be a new one started...

 

[PurplePencil]

Do tell?

Yeah! Spill the beans!

Y'all on the Dis really like drama. They're not all that exciting, but here goes...
The first interaction with security was when a guest was being verbally hostile to me and later a CM, and followed me around the ship due to an interaction in the hot tub.
The second interaction was on a separate cruise years later in which a guest was touching other guests (minors) in an uncomfortable manner because he wanted his kids to see a deck show that he showed up late for.
(yes, these stories are very vague)

 

[MomOTwins]

Yes, love drama, just not if it's my drama. I'm an expert on other people's drama. There was a thread a while back about crazy behavior observed onboard. It was a super long thread. I spent a ton of time reading that one. Love all those crazy stories about what's gone on over the years. Some people are unbelievable. I always tell my kids that when you're in public, you have no expectation to privacy, so just assume you're always on camera.

Haha, I remember that thread. I think there were a couple of different ones. It was soooooo fun to read--like a disney cruise soap opera. We've definitely seen some real doozies on DCL and at WDW.

The absolute wackiest one I remember was the family that brought a portable training potty to the walt disney theater, set in the aisle, and let their kid "go" during the show. You can't make that stuff up.

 

[cruizincathi]

Security is also quite heavy at Castaway...you just don’t know it. On my first cruise in 2011, I witnessed a man on the beach with his family, but he wasn’t paying any attention to his own family. He was photographing children on the beach! He even approached a little girl while her mom and dad were talking with their backs turned. I found a cast member immediately and about 4 security people popped up from the beach chairs when the cast member radioed for assistance. The man was escorted (no fuss) back to the ship. If you didn’t know what was going on, you would have never known they were security and that it was an escort across the beach. Security is important to Disney but their folks are well trained to limit distractions and making a scene.

For those that will ask what happened next, I was contacted by senior cruise staff that evening while we were at dinner. I was told that “authorities “ had confiscated the man’s phone and camera, gone through the contents, and he was being restricted to his stateroom for the rest of the cruise(it was our last night, so we were headed back to Port Canaveral that night). I was told that local authorities would be waiting...which means they likely found something on his phone that wasn’t appropriate. After the fact, I wondered how charges would work since we were technically in the Bahamas at the time he was taken into custody?

 

[T & R]

I wondered how charges would work since we were technically in the Bahamas at the time he was taken into custody?

If there was something on the phone, DCL hurts the odds of prosecution by taking the phone because the evidence chain of custody had been broken between suspect to law enforcement. DCL security are not U.S. peace officers or even law enforcement in any country. Since the phone was not taken directly from the suspect by any U.S. police and a number of other people had control of the phone prior to it making it's way to U.S. law enforcement, it would be easy to argue that anything on the phone was added after it was in the suspect's possession. Also, there are only two types of seizures of evidence or even seizures of people and that is on view or warrant. This would be neither because if DCL security hands over this guy and his phone to U.S. police, they neither have an on view offense or warrant to take the guy or his phone. U.S. Police cannot just seize this guy and seize his phone and then look through his phone for evidence because DCL security says so.

With the above in mind there are a few scenarios I can think of off the top of my head that could still jam the guy up. If they guy's first contact with U.S. law enforcement is with CBP officers, then completely different. When entering a port of entry into the U.S., you do not enjoy the same freedoms and rights you normally enjoy. One of those rights you lose is that you can be seized and searched without a warrant. The mere fact of entering the country is considered probable cause. CBP can go through your stuff (including your phone) when you are entering the country. If CBP, found something on the phone, they could then refer the matter and go from there. Also, depending what's on the phone, the chain of custody issue could be overcome if the guy had photos or video that showed his face in them while committing a crime. Since the OP mention kids, without getting into specifics, I think we know what was meant by this. A lot of people do not know this but in the U.S. you can be prosecuted under federal law for certain types of offenses with minors regardless of what country the offense occurs in. So wouldn't matter that the crime occurred in the Bahamas, could still be prosecuted in the U.S. (Protect Act of 2003).

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

My understanding is that they are stationed in a crew area and are summoned via other crew members (they have crew wave phones they use).

This is what I was told too! It makes it easy to have the ship covered without blocking the guest corridors and what not. Lets face it, its hard to pass other people at times in those narrow hallways.

 

[MomOTwins]

I found a cast member immediately and about 4 security people popped up from the beach chairs when the cast member radioed for assistance.

That story gives me the creeps and glad you spoke up when you saw it. Man I would be so livid if someone was photographing my kids and talking with them behind my back.

But on a said note, his part about the beach chairs just really jumped out and surprised me! I would never have guessed that they put security "under cover" on the beach chairs!!! It makes sense though, they are probably scanning other chairs for thefts when people leave their stuff unattended to go in the water.