For 13 years now, I have been going on cruises with my wife and daughters! Today I attempted to book a 4 day cruise with carnival! I was told I am permanently banned from all cruises! I asked why, and the specialist told me I was a RSO and Carnival does not allow RSO’S on cruises. I then asked her where she got her information from? She hung up on me.
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Well, well, well. I wondered how long this was going to take. Should we get pissed off yet?
“It’s not punishment”
More Ex Post Facto screwing of the registered citizens of the United States of America.
I’m not big on cruising (the only thing to do was eat and I gained 5 pounds in 1 week), but I hate that I now can’t if I want to.
Frankly I’m surprised it took the cruising industry this long. They got some bad PR a few years ago when third-world crew members were sexually assaulting passengers.
Last weekend we went down south to a well-known theme park and had a great time. How long before we’re banned from those places?
This sh!t has got to stop!
Obviously another case of “company policy” where no one has to be accountable and no person has to look you in the eye to rudely insult your character based on some event from your past, regardless of your proven worth as a loyal customer.
Sounds like Carnival Cruises is going to miss out on a lot of your money. I wonder if they plan to recoup the loss of turning away paying customers by advertising themselves as ‘sex offender free’. Maybe you can look into cruising with a European-based line that has not been infected with paranoia. Carnival Cruises is headquartered in Miami Florida – the headquarters of hate and insanity.
More information is needed from the OP, but the anectdotal evidence is very difficult to pin down. For instance, in addition to phone rejections, there are some people who claim they got letters from Carnival (or Royal Caribbean, the other line I checked) saying they were banned. I would LOVE to see what one of those letters look like, and frankly, I would wager that Janice would love to have one of those in her possession as well. (If I were an RSO, I would love to get one of those letters for potential lawsuit with damages, but I digress.)
I have scoured terms of service aggreements for Carnival and Royal Caribbean, and have not found any specific rule denying RSO’s to cruise. Obviously, there may be criminal checks at disembarkment points into foreign countries, but not specific to taking the cruise in the first place, as passengers always have the option of staying on the ship.
My own take is that the cruise lines do not want to put out anything specific for legal reasons. It does take a lot of time and resources to do any background check, even in advance, and this would have to be done on EVERYONE if there was a policy.
Having said that, I would imagine that if the CA RSOL suit fails, and the passport marks are allowed, then the “problem” of identifying registrants would be significantly made easier; hence, they will be used by the cruise lines to justify bans on registered citizens from cruising.
Wow…this is absolutely insane. We’ve effectively become non-humanlike in societies eyes. Much like the OP, I have gone on cruises almost every year for several years now and this will have a major effect on my family and I. How can these restrictions not be seen as punishment and discrimination and even be allowed? If you’re banned from something based on race or gender, you can file a civil suit and win for discrimination. At what point are RSO’s able to take a stand and win against being discriminated upon?
Secondly, to the OP, are you listed on the Megan’s Law website? Perhaps, they do a quick check when you’re attempting to book travel with them. I’m not listed on the website, so I wonder if I’d pass through this ban?! The bigger question might be, have they been given a secret list that gives them all RSO’s names that they cross reference with?
People should take this very seriously. I’ve heard DisneyWorld? I imagine they might go onto the National Registry? I was convicted/plead to a misdemeanor battery/summary probation/expunged 20 years ago/don’t show up online. Although, the laws affect me just like anyone else! This is no joke. What’s next? Banned from airplanes? Driving at night?
What’s next? Not allowed to fly ?
I note, it might very well be a foreign country that is imposing that ban. I don’t think any of the cruise ships are US flagged. And a ship is considered to be sovereign territory of the country under which it is flagged, and so all that country’s laws apply.
I think you should call the cruise line and talk to a supervisor. It sounds like this could just be a conscientious employee who is taking “company policy” into her own hands perhaps by doing her own unsanctioned search of the public registry. I’m assuming you live in Florida?
By the way–something else that needs to be exposed: Large churches around the country are banning RSOs but are keeping this out of the media and published policies. They are scrubbing their lists of members and attendees, calling people who have a name/address that matches someone on a public registry, sending out letters requesting that the person call the church to setup a meeting with the security department, and at that meeting telling them they are banning registered sex offenders from the church campus.
I also tried to to enter asia again this past jan, i have been there about 3 years ago with no problem, flew to Jamaica (no problem) flew into Mexico “guadalajara” many-many times (no problem) i’ve also drove into mexico from San Diego countless times (but) back i think hhhmmmmm?? 2012 i was sent to secondary, i initially asked/inquired about why i was sent to secondary (they simply said because i was a registrant) and i was on my way in about 45 minutes, i also drove into Canada while in NY, after my passport was scanned there was a beep from the comp (i was also sent to secondary) was there for about 45 minutes than on my way, they were humble and profesional about not saying anything.
Back to this past jan before trying to enter Asia, i called the philippine embassy here in the cal and spoke to a gentelman, i explained what my situation was and he mentioned there should be no problem (so i’m thinking im good) so feeling a little more inspired (now) i call my local police department and mentioned i will be flying out of country to Asia and she also mentioned there is no problem and im good to go “wrong” while trying to enter customs they told me i was not allowed to enter, i was like what!!!
I’m “NOT” upset on the money i spent for flight and hotel! to me that is nooooo big deal, a little about what my situation is from my past, i basically took a deal back in 97 (looooooong time ago) to a deal of registering, i “never” went to prison but went to wayside instead for 9 months, came out went to college finshed that, also went to counseling he kicked me out early and saw not a problem with my thoughts or actions.
Was on probation for 5 years but he cut it short to 3 years, he also mentioned there is no problem with my life or thoughts, he also came to my house where i lived with my mom/father my sister and her little girl, people have this stereo type that all sex offenders can’t be rehabilitated and will always have that urge for a easy prey or looking for that next target.
My family all lived in the same house, her little daughter was the age of 1 up until the age of 7 until they moved out (NOT) because my situation but for her job purpose, during that time “NOT A SINGLE THOUGHT OR PULSION” to act agianst my sisters daughter, to this very day i have nooooooo reason nor am i looking for any girl, i’m 40 now and my current girlfriend is 38 which we have known one another for 10 years, she knows about my situation and i think and feel things should be out in the open, in my case we were both very young and being completely new to the u.s system was a slap in the face for me! i basically wanted “OUT” of the system and did whatever i felt was necessary to get out “huge mistake”.
Yes i could of beat the challange that was presented to me but being very young-and in the system-and with that type of case-i’m a walking target that is subject to getting physically hurt on (daily bases) the girl did not press charges against me it was the D.A pressing and pushing, i was born and raised in the united states but i’m not sure that is something to be and feel proud of! all the places that i have travelled to has been and with the exact same girl, and was “NOT” to look for any underage or over the age girl but was for seeing the world! really appreciating what and how great the united states is and how the country treats and gives equal rights and gives good oppurtunities for the people ( “SO I THOUGHT” )
So just to add to this conversation, my husband is an RSO who was convicted 30 years ago when he was 19. I booked a cruise on Carnival for myself, my husband, my son, our granddaughters and my 2 sisters. I booked two cabins. Today I got a notice saying my booking was cancelled because of a ‘security concern’. I called to ask them about it and was told it was because of Carnivals policy against allowing sex offenders to cruise. The person I talked to of course deflected and said it wasn’t them, it was Customs that requires them to ban offenders. We also have cruised with Carnival before and had no problems in the past.
This really is a humiliating and dehumanizing experience. For me and my husband as well. He wants us to go on the cruise anyway without him which for me is unimaginable. And to add insult to injury, Carnival only cancelled the cabin that me and my husband were booked in. They said if I want to cancel the second cabin it will be with cancellation penalties of about $700 because there is nothing precluding my two sisters who were booked in the other cabin from continuing on the trip.
This is so unbelievably unfair.
For some reason when I read this story, I get a vivid picture in my mind of all of those old photos of businesses that had signs that would read “No Colors Allowed”. I don’t really see a difference, they simply substituted “Colors” for “RSO’s”. Funny how old habits have a way of coming back… Its the same Turd with a different name…
Hi, I’ve actually visited Canada 3 times (Battery 20 years back/wobbler/reduced to misdemeanor/expunged/summary probation). I have a clean record, but still required to register
When I was on an registry, I has no issues.
It is easy doing to avoid things like this.
I never liked like my first name, so all my life I always used my middle name as a first name.
All documents I sign are in my middle and last name. I have a Social Security card with my middle and last name on it. Notice on the application it states, “Name as you want appear on the card”
My vehicle registration… Middle and last name. Some states have it where the licensing and vehicle registration are separate entities. They could care less if you put “Kitty Cat” as the vehicle owner name.
Jobs I have gotten in the past…Middle and Last name on application.
I have also bought airline tickets in…..Middle and Last Name. Even international tickets.
Never had any issues.
Therefore, any search on registry list will not return a result for Middle and Last Name.
Good luck
I just received an email from airbnb telling me my account has been deactivated for what I believe is a similar reason. I don’t even live in the US any longer and was trying to book a full apartment in Spain. They must have used some type of facial recognition software to find me.
“Upon review, and given information uncovered pursuant to online public records, we have determined that it is in the best interest of Airbnb, and for the users on our site, to deactivate your account permanently. We realize that this may come as a disappointment and that you may have questions regarding this determination. We hope you understand that this decision is exercised at our sole discretion and that we are not obligated to provide an explanation as to the action taken against your account, nor are we liable to a user in any way with respect to deactivating or canceling his or her account.
Additionally, please understand that this removal will also entail the immediate termination of your pending or accepted bookings. As such, we may communicate to your host that your reservation has been cancelled and refunded in full.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Best regards,
Casey
http://www.airbnb.com/help“
What we need to do as RSO’s or supporters, is to put together a fund to fight these cases in court. Win or lose, we build toward the next step. A loss shows the punitive nature of RSO, on paper, this helps build a case that the Registry is not civil but criminal and a punishment. That is the avenue we need to take the next steps to outlaw the Registry, jmade83@gmail.com for any feedback
We all have the Freedom and Right to travel according to Article 4 of the Articles of Confederation, meaning we should be able to travel state to state without government interference (i.e. registration)
Also according to the International Bill of Rights (adopted by the United Nations): Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads:
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_movement_under_United_States_law
Lets do this.. when will we join together and make changes COME NOW.. this is purely ridiculous. I mean come on. So they are losing sooo much money doing this stupid s***t. I called Noreweign today and they had adopted the Carnival cruise stupidty as well. So, I will not go with my hubby, our kids nor the rest of my family due to 1 man which is my husband who made a mistake about 25+ yrs ago when he was 14 and was charged at 19.. I mean DAMN.. he still has to suffer now entering into his 40’s.. this is bat s**t crazy.
This may be a dumb question, but…can we 290s bring class action litigation as a protected status under Title VII, AB 1825, or any other discriminatory laws?
Hello Folks:
Just got my Carnival Cruise Lines special services call, they had security concerns. The gentleman was very polite and informed me of their new policy of not allowing RSO’s on board. I have cruised with Carnival and quite a few other lines over the years.
I asked if this was a blanket policy – “yes”
I also asked if this as only for Carnival lines, he had to put me on hold to find out and the answer is ‘NO’ it only applies to Carnival and not their sister lines. (AIDA Cruises Carnival Cruise Line Costa Cruises Fathom P&O Cruises P&O Cruises Australia Cunard Princess Cruises Holland America Line Seabourn) * (Seabourn is the only way to cruise IMHO).
Anywho that is the scoop.
I didnt really want to go on that particular cruise anyways. That said, I get what I would say is an emotional PTHD response when things like this come up – anxiety, fear, dread… etc. Not to mention the embarrassment of telling the party of 6 I was joining I cannot now go. I have learned to work through those kind of traumatic feelings.
Still being punished for something that happened decades ago and in many states and most counties is not even illegal. alas
Im willing to participate in any type of legal action and do my part. Cruise ship are in many ways a floating hotel, so what next hotels themselves?
Please (anyone) keep me in the loop and thank you.
Just got disembarked from a RC cruise out of Australia for being an RO. I’ve always had freedom of passage out of my own country. They escorted DW and DD crying. Left us on the curb with nothing.
I’m truly at a loss. I had told my 80 year old mother I would take her on her first cruise (would have been mine too) and was in the process of planning something with Royal Caribbean, with stops in Bahamas. But this gives me pause…Perhaps I will check out Princess Cruise Lines.
For those of you who’ve successfully cruised lately, have you had any trouble entering Bahamas? I really just want to go ashore with my mom, do the whole tourist thing, and go back to the ship. If I’m going to be hassled or embarrassed, I need to look at a different port.
Here is the link to crime statistics for the major cruise lines since 2010:
https://www.transportation.gov/mission/safety/cruise-line-incident-reports/
These statistics only cover cases that have been reported to the FBI and already closed as the law requires. Carnival Cruise lines seems to have the consistently greater number of crimes. I assume that may be because they carry the largest number of passengers each year? These statistics are likely only a fraction of those cases that are actually reported and not yet closed/solved.
any new info/law on GA’s RSO laws. my situation was in 1993,overturned in ’97,took alford plea,got off probation in 2013, i’m a level 1 low risk,petition court in 2014 for early release from registry, no problems whatsoever.just got letter from my lawyer judge denied my petition for early release…what can i do now??? what cruise line can i use to go on caribbean cruise,besides royal caribbean and carnival cruise lines