Armed Guard following Shore Excursions? - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

LuLu · 03-10-2009, 09:40 PM

Have you ever been on a Shore Excursion where ARMED GUARDS remained with you/ followed behind for the entire tour?

canarymoon · 03-10-2009, 10:48 PM

I have a friend who had that experience on an around the worlder.
I believe this was in Egypt, if I remember her story correrctly.
She described it as 'disquieting' at first... but 'comforting,' once they got used to the idea of having the armed escourts.

I'll double check with her next time I see her, which may be a while, as they are on a world cruise (yes, another!) at the moment. {sigh}

*Lars* · 03-11-2009, 04:58 AM

I know armed guards are accompanying cruise tours in Egypt.
I have not done one yet but I am going to in November.

timwilloughby · 03-14-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuLu

Have you ever been on a Shore Excursion where ARMED GUARDS remained with you/ followed behind for the entire tour?

No way....I had never contemplated that as a necessity, but I haven't been to many transitional areas or countries in my short life.

I did spend several days with a family friend/guest, who came with his own security agent/guard. It was pretty cool to walk around with him, knowing that the guy in the dark suit next to us, was a trained killer. Although, we just went to dinner and a museum. Nothing too exciting.

Lulu, have you ever been on an excursion with armed guards?

lindaann · 03-14-2009, 01:17 PM

I've never had armed guards on a tour but it's not unusual for the QM2 to have police boats around her.
Several years ago at Gibraltor we were anchored and had police boats circling the ship all day.

LuLu · 03-14-2009, 11:01 PM

In Cartagena, Columbia, we had a Police Car with us all day. When some gang ran out and began rocking our small tour bus, other patrol cars immediately appeared ... the "rockers" scattered and ran.... Guess that's why they had a police car nurse-maiding us!

Somehow, police cars and men in FULL Military Dress with machine guns are a bit different.

nealberk · 03-15-2009, 12:04 AM

Wow, my question is "are the passengers and members of the tour advised of the unsafe conditions before they sign up for the tour?" Not that it would make much of a difference, I don't think. Having the need of an armed escort is one thing, having one is a totally different matter.

houch · 04-03-2009, 08:25 PM

We had armed guards all around, even in boats when we were in OchoRios Jamaica back in 2003. I wasn't bothered by it.

Blizzard · 04-03-2009, 09:35 PM

A few times we have been in ports where the port area was surrounded with armed guards. We have never had them on a tour.

Since 9/11 there are usually armed CG boats around the ships in US ports.

gkm · 04-04-2009, 12:25 AM

When we boarded our bus in Alexandria, Egypt we had an armed guard on board. This was a private excursion to Cairo to see the Pyramids. We also had a police escort for about 1/2 of the trip and all the busses had to stay together in a convoy. Once the escort vehicles left us, everyone spread out. Our armed guard stayed with us throughout the entire excursion, even walking with us around the Pyramids.

Garry