| What
should I know about shore excursions and safety? |
- Your time at
port can be your own or you can join a Cruise Line
sponsored shore excursion. Wandering a port on your own
can be a great way to get away from the crowd and immerse
yourself in a new culture, but it will also present
challenges.
- Since
everyone for miles just noticed the big white ship full of
wealthy tourists coming in, your chances of blending in
unnoticed are probably small. Even if you are traveling on
a tight budget, the fact that you got off this ship labels
you as wealthy, and compared to what you’ll find in most
parts of the world, you are. This could place you in a
dangerous situation, so you’ll need to be careful. The
more you know about the specific port and country the
better.
- Doing a
little research can greatly increase your safety. The less
experienced traveler should consider the Cruise Line’s
shore excursions. Although possibly more confining than
wandering on your own, you might actually find more
freedom to enjoy shore activities since you’ll know
you’re safe. There are generally fees for ship sponsored
shore excursions, so you’ll want to know those in
advance so you can compare complete cruise packages.
|
| How
can I protect my safety while at port? |
- Do the
research so you’ll know the particular risks you face.
- If you
haven’t left your valuables at home, leave them in the
ship’s safe.
- Don’t draw
attention to yourself, avoid wearing flashy jewelry and
don’t display large amounts of cash.
|
| Where
can I find information on issues that will effect my safety
while I’m traveling? |
|
travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html |
The U.S. State
Department’s Travel Warning and Consular Information web
page. This site contains detailed information on foreign
countries’ entry requirements, safety, crime, medical
facilities, traffic and aviation safety, customs, criminal
penalties, and special issue information. It also includes
contact information and web links to foreign Embassies and
Consulate offices.
|
|
Central
Intelligence Agency |
The U.S. Central
Intelligence Agency’s country listing section of the
CIA’s World Factbook web page. This site contains
extremely detailed information on foreign countries. Much of
this information would be useful to the business traveler,
but it also includes information that would be helpful to
the tourist.
|
|
How
can I avoid being the victim of a pickpocket?
|
- Don’t
travel in narrow alleys or poorly lit streets
- When
possible, avoid having crowds of people surrounding
you.
- Carry
a dummy wallet and put your money in your front
pocket.
- Place
a rubber band around your wallet, it will make it
much more difficult to remove from your pocket
without your knowledge.
- Carry
your purse under your arm.
- Carry
your money under your clothes.
- Know
the pickpocket's tricks
|
|
|
What
are some of the pickpocket’s tricks?
|
- There
are lots of situations that pickpockets use to
create opportunities to relieve you of all that
heavy cash. Be especially aware of your money when
you find yourself in the following situations.
- Getting
bumped by someone else.
- Having
something spilled on you or someone pointing out a
spot on your clothing.
- Someone
approaching you and asking for help or directions.
- Someone
causing a disturbance that draws everyone’s
attention.
- Being
surrounded by a crowd, especially if you are
surrounded by groups of children.
|
|
|
|
|
How
can I avoid getting into trouble with the locals?
|
- Know
the laws and obey them.
- Learn
the customs and respect them
- Dress
conservatively.
- Remember
that those of us in the United States are some of
the most hurried people in the world. Not everyone
in the world values the demands of a fast paced
life. In fact, many think we are fools to spend our
lives rushing around. You should try to respect the
culture of others and follow their pace. You may
find it frustrating to slow down, but you’ll
probably find it even more frustrating when your
attempts to hurry everyone else is met by an even
slower pace.
- Be
careful when taking photographs. Many countries have
restrictions against taking pictures of military or
police operations or facilities. Taking photographs
of public demonstrations can also be risky. If you
have doubts, ask permission first.
- Be
courteous and respectful when taking photographs
and/or observing cultural and religious events. Put
yourself in their place. How would you like some
improperly dressed tourist showing up and taking
pictures at a family funeral just because they find
the ceremony interesting? Again, if you have any
doubts, ask permission first.
|
|
| What
happens if I get into trouble with the law while at port? |
- Don’t, you
won’t have the same protections that you do in the
United States. You’ll be under that country’s legal
system, which may not have bail or the right to a speedy
trial among other protections available in the United
States.
- If you are
arrested, ask that the U.S. Embassy or Consulate be
notified and ask to speak with their representative.
- U.S.
officials can help you to locate an attorney, secure
supplies you might need and notify those back home of your
trouble.
- The U.S.
Embassy or Consulate can only make requests on your behalf
since they don’t have any authority to intervene in
another county’s internal criminal matters.
|
| Who
can I contact if I get in trouble abroad? |
|
usembassy.state.gov |
The U.S. State
Department International Information Program’s U.S.
Embassies web page. This site contains links to U.S.
Embassies and Consulates in foreign countries throughout the
world. Each site is different, but they all contain
information that would be helpful to a U.S. citizen planning
on visiting the particular foreign country.
|
| How
can the U.S. Government help me if I get into trouble abroad? |
|
Central
Intelligence Agency |
The U.S State
Department’s Services and Information for American
Citizens Abroad web page. This site contains links to
specific information on services that the U.S. State
Department can provide to U.S. citizens traveling abroad. It
contains sections on emergency services, legal assistance
and other aid available, in case of crisis, arrest, death or
marriage aboard.
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