Which knife for a cruise?

[kbuzbee]

I went on a cruise in January with Norweigan to the Carribean.

Yeah, I've never even considered it when we cruised foreign countries.... But it's sure nice to have with you and I figured Hawaii wouldn't care....

I don't see having a knife in Hawaii being a problem but embarking and disembarking the ship you will go through a metal detector and put your bags into an x-ray machine.

Exactly the issue...

Call the cruise line and ask.

Probably a good idea. I tried looking it up online and found a semi official document citing anything under 4" is fine.

I doubt you will face criminal charges if you are caught but you can lose your knife and they can deny you passage on the ship. Hawaii is nice but the flight back to Ohio is probably not cheap.

Good point....

Thanks Pete.

Ken

[v8r]

At least a 4" folder.
Never know what you will run into.

http://news.aol.com/article/dead-whale- ... w%2F588586

No doubt ,you might run into a pirate!

[Cuccos19]

No doubt ,you might run into a pirate!

Pirates are not stupids. They won't risk the recoil of attacking a cruise ship. They take over cargo ships and small yachts mainly. Because these ships have very small crew, and not so big scandal in "loosing some lives". Seizing a cruise ship with nearly 2000 US citizenry passanger aboard - that's a scandal - would make a world wide hunt for them. No way to risk it, no place to hide after that, I think. And where the **** would they put the 2000 people anyway??? To Borneo? Killing 2000 or more people is a suicide, CIA, INTERPOL and the others will find them, sooner or later. And asking for ransom? When they let the 5th man home, everyone would know where they are. I think the let loose hostages will happily tell where are the others.

[kbuzbee]

Okay, so here is the trip report...

Final decision - Orange UKPK.... I guess I always knew it would be but it was nice to get validation on my choice.

Flying - tucked it in a zipped compartment in the checked suitcase. No issues either way (expected).

Initial boarding - same place. It seemed to work for the plane so.... They did pull aside a suitcase I'd accidently left a bottle of vodka and a bottle of rum in :o . Strategically, I'd put the UKPK in a different bag.... :D (both were expected). Funny story there for some other time.

Port disembarking - just wore it RFP. No issues as you really don't go through any screening (expected).

Port embarking - Placed the UKPK in the camera bag in the sleeve with the telephoto lens. Only two ports had xray scanners, the other two had some kind of odd random visual search. They kinda glanced at everything (placed in the same kind of trays they use for xray scanning) and if something caught their attention, they looked further. For example, they were very interested in the wooden wall hanging we bought on Maui... A fish and turtle kind of thing... :confused: but never once opened the camera bag.

Would they have cared if I'd just put it in the tray and sent it through xray/screening? Dunno. Would they have found it were it still in my pocket? Definitely, every time. Would they have cared? Dunno, but my guess would be yes, some. They got very agitated at ANYTHING that set off the metal detectors...

I can't say this is foolproof, just that it worked for me on this trip... I was able to carry 100% of the time on the ship and 100% of the time off the ship. I was very happy it all worked out.

Was I glad I had it? Of course. Dozens of open this and trim that moments like we all have every day but there was one outstanding moment. We were taking a tour through a botanical garden and the guide stopped and picked a mango from the tree. She gave it to Arlene. My impression was she wanted her to try it and 'report' to the rest of the tour... Instead, Arlene handed it to me and and I made slices for everyone to try. It was the best mango I've ever tried. Everyone loved it and was thrilled they got to try it too. The UKPK was a hero!

Well, that's the report. Thanks to all of you for thoughts and input.

I wish you equal fortune in any travels you undertake.

Ken

[Joshua J.]

If people are suggesting bags, get one of these!
http://www.knifeworks.com/maxpeditionju ... liage.aspx

Sweetest looking bag you'll ever find.


As for the knife, I'd go with an Atlantic Salt. I like the size and friendly nature.

[kbuzbee]

This is the bag I was carrying...

http://www.ebags.com/national_geographi ... lid=113731

That Maxpedition bag looks great though.

Ken

[Joshua J.]

Doh, that's what I get for not reading the entire thread. (I always laugh at people who post about a topic after it's done).

Glad to hear the UKPK made it through ok, I love mango (my favorite fruit).
I bet that knife was one sticky gooey mess when you were done with it though.

[kbuzbee]

I love mango (my favorite fruit).
I bet that knife was one sticky gooey mess when you were done with it though.

Not as bad as you'd think... I wiped it down on my handkerchief and it was fine (though the hanky was surely a mess after that:eek :) . Quick rinse off later finished the job.

I'd love to have heard the thoughts of some of the folks on the tour watching a pocket knife that was WAY sharper than what they use in the kitchen every day....

Ken

[markg]

If people are suggesting bags, get one of these!
http://www.knifeworks.com/maxpeditionju ... liage.aspx

Sweetest looking bag you'll ever find.


As for the knife, I'd go with an Atlantic Salt. I like the size and friendly nature.

I have a Versi-Pack and a Fatboy... I highly recommend them. I rocked Disney with a Versi-Pack last time I went. Some guy stopped me, and said, "nice bag!!!" I looked and he had one too.

[Cuccos19]

Well, after a year onboard of a cruise ship, I maybe have the right answer about knife onboard. Internation maritime law is basicly the UK law about knives. Under 3inch nonlocking blade. Several sources - put on the bulkhead noticeboard about rules in crew quarters - said 7cm long blade maximum.

It means that Spyderco Slipits could be good. But lot of things depend on the security guys. Maybe they will find a one hand opening knife as a threat. Maybe they won't.

But generally speaking all the security members told me that a usual Swiss Army Knife is okay. I mean the usual sized non locking ones. Victorinox have 91, 84 and 58mm long ones, measuring by the handles. Wenger has 85 and 65mm long ones measuring by the handles. Be aware, the Wenger has locking ones among the 85mm ones! Maybe the security will ignore that, maybe won't, again.

As the security guys were good friends of mine, I could ask them, what is their opinion. They told me, that these SAKs are okay on board, but if it is not really neccessary I sould not bring them offboard, and back. If I really need to, I had to show it up before I pass through the metal detectors. The same applied for guest, too.

For me, it was not a big deal to use only a Victorinox for a whole year, I had no problem, I could do anything with that, even I used it for working, opening boxes, cutting cardboards, eating with it, everything what I usually do with a knife.

I hope I could help for those guys who planning to have a holiday a cruise ship, or would like to work on it.

[kbuzbee]

Wow, I'd totally forgotten about this thread. Thanks for resurrecting it. And thanks or the information. Good to know.

Initial boarding - same place. It seemed to work for the plane so.... They did pull aside a suitcase I'd accidently left a bottle of vodka and a bottle of rum in :o . Strategically, I'd put the UKPK in a different bag.... :D (both were expected). Funny story there for some other time.

Ah, right.... The story.... So they scan your bags when they bring them onboard and if they think there is alcohol in them, they leave a note on your door, rather than delivering the bag to your cabin.

So I go down to where the bags are and the guy looks at me and says "you want to just give it to us?" so I reach into the suitcase and grab the first bottle I feel (it was the vodka) and hand it to him, all polite and such. He says "okay, thanks, we'll deliver it to your cabin before at the end of the cruise" In my head, I'm saying 'yea! I have a yummy bottle of rum to enjoy on the cruise'

So the moral is, always pack two!

Cheers,

Ken

[Blerv]

I'm sure most cruise ships operate on their own laws similar to employee rules. Maritime laws are pretty loose hence why half of the fishermen have fixed blades.

[kbuzbee]

I'm sure most cruise ships operate on their own laws similar to employee rules. Maritime laws are pretty loose hence why half of the fishermen have fixed blades.

I think it may even be more random than that, Blake.

Ports have their own security, which vary A LOT from one to the next. Shipboard security is more consistent but they seem much more concerned if you have a bottle of rum than a small pocket knife

Ken

[phillipsted]

I'd echo Cuccos and others - the Salt 1 is just what the doctor ordered. But the best part is the yellow handle - if anyone questions it, just shrug and say "it's my fishing knife..." :cool: Doesn't get more innocuous than that...

TedP

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

too bad that you don't have one of the lightweight UKPKs. That would be perfect. Cheap and plentiful enough that getting a new one wouldn't be any trouble...good blade shape with decent steel...

you don't use your Lava? Well, pass it this way I'd love to give it a good home :D

[DCDesigns]

Get a "Q" or similar "holey" knife, wont look like a knife on xray

[Blerv]

Most are curious about cargo and especially firearms (usually having to do with pirating affairs). "Maritime" is pretty broad as it involves international waters from Alaska to Singapore.

I will agree ports may operate under their own rules but I'm sure most could care less about folding knives. It's a world comprising of fish, nets and rope so their worries are adequate insurance and safety regulations. Civilians on cruise ships are completely different as you're tourists and responsibility of the ship. I doubt Carnival Cruises want to deal with bad press after one of their passengers ends up in a Mexican jail. :)

Generally I travel very conservatively. Tiny slipit if anything or something you will readily give up at the first questioning. No reason to ruin a vacation for yourself or others by packing a Manix2.

[kbuzbee]

too bad that you don't have one of the lightweight UKPKs. That would be perfect. Cheap and plentiful enough that getting a new one wouldn't be any trouble...good blade shape with decent steel...

Yeah that would have been a good choice, but the orange worked out just fine.

you don't use your Lava? Well, pass it this way I'd love to give it a good home :D

It was the obvious choice, with Chad and all. But all steel is one heck of an X-ray signature, and I really wanted a bit more blade.

Ken

[kbuzbee]

I will agree ports may operate under their own rules but I'm sure most could care less about folding knives.

There's a separate Port security for cruise ships. Mostly they X-ray everything, just like the ships do. No fishermen in those lines.

Good point on the Mexican jail

Ken

[Blerv]

Yea because they more or less have to act as customs. I vaguely recall large crowds and bad sunburns :) .