No knife, no scissors on a cruise ship.

[PitCarver]

Ok, folks,  I need some help.

Were going on our first cruise next month.
I was going over the list of things that aren't allowed and knives and scissors are on the list.  Now I've carried a pocket knife on me ever since I was 7 or 8.  (Granted, for the time I worked in a prison, for those 10 hour shifts, the knife stayed home).

I need some options here. I need to at least feel that I have something available.

What do y'all recommend?

[Old Boy]

Never tried this on a cruise but the Gerber Shard has passed domestic and international flights for me.

The nail puller notch is sharp enough to cut small cordage or plastic wrapping. I would also bring a nail clipper with a file.

[powernoodle]

Considering that most cruise ship hijacking are committed by bandits wielding 1" scissors, it is certainly understandable that these weapons are banned.

Before going, you might practice making a slicey shard from a Coke can torn into a strip. Maybe sharpen the edge of something like an old credit card, and stick it in your wallet.   

Or swallow a Victorinox Classic before boarding, and find it in the toilet the next day.  There is a Challenge Badge for that.

I try not to go anywhere where someone tells me how to live.  But I understand that is not always practical.

Enjoy your cruise! 

[charlie fox]

I have carried sevral flavors of SAK in my checked luggage and never had an issue (10 cruises under my belt mostly with Carnival, but also with Royal Carribien and Princess). Taking them back onboard after a port call can be another issue.

Recently though I've rethought the hassle and, while I will still bring something to put in my pockets, it won't be big. As one gentleman I spoke to in line during our last cruise said; "You ain't fixin s%^& on the boat", which is 100% true. However a kniofeless man is a lifeless man...

[ReamerPunch]

How about a modular tool? Get a Roxon Flex or Companion, and just have allowed tools in there. Files, drivers, openers, maybe sneak a package opener in there?

[PitCarver]

I'm thinking that a rambler, put in with my sewing kit might make it onboard.
I already have a Shard and a couple of other keychain tools but not having anything with a blade goes against my thinking.

However, the thought of a Bahamian pirate getting hold of it and comandering the ship to Cuba has me cautious.

[Alan K.]

I wouldn't count on them letting you keep even a bladeless tool because they have 3000 passengers to scan and don't have time to argue the nuances with anyone.  If they confiscate your tool, you will not get it back, and worse, they might not let you take the cruise. 

[PitCarver]

It's more like 5000 people on this ship, Alan.

[BPRoberts]

I wouldn't count on them letting you keep even a bladeless tool because they have 3000 passengers to scan and don't have time to argue the nuances with anyone.  If they confiscate your tool, you will not get it back, and worse, they might not let you take the cruise.

In my experience, cruise security is both lax and polite. They've usually taken my (and my wife and others we've traveled with) word for it if we said a tool had no blade, with at most a cursory inspection. They've certainly never denied entry (at worst, they'd toss the tool and let you on), and the few times we had other items taken (my wife bought the wrong extension cord or something) they've always been returned without issue.

All that said, only travel with tools you're prepared to lose. The Shard is a great choice. One of those "wallet card" multis is also good. Both are likely to pass without issue, and cheap enough if it comes to it.

I'm a big fan of the Swisscard family for  travel. The knife (I usually carry the Nailcare, which doesn't have one) is easily left on the dresser at home, and I've never had trouble with those scissors in security. While the card itself is a bit pricey, the individual parts can be replaced at a reasonable cost if security does give you trouble. Even with the blade and/or scissors removed they give you a solid assortment of tools.

[nate j]

I’ve been on a handful of cruises, but the last one was probably at least 10 years ago.

I once had a 91mm SAK that was in my pocket confiscated and held for the duration of a cruise, though it was returned at the end.  A smaller knife that was in my luggage did get through.

Of course, I don’t recommend taking anything with sentimental or significant monetary value, so you can ditch it if you have to and not feel too bad about it.

An approach I have successfully used at some venues in the past is a money clip knife.  (I’m not home at the moment , but can take some pics later if you’re interested.) I used to use Vic Money Clips for this, but am a bit reluctant to risk them now that they are discontinued.  SOG, CRKT, and others make suitable options that are relatively inexpensive.  A couple of important caveats with this approach:
1.  Obviously, you are responsible for your own actions and any consequences.
2.  I very strongly recommend against using this approach (or any other) to try to take a knife anywhere possession would actually be illegal.  But if the only thing being violated is some business’s policy, and the worst consequence of being caught is likely having your knife confiscated and or being asked to leave the premises, then as a friend of mine was fond of saying, “You pays your money and takes your choice.”
3.  There is a risk that particularly alert and or thorough security personnel will “make” the knife, as you’ll typically have to toss the knife (wrapped in cash) into a bowl or bin for “inspection” while you go through the metal detector.
4.  Again, don’t take anything you wouldn’t be willing to give up with a smile and a shrug.


Finally, I have seen it suggested that “borrowing” steak knives once you get aboard ship could be an effective option.  (If nothing else, the fact that this is even possible illustrates the utter absurdity of prohibiting pocket knives with one hand while handing out steak knives like they are candy with the other, but I digress.) Personally, this approach seems like more trouble than it’s worth to me.  You would have to pilfer the knife, DIY a sheath, and figure out how to carry it concealed.  If you wanted to carry it ashore, you would have no choice but to get rid of it prior to passing through security to get back aboard the ship, though of course you could easily acquire a replacement.  And if you did somehow get caught with it, it would be tough to explain why you were carrying around a steak knife from the dining room.  Whereas if I were sharply challenged about my money clip knife, I would simply say something along the lines of, “That’s just my money clip.  Forgot it even had a blade in it…”

[PitCarver]

All, valid answers.  It's been 26 years since I've been restricted from being able to carry a knife.  Just feels off to me.  I don't have anything that has a significant sentimental or financial value that I would think about even carrying.
I know that the Shard is a good tool.  I carry one along with the golf cart key.
Another thàt i like is the Doohickey+, which always rides with my car keys.
Ím thinking of attaching a Geekey to my scooter key.
Still, the absence of a useable blade just drives me nuts.